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“They were...interesting,” said Lars. “Instructional.”
I just smiled. Any day I converted a reader to romance was a good day.
“Hear you’re heading back to work on Monday,” said Henning.
“Mostly in a supervisory capacity.” Lars waved his cast in the air. “Not good for much until this comes off.”
“I imagine you’ll be glad to move back home,” said Deborah. “You were always so keen on having your own space.”
He shrugged. “Lived with Tore for years.”
“But never with a girlfriend,” said Deborah. “We were surprised you chose to stay at Susie’s. And I’m sure she’s eager to have her house to herself again.”
I kept my mouth shut. This seemed like another situation where the less I said the better.
Lars hadn’t volunteered any information regarding plans to move back to his condo and I hadn’t asked. I liked him just fine where he was. Not that I was ready to invite him to stay long-term, or anything. And as for being labeled his girlfriend...hmm. Interesting. No alarm bells were ringing inside my head. Despite my fear of dating, I guess I didn’t mind. After some sexing and almost a week of living together I was willing to admit we were something. I just wasn’t sure what, exactly.
“This isn’t the first time he’s been injured,” said Henning. “Tell Susie about all of the times Lars hurt himself when he was little.”
“Oh, goodness.” Deborah smiled broadly. “He always was a handful. Bucked off a pony he wasn’t supposed to be on at a petting zoo at the age of five. That was two broken fingers. Hit by a falling potted plant at a friend’s house when he was eight. Seven stitches on the top of his head. I still have no idea how that even happened. Ran into a log at the park when he was eleven. They had this play fort and...well. Five stitches to his forehead. The scar disappeared into his hairline as he grew, fortunately. Then he fell off his bike when he was fourteen. No stitches or broken bones, but lots of nasty little cuts on his back and a sprained ankle. Those were all of the major incidents.”
“Holy shit,” I said. Then I winced. “Sorry. I mean gosh.”
Deborah actually laughed. “You should have heard some of the language I used when they were growing up.”
“You’d think Tore would be the problem child,” said Lars. “But strangely not.”
“You always had to go first.” His mother waggled a finger at him. “Lars led the way. Undisputed leader of the pack. That’s what we used to say.”
“It was either that or let Tore crack his skull open attempting something stupid.” Lars smiled. “Though it meant I always got in trouble for everything, too.”
Henning chuckled. “You did a good job keeping your siblings out of trouble. Even if it did come at a cost.”
“Your sister rolled off a top bunk in her sleep one time and broke her arm,” continued Deborah. “Tore really only ever had his tonsils and wisdom teeth out.”
“Show Susie the photo albums of Lars when he was little,” said Henning, placing a dish of grilled chicken and vegetables on the table.
“Do not bring out the baby photos,” said Lars, handing me a plate.
“Why not?” asked his father. “A big healthy naked baby lying on a sheepskin rug. What’s there to be ashamed of?”
Lars frowned.
“I need to see that photo and possibly take a copy.” I bit back a smile. “Please.”
“No,” said Lars. “What about you? Any childhood injuries?”
“Um, I broke my foot skateboarding when I was ten or so. Mom made Aunt Susan get rid of the board after that.”
“You could have been one of the greats.”
“I definitely could not have been one of the greats.” I laughed. “But thank you for your vote of confidence.”
Deborah suddenly stiffened, her head turned toward the neighboring property where Aaron’s mother was now tending to the plants on her back deck with much serenity and grace. I’d been willing to ignore his claim of her hating me as another attempt to get under my skin. Given Deborah had returned to giving me guarded looks, however, I guess it was true. Who knows what they’d been saying about me?
While other people’s opinion of me was none of my business, this bullshit I could do without.
“Hey,” said Lars. “Come here.”
“Yeah?”
He grabbed me by the back of my neck like a Neanderthal and kissed me. Which was kind of great. Clearly, he was on my side.
“Hannah left,” announced Deborah apropos of nothing.
Lars frowned. “What?”
“Just boarded a plane to London this morning and left. No explanation. No nothing. Put her engagement ring on the kitchen counter and walked out.” Deborah sighed. “Aaron’s taking it very hard, as you’d imagine.”
Lars said nothing.
“I thought he might have reached out to you.” She cleared her throat. “I don’t know what happened between you and him, Susie. But what I do know, Lars, is that he’s been a good friend to you for a long time. It’s a pity that you feel you have to choose between him and your new girlfriend.”
