Picking Up the Pieces (Pieces, #2)(33)

"Right behind ya, doll."

I couldn’t help glancing over at Lily at my dad’s term of endearment. This hadn’t been the first time he’d said it, and she had to have noticed it by now. Her smile slipped a little and she shuffled her feet slightly before darting a quick look my way. Running my hand through my hair, I attempted to rein myself back in.

"Okay, people, time to go trolling for cougars. I'll see ya around." Trevor plopped his drink down onto the bar and made his way out to mingle.

"Is he serious?" Lily asked when he had gotten out of earshot.

"Sadly, yes."

"Gross," Lily whispered.

"Yes, yes, it is. He's actually quite popular with the over-forty crowd."

"Sounds like quite a guy," Lily said dryly.

She clearly didn't like Trevor, but I couldn't figure out why. I was about to ask her, when I realized I didn't give a shit. I didn't want to get into any serious conversations tonight. It was my birthday and I planned to enjoy it.

Lily and I chatted for a while as various family members and friends came over to wish me happy birthday. After about a half an hour, the servers announced that they were ready to bring out the first course. We all made our way to the lone, long table in the middle of the room. My mom directed everyone where to sit like a dictator as my dad made hand signals behind her back, mocking her in the most loving way possible. When she rounded on him, he threw his hand to his hair and smiled at her sheepishly. Even she couldn't hide the smile that lifted her lips as she slapped him softly in the stomach.

I ended up between my dad and Lily and was just about to pick up my fork and dive into my salad when I heard the clink of a glass.

"Excuse me," my mom interrupted.

Oh no. She wouldn't.

"I just wanted to take this opportunity, since we're surrounded by family and friends, to say a few words about Max."

Yup, she's gonna do it. I plopped my elbow on the table and sunk my head into it. I felt a sharp poke in my ribs and turned to Lily, who mouthed, "Behave" at me.

"Thirty years ago on this day, November 25, 1983 . . ."

I groaned as my mother slipped into her teacher voice and improved her posture as though she were giving "The Gettysburg Address." My father kicked me harshly under the table to stifle me. I pitched forward slightly so that I could grab the abused area on my shin and accidentally caused the table to shake. Hearing a throat clear, I directed my eyes to my mother, who raised her eyebrows as if to ask, "Are you done?" I straightened in my chair and mentally prepared myself for the embarrassment that awaited me.

"As I was saying, on that day, at 10:50 AM, the most beautiful thing happened to me—"

"Beautiful may be an exaggeration," my father interjected before he seemed to remember that he was not part of this monologue and fidgeted in his chair uncomfortably under my mom's intense stare. I happily returned his kick from a few moments prior and watched as he winced in discomfort. How's it feel, old man?

"Like father like son, I guess," my mom quipped, causing everyone to let loose a short murmur of laughter. "At 10:50 AM the doctor told me that I had a son. I remember my eyes filling with tears as he placed this tiny, beautiful baby into my arms. I couldn't even believe that he was mine. And as Bill hovered over me, trying to get a peek at his son, I turned my head toward the window and just as my eyes looked outside, it began to snow. The snow lasted for only a few minutes, but it came down hard enough to blanket the ground. And that's when I knew. The tiny being that we had brought into the world was going to be special." My mom turned to look at me, her eyes shining, and a wide smile on her face. "And I was so right. Every day with you, Max, is a blessing. Thank you for not only being who you are, but making me who I am as well. I love you, son."

I stood up to hug her and she gripped me tightly. It always amazed me how much these people loved me. I wasn't wholly sure I deserved it most days, but I was thankful for it anyway.

"If anyone wants the unabridged version of that day, you come see me," my dad remarked, trying to lighten the sentimental mood that had taken hold of the room.

"Bill," my mom said sweetly, causing my dad to turn his head toward her. "Zip it," she added sternly.

The table fell into easy conversation as we ate and shared stories of growing up. Lily actively participated, drawing my family in with the same charm that had attracted me to her.

At one point, after dinner had been cleared and we were waiting for dessert, she leaned toward me. "Your family is really something else."

"You got that right," I chortled.

"They're great, Max. Really great."

"Yeah, they're that too." I looked into her eyes and enjoyed the happiness I saw there. Enjoyed how well she fit into my family. Enjoyed how at ease she looked. I swore to myself right then that I would do everything in my power to keep the stress out of our friendship. I just wanted this: easygoing and pure.

Once dessert was finished, we all stood and moved about the room. Lily talked to my parents while I made my way to the bar with a few of my buddies.

"So, who's that chick talking to your parents?" Matt, a friend from high school, asked.

I glanced over at Lily, as if I didn't know who he was referring to, and then turned toward the bar. "Just a friend," I said as nonchalantly as possible. I hadn't told them about Lily. Any of them. They knew I had banged a girl in an airport because there was no way I wasn't going to get credit where credit was due. That was a stud move and I wanted acknowledgement for it. But I never told them her name, mostly because, at the time, I didn't know it. And then I mentioned running into my airport hottie again at Swift and partaking in some extra-curricular activities, but again, withheld the name. Only that time, I didn't want them to know it because I knew they'd be *s about it if they ever met her. And I also knew that she would be in deep shit if it ever got out that she was banging me on school property. After that, feelings got mixed in and I didn't want my friends to see what a * she'd turned me into. So, I just stopped talking about her and they never asked.