stupid, Tuck? You can tell me if you do? Lots of people think it is, and everybody is entitled to their own opinion.”
I shake my head adamantly. “Hell no, it’s not stupid. I think you are wonderful. And I think you will definitely be famous one day.” Her beautiful face breaks into a big smile when I tell her that. I feel my heart being pierced. She is beautiful when her face is still, but when she breaks into a true smile, she transforms into the most beautiful being ever created. The type that angels would gladly trade in their wings just to have a chance to look like her. Absolutely breathtaking.
I grin as she leans over and gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “Thanks, Tuck. You’re pretty sweet.”
I wink at her, then continue on with the question portion of our day. “What kind of music do you want to sing?”
She shrugs her shoulders as she answers me. “I don’t really know. Just music. Not country, not rock, not pop – just music. Just me. I don’t know how to classify it.”
I nod my head in understanding. “I understand. Maybe you could play me some of your original stuff one day.”
“Sure, we’ll see.”
As she finishes up on the repairs to her Bronco, we slip into easy conversation. I tell her about growing up with Chase. She laughs as I rehash some of the pranks we had pulled and the trouble we had gotten into. I listen as she talks about her two roommates and how they are like sisters to her. I learn that her grandpa had taught her how to work on cars and they had restored the Bronco together. I reveal to her that I have twin half-sisters who are twelve years younger than me whom I absolutely love. She shares that she is an only child but had always wanted a younger brother. I ask about her parents, and her walls instantly go up.
“My mom died when I was sixteen,” she quietly murmurs. “My dad isn’t around.”
I squeeze her hand in sympathy. “My mom died when I was five. It’s definitely tough at any age. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
She shakes her head at me and attempts a smile, but her eyes are dead. They hold such sadness that I feel as if she is drowning in it. She quickly shakes herself and hastens to change the subject.
“I think I’m finished here. Do you mind getting in and cranking her up?”
Not surprisingly, the Bronco fires up without a sputter. Kori insists on taking it for a joyride to ensure that it is working properly. To my shock, she even lets me drive it without me having to beg too much.
We are both laughing as we get out of the Bronco after our ride. Kori motions me toward the house with her head.
“Come on in and I’ll fix you a bite to eat.”
Who am I to argue with that? I follow her in and plop down on the couch as she makes her way to the kitchen.
“Bacon sandwiches okay with you?”
“Anything with bacon is okay with me. Bacon is its very own food group in my eyes. Monuments should be built in its honor. Haikus should be written to spout bacon’s glory. Bacon should be revered the entire world over.” I seriously love bacon.
I look up to find Kori staring at me with an amused look on her face. “Um, Tuck? It’s just a dead hog. Calm your balls.”
I burst out laughing at her words. “Calm your balls? What the hell is that?”
“Oh, you know. Calm your balls. It’s pretty
I shake my head adamantly. “Hell no, it’s not stupid. I think you are wonderful. And I think you will definitely be famous one day.” Her beautiful face breaks into a big smile when I tell her that. I feel my heart being pierced. She is beautiful when her face is still, but when she breaks into a true smile, she transforms into the most beautiful being ever created. The type that angels would gladly trade in their wings just to have a chance to look like her. Absolutely breathtaking.
I grin as she leans over and gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “Thanks, Tuck. You’re pretty sweet.”
I wink at her, then continue on with the question portion of our day. “What kind of music do you want to sing?”
She shrugs her shoulders as she answers me. “I don’t really know. Just music. Not country, not rock, not pop – just music. Just me. I don’t know how to classify it.”
I nod my head in understanding. “I understand. Maybe you could play me some of your original stuff one day.”
“Sure, we’ll see.”
As she finishes up on the repairs to her Bronco, we slip into easy conversation. I tell her about growing up with Chase. She laughs as I rehash some of the pranks we had pulled and the trouble we had gotten into. I listen as she talks about her two roommates and how they are like sisters to her. I learn that her grandpa had taught her how to work on cars and they had restored the Bronco together. I reveal to her that I have twin half-sisters who are twelve years younger than me whom I absolutely love. She shares that she is an only child but had always wanted a younger brother. I ask about her parents, and her walls instantly go up.
“My mom died when I was sixteen,” she quietly murmurs. “My dad isn’t around.”
I squeeze her hand in sympathy. “My mom died when I was five. It’s definitely tough at any age. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
She shakes her head at me and attempts a smile, but her eyes are dead. They hold such sadness that I feel as if she is drowning in it. She quickly shakes herself and hastens to change the subject.
“I think I’m finished here. Do you mind getting in and cranking her up?”
Not surprisingly, the Bronco fires up without a sputter. Kori insists on taking it for a joyride to ensure that it is working properly. To my shock, she even lets me drive it without me having to beg too much.
We are both laughing as we get out of the Bronco after our ride. Kori motions me toward the house with her head.
“Come on in and I’ll fix you a bite to eat.”
Who am I to argue with that? I follow her in and plop down on the couch as she makes her way to the kitchen.
“Bacon sandwiches okay with you?”
“Anything with bacon is okay with me. Bacon is its very own food group in my eyes. Monuments should be built in its honor. Haikus should be written to spout bacon’s glory. Bacon should be revered the entire world over.” I seriously love bacon.
I look up to find Kori staring at me with an amused look on her face. “Um, Tuck? It’s just a dead hog. Calm your balls.”
I burst out laughing at her words. “Calm your balls? What the hell is that?”
“Oh, you know. Calm your balls. It’s pretty