Page 39 of Ring Me

“Is that all you can say about him?” I laughed nervously.

“Well I just met him, honey.”

Me too, I thought.

“You're frowning. What's wrong?”

“Nothing, I'm fine,” I said hastily. “About Conner... there's more to him than just looks.”

“I figured. Otherwise you would have just brought Ben.”

Grimacing at my ex's name, I walked around my mom and towards the backyard. “I'm going outside. It's stuffy in here.”

Shielding my eyes, I stepped through the backdoor. I was hit with a number of things all at once; bright sunshine, loud voices, and the delicious smell of grilled meat.

And there, wearing a tan apron with Kiss the Cook sewn onto the front, tongs in hand, commanding the searing heat of the cherry-red grill... was Conner.

I blinked a few times to make sure I was seeing straight. Had I jumped back in time to our pancake morning? My grandfather was leaning on his walker next to him, laughing heartily while also overseeing the operation. Jemine's husband, Lennard, was hovering by the cooler, clearly trying to act like he didn't mind having his position as cook stolen away.

“Maya-bean!” Pappy crowed when he spotted me. “There's my girl. Thank you for finally bringing a real man around! This boy can cook!”

Lennard grumbled something—my aunt threw her head back and snorted. Conner shot me a bemused smile, turning a hot dog with his tongs. He did look like a pro in front of the smoking grill. Like some combination of Liam Hemsworth and a dad from a Lowe's Summer Catalog.

Suddenly my ovaries were assaulted. I was picturing Conner in the backyard of our own picturesque home as our kids ran around kicking a soccer ball, their giggles ringing in the air, and he'd kiss my cheek as he made sure the burgers and dogs were grilled to absolute perfection.

Everyone was staring at me. “Pappy, happy birthday,” I blurted.

His chin arced back as he let out a long, deep, satisfied chuckle. I knew he'd just turned 78, but he radiated energy and light. His body had changed with time, but not his soul. Before he could walk to me I rushed to him and crouched down, wrapping him in a firm hug. “It's so good to see you, Maya,” he said in my ear.

“You too.” Squeezing him extra tight, I let go and stood. Conner was smiling at me over Pappy's head. I recognized the love in his eyes—the way he saw my love for my grandfather. It was a moment of clear understanding. A moment where he felt like an old friend and not a stranger.

My mother's comment about Ben came back to me. It soured my stomach, so I kissed Pappy's cheek and buried the feeling down deep. “I'm glad you approve of Conner's grilling skills,” I said.

“I learned from my mom,” Conner replied. “She was a GrillMaster.”

“That's really nice,” my own mom said, joining us by the grill. “Dad tried to teach me and Jemine, but we never had the gift.”

“Lord knows I tried to pass it on,” Pappy sighed.

My aunt offered a long platter to Conner. “Dogs look ready, load them up and let's taste your hard work.”

Once we were all sitting around the picnic table, our paper plates heavy with meat and potato salad, my aunt wasted no time getting down to business.

“Sooo,” she drawled out. “Show us that ring already.”

Blushing, I extended my hand with my fingers spread. She grabbed my wrist, as if she was catching an animal, grasping tight so she could peer at the diamond. I wondered if she thought it was fake. The gem wasn't. The engagement itself, well...

My aunt whistled. “That's gorgeous.” She let me go, turning her hawkish attention to Conner. “You must be well off to afford a rock like that.”

“Auntie!” I scolded.

“I'm just saying! It's huge! What do you do for a living, Conner?” Before he answered, she cut him off. “Weird I have to ask. Always thought I'd know my niece's future husband better by the time she was engaged to him.”

I wrung my fingers in my lap. I wanted to argue but I... couldn't. My backbone was melting away. I'd gone this far but I'd already lost my nerve, and what was I thinking, trying to fool my family into believing that some man they'd just met was someone I actually planned to marry?

“We both know this is coming as a surprise,” Conner said. I lifted my eyes—he was staring right at me with his vivid blue eyes. “I mean, I only met Maya recently. All of this has been breakneck speed. Crazy fast, really.” I cringed at his bluntness. “And I wouldn't change a thing.”

I blinked. Had I heard him right?

---