“LosAngeles… in California?”
Torin shook his head, looking completely clueless.
Cooper looked around at all of us. “Y’all are messing with me, right?”
Torin asked again, “Tis near? Ye dinna hae far tae go?”
“Los Angeles is in the state of California. It’s on the other side of the country, about three thousand miles away. What ishappening…? I went by plane.”
Torin said, “Och, I heard of this?—”
Cooper’s eyes went wide.
The bread timer dinged.
I said, brightly, “Time for dinner!”
20
LEXI
2004 - THE DINING ROOM
Ihad planned to do a ‘sit down’, serving from bowls, but since it was less a ‘supper party’ and more just ‘supper’, I took the lids off the pots and pans and lined them down the counter. We would serve ourselves buffet style.
Jen went first. Torin watched her choose a plate and picked one for himself. I could tell he was watching her closely for cues.
His pants fit tight around his ass, his shirt pulled across his back, showing off all the muscular forms. It made me lose track of my thoughts for a moment, but then I shook my head to clear it. I handed a plate to Cooper who was confusedly watching Torin take cues from Jen.
Jen served Torin some pasta, using tongs. He said, “Och aye, what is it?”
Cooper asked, “Pasta, you’ve never had pasta?”
“Nae, it looks verra good.” He licked his lips. His eyes were huge, he looked very hungry.
Jen asked, “More?”
He said, “Aye, more.”
I said, “Save room for the sauce and meatballs.”
Jen passed him the spoon and mimicking her he put a careful small amount on his pile of pasta. With two meatballs.
Coop said, “Nah, man, you gotta really spoon it on, get a lot. Lexi makes the best sauce.”
Torin put another small scoop on his pasta, another meatball.
Cooper took the spoon and gave himself five big scoops, six meatballs. “Hey man, put your plate back over here.” Cooper spooned another spoonful on top of Torin’s. Two more meatballs. “You look hungry.”
“I am, verra hungry, it seems tae hae been centuries since I last ate. I had the pickled eggs earlier?—”
Jen said, “And the meat and crackers I fed you last night.”
“Aye, and Mistress Lexi fed me the sandwich, twas verra good, but this feast is verra grand.”
Jen said, “Follow me to the table, bring your glass.”
When they leftfor the dining room, Cooper said, “What the hell is going on — is he an imbecile? He’s joking, right?”
