Chapter 24: Born Again

I was sixteen. I’d like to think that my motivation for attending church the first time was more pure than just wanting to be with Tonya, but that’s not true. All I could do while I was there was search the pews for her signature wave of hair among the blue-haired kneelers of her stodgy, fundamentalist congregation.

When I saw her, I nearly dropped to my knees. My chest tightened as I slowly made my way over to her, aware of the fact that my thoughts were impure and that I was under the watchf...