with a knot in my throat how I used to do this for Eli, too. When Max shrugged into the jacket, the transformation amazed me.
“You’re staring. Is it that bad?” Whirling, he studied himself in the mirror. “Holy shit.”
“You look like you’re about to have your picture shot for a men’s magazine.” No question, he had the lean build they preferred.
“I’d rather someone actually shot me.” But as Max’s dark gaze met mine in the mirror, a tiny smile curved his mouth. “Thanks. I want to look nice today. Prove everybody wrong.”
“Both the blazer and vest are on sale,” the salesman said. “The tie isn’t.”
“We’ll take all three. Can you cut the tags off before he comes up with a reason why not? He’ll wear the clothes out.”
Max grumbled as he followed me to the register. While the guy rang things up, I sent him off on a fool’s errand to look at handkerchiefs so I could ninja-pay. By the time he got back, I was already signing the receipt. His brows shot up.
“What the hell, Kaufman.”
“There’s no time to argue. The service starts in ten minutes.”
As expected, that motivated him; he rushed out of the shop and was starting the bike by the time I hopped on behind him. Wrapping my arms about his waist, I settled in, leaning my cheek against his back. Though I’d never admit it, this was the best part of the trip. I loved holding on to him, his stomach hot and taut beneath my curled fingers. Just out of the shower, Max smelled soapy clean, overlaid by the new smell of his jacket.
The funeral home was only five minutes away, and he parked close to the building. I suspected I hadn’t heard the last of this impulse-shopping spree, but Max had the sense to defer it. We slipped into the chapel as the minister walked slowly toward the podium at the front, pressing hands and smiling at familiar faces. I sat down in the back, expecting Max would join his family up front. Instead he nudged me to move over, granting him the chair on the aisle.
I wasn’t sure what I expected, but the ceremony was sedate. The minister gave a touching talk about meeting in the next life; there were three musical interludes and a very old man went to the microphone on a walker to talk about Max’s granddad. A few people sniffled but nobody cried. That seemed like the watermark of how nice you were in life. If people seemed okay with your passing, then you probably had some karmic restitution coming. Well, provided that the Hindus were right about reincarnation. Eli was a good guy. He might be somebody’s beloved new baby by now. How I wished I believed that. Certainty would be comforting.
While I was thinking about how awesome it would be to come back as a house cat, the service ended. Everyone filed up to say farewell, but I hung back. Max nodded, probably not understanding my hesitance, but he was good at picking up cues. Michael was one of the first through the line, and I smiled when he rolled toward me.
“Hey. Sorry about last night. I was really rude.”
“You and Max have some stuff to work out. I get it.”
“We do. But you and I don’t.” Okay, I definitely wasn’t imagining the flirty grin; I’d watched Max unleash it to devastating effect all through college. “You said you’re not his girlfriend, right?”
“We’re roommates, actually. You should come visit sometime.” After I said it, I realized we were on the second floor, and Michael seemed fiercely independent.
“Are you from Michigan originally?”
“Chicago. It was quite a culture shock. I didn’t even drive when I graduated.” The L took me everywhere I wanted to go since I had no reason to venture into the ’burbs.
“And that was when?”
“Are you seriously asking how old I am?” