11. Luke
CHAPTER 11
Luke
The pine trees that surrounded my parents’ place shaded us from the worst of the summer heat. They lived just outside town, up a long gravel driveway, in a log home my dad and uncles had built with their own hands.
Theo threw a football, and our nephew Owen caught it. It had been an all-football-all-the-time summer for those two. Owen had played for Theo the prior year and wound up a starter as a freshman. No nepotism involved. He was a badass athlete. Probably had at least a college scholarship in his future, if not a shot at the pros, just like Theo.
I decided to take a break from the endless game of catch to grab a beer from the kitchen.
“Want anything?” I asked Theo, jerking my thumb toward the house.
“I’ll take a beer.”
“Owen?”
A grin crept over his face, and I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say.
“Not a beer.” I pointed at him. “Don’t try to get me in trouble with your dad. Or Coach Haven over there. ”
Owen put his hands up. “I know, I know. I wasn’t going to ask for a beer.”
“You better not.” Theo threw the ball directly at Owen’s midsection, making him grunt when he caught it. “No drinking.”
“I won’t.”
Theo gave him a stern look.
“Don’t worry, Coach,” I said. “He already figured out a life of delinquency isn’t for him.”
Owen groaned. “Are you guys ever going to let that go?”
More than a year before, Owen had been caught shoplifting from Angel Cakes Bakery. He had no idea at the time that he’d stolen from his future stepmom. Fortunately, it had been a one time thing, and he was generally a great kid.
“Have you met us?” I asked. “This is what happens when you start to grow up.”
“You tease me mercilessly about every little thing?” he asked.
“Pretty much.”
“Yeah, that tracks,” Theo said. “Luke still gives me crap about the bologna sandwich incident. I was probably your age.”
“Never gets old.” I looked at Owen. “Lemonade?”
Owen caught the ball again and held it. “What’s the bologna sandwich incident?”
“Don’t ask,” Theo said.
Owen shrugged and threw the ball. “Yeah, lemonade. Thanks, Uncle Luke.”
“You got it.”
I headed for the side door and held it open for my dad, who was on his way out with a tray full of raw burger patties. A man of few words, he nodded his thanks. I did a quick double take at his Squirrel Protection Squad T-shirt. It was almost too small for his broad chest and muscular arms.
Inside, my parents’ house was comfortable and familiar. The living room had a denim couch and armchairs draped with blankets my mom had knitted. Family photos adorned the walls, a reminder of the days when their house had been full of six rough-and-tumble brothers and one baby sister.
Mom was in the kitchen, loading another tray with condiments and buns.
“Need help?” I asked.
“No, I’ve got it. I just hope your dad made enough burger patties.”
“Why? Are Garrett and Harper coming over too?”
“No, Isla has the sniffles, so they’re home with her. Theo brought Owen. I just know how these things work. Someone else is bound to show up.”
“Well, Dad had enough burgers to feed an army. I think you’re good.”
I poured lemonade for Owen and grabbed three beers out of the fridge—figured Dad would want one too—and went back outside.
Mom was already arranging things on the picnic table. Dad glanced at her and, with a subtle grin, grabbed her backside. She jumped and playfully smacked his arm. I pretended not to notice.
After passing out drinks, I opened my beer and took a sip. Theo wandered over and stood next to me.
“How’s work?” he asked.
I hesitated before answering. “Fine, I guess. I don’t know, man. This whole Melanie thing is driving me nuts. She does the job fine; it’s not that. But she just…” I made a fist. “You know?”
“I was just wondering if you were working on any cool cars.”
“See? This is what I’m talking about.”
He glanced at me with his beer halfway to his lips, like he had no idea what I meant .
“Why am I answering your question about work by talking about her?”
“I don’t know.”
“This is what she does to me. It’s like the other day. This woman came to the garage to ask some questions about a car her grandpa has sitting out at his property. And not just a woman, a hot woman, and I’m telling you, she was flirting with me.”
