Page 70 of Getting the Grinder
Chapter Twenty-Three
Leo
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“Mara, you’re so beautiful. I wonder if your kids will get your pretty brown eyes.”
I sigh softly, squeezing Mara’s hand. My parents just met Mara five minutes ago, and my mom’s already dropping hints about our future children.
“You’re so sweet, thank you,” Mara says. “Everyone says I look just like my mom.”
“Finally settling down, Leo?” my Uncle Rob asks, shaking my hand in greeting. “It’s about time. Puck bunnies keep your bed warm, but they don’t have dinner waiting when you get home.”
“Hey, Uncle Rob.”
It’s the first time I’ve brought a woman home, and my family is excited to say the least. Family members who weren’t supposed to come until tomorrow decided to come early since Mara and I won’t be here then. My parents’ modest ranch is loud and festive, with sixteen extended family members here. Mara’s meeting my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and my cousins’ kids.
“What do you do for a living, Mara?” my dad asks.
While the kids play, the adults are congregated in the living room and kitchen, talking and snacking on food my mom has out. When I told her Mara and I were coming for Christmas Eve, she quickly planned a full celebration. My dad smoked two briskets and Mom made a bunch of sides and appetizers.
“I’m an assistant state’s attorney. I work in the traffic division.”
“An attorney?” My dad gives me an approving look. “So she’s Smart and beautiful.”
“She’s also funny and compassionate,” I say. “I’m still not sure what she sees in me.”
“Well, you’re rich,” my cousin Chelsea says.
That gets some weak laughs. I know Mara must be working overtime to hold back the quips that usually fly out of her mouth after comments like that.
My parents don’t serve alcohol in their house, so she’s meeting my family without the assistance of wine. I have a bottle of her favorite wine packed in my suitcase for later. We told my parents we’re staying at her parents’ house tonight and her parents we’re staying at my parents’ house tonight. But really, we’re staying at a hotel. Overnight would be too much for the first time meeting each other’s families.
“So what’s up with your knee, Leo?” my cousin Tony asks.
“Torn meniscus. I’m rehabbing it.”
“Are you getting surgery?”
“As of now, no. But if rehab doesn’t work, I might have to.”
He furrows his brow. “That’s gotta be rough, missing games.”
“It is?”
“Do you still get paid for games you don’t play in?” Chelsea asks.
“Yeah.”
My mom comes in and sits on the arm of the recliner my dad is sitting in. She does that when she’s busy in the kitchen, but eager to be included in the living room conversation.
“So, Mara, how did you and Leo meet?” Mom asks.
Mara smiles at me. “We’ve known each other for a while. My friend Suki married Leo’s friend Carter, and we all spend a lot of time together.”
“Was it love at first sight?”
I squeeze her hand, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. “Not exactly.”
