My parents knew who Max was, and I’m pretty sure Mom even knew how I felt about him, so the introduction shouldn’t be more than a formality. Mom had finally accepted the fact that Seth and I weren’t going to be more than friends. She seemed to be okay with it. I doubted any parents would be happy with the idea that their daughter had decided to take off for a few months with her boyfriend. Maybe I’d save that topic for later. The drive to my house was quick, and, sure enough, we had beaten both Mom and Dad home.
Max sat on the couch with no outward anxiety at all. I heard Mom’s car pull in the driveway, and I must’ve tensed up because Max reached down and collected my hand in his. She opened the kitchen door and saw us sitting in the family room. She walked over immediately and introduced herself, “Hi, I’m Molly, you must be Max?”
“Mrs. Davis, it’s very nice to meet you.”
Mom sat down on the recliner across the room and began the first stage of twenty questions, “So, Lauren tells me you are a paramedic. That must be an exciting job?”
“It can be. I was in training for the last few months in New Orleans, so I’m not completely in the swing of things again. But I’m getting there.”
“That’s a very nice truck,” as she pointed out the window. “Paramedic pay must be better than I realized.”
“Mom!” My embarrassment echoed in my voice.
Max just smirked, “It’s fun to drive and convenient at drive-up windows.”
“I’ll bet it is fun to drive,” Mom gushed with more enthusiasm than I would have expected.
“I live in Ridgeville, and there are times that the fun to drive function comes in handy.” Max had never mentioned Ridgeville. I knew he only used his apartment for work. How strange that the first mention of his home wasn’t to me, but to my mom.
Mom continued her grilling until my father walked through the front door thirty minutes later. She stood up, “Excuse me, it’s my night to cook, and I haven’t even started dinner yet.” I relaxed a little, knowing that the worst was over. It was Mom’s approval that was required; my father would like anyone I liked. Dad sat down, and we went through his round of questions. After a full hour with both my parents, I stood up and announced, “Max and I are going out for dinner. I’ll see you later.” Max was surprised at this announcement but followed without complaint.
Once we were in the truck he asked, “Why the abrupt departure? You didn’t even mention our after graduation trip to either of them?”
“Sometimes less is more. I like the idea of them meeting you, deciding that they like you before I announce that we are taking off for a couple months together. No sense pushing our luck the very first day you meet them.”
We drove the whole way to his apartment without a word and were all the way inside before anything was spoken. Max began with, “I was thinking the Great Smoky Mountain National Forest. Have you ever been there?”
At that moment my cell phone rang. I held a finger in the air, pausing the conversation with Max, so I could answer this unknown call.
It was Paul, “Hi, Lauren, I’m out. I’m staying at my grandmother’s house. I don’t know how to thank you for posting bail for me. I really wasn’t expecting it. I promise I’ll pay you back, every dime.”
“Don’t sweat it. Can you hold on for a minute?” I turned to Max with my hand over the phone and quietly asked, “I want to meet with Paul. You asked me earlier to ‘involve’ you when I did something you felt might be dangerous. Do you want me to meet him at a coffee shop or at his grandmother’s house?”
Max’s lip tightened into two thin hard lines, his brow furrowed, and every muscle in his face seemed to be tight, “I don’t want you to meet with him at all.”
“That wasn’t one of the options. Grandma’s or coffee shop?”
“Can I talk to him?” I handed the phone over. “Paul, this is Lauren’s boyfriend, Max. Lauren wants to meet with you, but I’d rather she not meet with you by herself. I’m sure you understand. Will your grandmother be upset if we come over or do you want to meet in a coffee shop?”
Max paused for a minute while Paul answered him. “Fair enough. We’ll see you in fifteen minutes.” He pressed the end button on my cell phone and with an over-emphasized sigh, “Let’s go.”