“And this is bad because?”
“Because Melanie.”
“What does she have to do with it?”
“That’s exactly my point. She shouldn’t have anything to do with it. I was standing there talking to her, thinking she wanted me to ask her out. And any other time, I would have. Because why not? I’m single. She seemed to be single. There could be something there. But did I?”
“I’m guessing no, based on how annoyed you are right now.”
“No. No, I didn’t. And do you know why?” I didn’t wait for him to answer. “Melanie, that’s why. I felt guilty. Why should I feel guilty? I’m not dating her. I don’t even like her.”
“Then there’s no reason for you to feel guilty.”
“I know. But I did. Then I realized she was watching, and I felt even worse. Like I’d been caught doing something wrong.”
By the face Theo made as he nodded, I could tell he had no idea why I was so riled up.
Neither did I.
“Think of it this way,” Theo said. “Maybe she inadvertently saved you from a disaster.”
“Who? Melanie?”
“Yeah. If she hadn’t been there, you might have asked the woman out. And let’s be real, she’s probably terrible for you.”
“Excuse me?”
“You always date women who are awful for you. ”
“I do not.”
“You totally do.”
My brother Zachary seemed to appear out of thin air, eating a cookie. Baby Emily slept against his chest, secure in her carrier. “Actually, that’s true, dude.”
“Where did you come from?”
“I got here like five minutes ago.”
“Have you just been standing there listening to our conversation?”
“It’s not my fault you didn’t see me.” He popped the last bite of his cookie into his mouth. “And we all know you have a broken radar.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly it,” Theo said.
“What?”
“Let me put it this way.” Z patted Emily and swayed back and forth as he talked. “If you walked into a bar with a hundred single women, you’d find the one guaranteed to end in disaster. It’s like you’re attracted to the hot messes who are totally wrong for you. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging girls who are hot messes. I’m a hot mess.”
“But you’re not bad for Marigold,” I pointed out.
“Indeed, I’m not. My wifey is a lucky woman.” He glanced over his shoulder and winked at Marigold, who was chatting with our mom by the grill.
Theo groaned. “You’re lucky she puts up with you.”
Z chuckled. “No, you’re right, that’s totally true. I’m the lucky one.”
“I don’t know what you’re getting at,” I said. “Sure, I’ve had relationships that didn’t work out. But who hasn’t? Look at you guys.” I pointed at Theo first, then Zachary. “You’re still single, and you just got married last year. It’s not like either of you are paragons of long-term relationships.”
“No, but you have a specific talent for dating women who are clearly bad for you,” Theo said.
I opened my mouth to keep arguing, but a part of me wondered if he was right. I didn’t have the best track record when it came to dating.
“It’s a thing,” Z said with a casual shrug of his shoulders. “If you bring someone home, we already know it’s doomed.”
Instead of answering, I took a drink of my beer.
“Don’t be grumpy.” Zachary nudged me with his elbow. “You just need to find a woman who’s the right kind of bad for you.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know, but you’ll know when you find her.”
“That actually makes sense,” Theo said.
“Neither of you makes sense,” I said.
“Burgers are done,” Mom called.
Glad for the interruption, I went to the picnic table. Everyone dished up on paper plates, and even with the arrival of Zachary and Marigold, there was plenty to go around. I loaded up my cheeseburger with condiments but paused before adding pickles.
Melanie loved pickles. Wrinkling my nose, I skipped them.
There wasn’t enough room for everyone at the table, so Theo and I pulled a couple of camping chairs closer, angling them so the sun wasn’t in our eyes. Marigold offered to take Emily, but Zachary said he’d just eat standing.
“So what’s new?” Mom asked, looking around. She paused on me like she expected me to be the one to answer.
I took a bite of my burger to avoid replying.
“Other than Luke hiring his ex-girlfriend to work at the garage?” Theo asked.
I shot him a glare.
