When I Fall in Love(4)
“What’s that with ’em?” Ed said, leaning over to survey the offering.
“Squash, zucchini, red onions, basil leaves, green pepper, and mushrooms. But don’t worry, Uncle Ed; I have a few burgers tucked away, as well as brats and hot dogs for the less culinary.”
“Just because you fly all over the world every summer, cooking in exotic places, don’t make you highbrow, son.”
“No, but the fact that he helped his team get into the division finals does,” Aunt Rosie said. “Your dad would have been so proud of you, Maxie.”
He grinned at her, only a little twinge in his chest.
“Where you going this time, kiddo?” Norm asked.
“Hawaii. It’s my third year. I can’t seem to get the beaches and blue ocean out of my blood.”
“Learning to roast a pig?” Ed said. “Now that’s my kind of meal.”
“I don’t think a luau is on the menu. More like sushi and fresh fish, Uncle Ed.”
“Shame. Nothin’ better than roast pig.”
Max tried not to grimace. “If I see any grass skirts and leis, I’ll bring them home with me. But I’m mostly going for the education.”
“Right,” Ed said.
“Leave the boy alone, Edmund.” Rosie swatted him. “How long, Max?”
“Three no-stress, sun-filled weeks.”
“Well, bring sunscreen with you. A burn is only going to hurt when you put on your hockey pads.” She smiled at him, her eyes twinkling.
“Yes, ma’am.” He winked, then went over to fire up the grill. He lowered the lid to let it heat up and began setting out the skewers on a tray.
“Hey, Max, remember me?”
He turned at the voice and found it connected to a blonde, all tan legs and mini shorts and a tank top that made him avert his eyes. “Um . . . remind me how we met?”
“Lauren. I’m Lizzy’s sister.” She switched her Coke to her left hand and extended her right, finding his and holding on longer than she needed to. “I watched some of your games this year. You’re amazing on the ice.”
He managed a smile and glanced at the grill, untangling his hand to lower the heat. The last thing he needed was to ignite a fire. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Uncle Ed spying on him. Max turned his back to him. “Thanks. Unfortunately we were shut out against Denver, but hopefully next year we’ll bring home the Cup.”
“The Cup?”
He noticed the blank look. Probably a football fan. “The Stanley Cup. It’s like the Super Bowl of hockey.”
“Right. Lizzy says you have a convertible. Is that yours?” She pointed past him toward the lot, where his Audi sat in the drive.
“Mmm-hmm.” He opened the grill and began to lay the skewers on. The grill spit as grease from the meat dripped into the pan. “You might want to stand back.”
She giggled.
He glanced up at Lizzy, who was watching him through her sunglasses. If he could, he’d take a skewer and aim it her direction. She knew how he felt about relationships. He wasn’t Brendon, wasn’t naive, wasn’t about to entangle himself with someone he’d only eventually hurt.
He’d seen what his mother went through after his dad died, after all. Thanks, but he couldn’t inflict that on anyone.
Even if Lauren did have an overly eager, even pretty, smile. He closed the lid on the grill.
“Maybe you can give me a ride later?”
“Maybe.” He saw Brendon heading his direction. “So what do you do for a living?”
“I’m a nurse.”
A nurse. Swell. He wanted to ask what Lizzy had told her about him, but he bit it back. No need to start a conversation that would only end in her pity, awkward silences, and maybe some sort of declaration of nonchalance. As if it didn’t matter that he would someday die from choking on his own food or even be tempted to take his own life.
“I think your meat is burning,” Lauren said.
Smoke billowed from the grill, and he opened the lid. Nice. But so far, dinner survived.
“Max, can I talk to you?” This from Brendon, who appeared behind Lauren, all fun and games vanished from his expression. Now what?
Max had the terrible, unsportsmanlike urge to say no but swallowed it. “Sure.”
“Lauren, can you watch the grill?”
“Dude—” Max protested.
But Brendon clamped him on the shoulder and drew him toward the side of the house. Max kept one eye on dinner.
Lauren reached in to turn the skewers.
“Leave them be! They need to char on one side!” Max turned to Brendon. “What?”
“You know what. It’s time, Bro. I need you.”