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“I was eight,” she answers my mom with a shrug. “I guess it is odd, but only a few scattered details remain.” Isla clears her throat but Torryn gives a subtle shake of her head, assuring her best friend that she’s okay. “My mom was sick. Maybe that’s why the memories blur together. The smell of antiseptic, the white walls of hospitals. A half sung lullaby. But my grandma more than makes up for it. She’s always been an amazing woman and has raised us well.”
My mom nods. “I can only imagine how proud she is to have a granddaughter like you.” At least she’s dropped that line of questioning. “What are you studying?”
I sigh, squeezing Torryn’s thigh in apology. My family can be more than a little overbearing, but she doesn’t let it trip her up. Answering all of my mom’s questions. It’s probably the most I’ve ever heard Torryn speak in one sitting. Based on the looks being traded between the guys, it’s the same for all of them. But my mom has quickly fallen under Torryn’s unique charm, laughing at her dry wit, and hanging on her every word, prying for more information out of her.
“Oh, Baylor?” My mom calls, drawing me out of my reverie as I finish my lunch. Looking up, I meet her eyes in silent acknowledgement. “What are your plans before the game?”
I trade looks with the guys, before checking the time on my phone. “Uh, probably a nap before we have to meet at the rink.”
She claps her hands together, far too excitedly, making me narrow my eyes in her direction. “Perfect! Torryn and Isla can come shopping with me.”
Finally, something trips up the woman at my side as her face blanches before she can cover it up. Even without her reaction, I’m already shaking my head though. “Torryn is also taking a nap.”
I ignore the way she turns to look at me skeptically, or the way my mom arches one brow. “Torryn needs a pregame nap?”
I scoff, “Of course not. Don’t be silly.”
“Great, then?—”
I interrupt her, “She needs a pre-work nap.”
Torryn snorts and my mom looks at me dumbfounded. “A pre-work nap?”
I nod my head vigorously, purposefully avoiding eye contact with everyone else in the room, knowing what I’ll find there. “Yup. She works late tonight and she didn't get enough sleep last night.” Snickers sound throughout the room, Dylan and Jackson slapping each other’s chests and whispering amongst themselves. My cheeks flush. “She just needs a nap. Trust me.”
My mom still looks baffled as she stares at me before flicking her attention to Torryn. “You have work tonight?”
Tor nods and a look of disappointment flashes over my mom’s face. “I thought we would be able to sit together at the game.” A pink hue spreads over Torryn’s cheeks and it’s a look I’ve never seen on her. She almost looks embarrassed.
“I’ll be at the game,” she assures my mom in almost a whisper. My mom beams at her, the look of disappointment completely gone.
“Oh perfect, then we can sit together.”
Torryn shares a smile with my mom and something in my stomach flips. “I’d like that,” she says.
“There, mom. You can have her then, but no shopping.”
She sighs but concedes. “I understand. You must work late if you’re starting after the game. Where is it you work, dear? Maybe we’ll come visit you.”
“No!” Wells and I shout at the same time, making Torryn laugh.
“She’s a bartender,” I hurriedly interject, before she has a chance to say anything. “Oh and look at the time, nap time. Thanks for lunch, mom!” I grab Torryn’s hand and pull her out of her chair, rushing out of the room as I finish saying goodbye to my family. “See you later!”
She pokes me in my stomach when we finally reach my room. “That was so rude.”
I hush her, pulling her down into my bed with me. “It was necessary.”
She shakes her head, attempting to pull away from me. “I was going to do homework.”
I hold onto her tighter, not letting her go. “And now you’re napping.” She starts to protest but I cut her off with my lips. After I feel her body relaxing in mine, I lean back, placing a soft kiss on the tip of her nose. “You really do need to rest. It’s going to be a long day and you’re working late.” I can see the desire to argue, but I don’t give her the chance, using my lips to keep hers busy.
The more she relaxes in my arms, the greater chance I have to keep her in my bed with me. I place one more kiss against her lips, yawning when I pull away and tuck her against my chest. She stays still, but I can feel the tension building back in her shoulders. I swear this girl doesn’t know how to relax.
“Give yourself a break, Tor,” I whisper. “You’ve been working your ass off. Take a nap with me. You’re allowed to not be always doing something.”
As if all she really needed was permission, her body once again relaxes in my hold as she softly whispers her acquiescence. I stroke my hands over her back, liking the way she fits against me. There haven’t been many changes to my pregame routineover the years, but I’m thinking I should officially change the pregame nap to a pregame napwith Torryn.
Only a few moments have passed when I hear her breathing even out. I close my own eyes and fall asleep with a smile on my face and the taste of Torryn on my tongue. She was right all those weeks ago. She is so much sweeter than tequila.