“Luke, I think it’s great,” Mom said. “I saw Krista Andolini yesterday, and she said it’s going well.”
Dad snorted.
She turned to him. “What was that for? ”
He shook his head and took a bite of his burger. I understood his meaning—
what the hell were you thinking?
“It’s just temporary,” I said, more to answer my dad’s unspoken question than in response to my mom’s curiosity. “She needed a job, and I needed someone to fill in for a while. Not a big deal.”
“I’m so glad to hear that,” Mom said. “It sounds like she’s been through a lot.”
Had she been through a lot? How was I supposed to know? She’d made it clear she just worked there. “Maybe. I don’t really know. Her personal life isn’t my business.”
“If you hear that she’s hiding from the FBI, don’t listen,” Mom said. “It’s just the gossip line getting out of control again.”
“That doesn’t even make sense,” Theo said. “If she were hiding from the FBI, she wouldn’t come here, where everyone knows her.”
“Or use her real name,” Owen added.
Theo held out an open bag of chips for Owen to take some. “Exactly.”
“I haven’t heard anything about hiding from the FBI,” I said. “Although you never know with her. She could be the head of an organized crime ring.”
Theo nodded thoughtfully. “You know, I can kinda see it.”
“Stop,” Mom said with a laugh. “Melanie Andolini is a sweet girl from a very nice family.”
There went someone calling her sweet again. “Do you actually remember Melanie, or are you mixing her up with someone else?”
“Of course I remember. I know things didn’t work out between the two of you, but that doesn’t mean I have to dislike her.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
“You should invite her for dinner,” Mom said .
“Why would I do that?”
“I can’t remember the last time I saw her. I’d love to catch up.”
I looked at my dad, hoping he’d tell her that was a terrible idea. He just grunted and shook his head as if to say I’m not getting involved .
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Exactly.” I sighed. “Mom, I don’t think inviting her over for dinner is a good idea.”
“Wait, I’m confused,” Owen said. “Who’s Melanie?”
“Luke’s girlfriend from high school,” Theo answered.
“And she works at the garage?” Owen continued. “But she might be the head of an organized crime ring?”
“No, her only crime is driving me crazy,” I said.
“Be kinda cool if she was,” Owen said with a grin. “I mean, not really, because my dad would have to take her down. But it would make a good story when it was over.”
“I don’t know, I think our family has enough good stories,” Theo said. “We don’t need to add Luke dating the head of an organized crime ring.”
“I’m not dating Melanie,” I snapped.
“Dated,” Theo said. “I meant dated.”
Zachary chuckled. I glared at them both.
“How are things shaping up for football this season?” Dad asked Theo.
I glanced at Dad, and he gave me a quick wink.
Holy shit. My dad had changed the subject for me. I subtly tipped my chin to him so no one else would notice.
Dad’s subject-change diversion worked. Theo launched into his favorite topic—football. He had plans for their summer camp and the upcoming season. Owen had plenty to add, especially when it came to Tilikum’s rivalry with neighboring Pinecrest. Back in our day, some of that competitiveness would have been harnessed for pranking the Bailey brothers. But with the feud over, the kids of Tilikum had to do what normal small-town teenagers did and trash-talk their rival schools’ sports teams.
I finished my burger and my beer, glad no one was talking about Melanie or my apparently failed love life anymore.
Despite the shift in the conversation, I found myself thinking about her. What did it mean that her mom said her job was going well? Was Mel happy working at the garage? Was it all in my head that she’d seemed irritated with me for talking to Jenna?
And why did I care? It didn’t matter what she thought.
My family kept chatting, and I got up and went inside to get another beer. As I opened it, my phone buzzed with a text. It was Kyle. A race was on.
Knowing full well I shouldn’t race on a Sunday night—I’d be dragging ass the next day—I texted back that I’d be there. The temptation was too strong. I wanted the rush.
And maybe it was just what I needed to get Melanie out of my head.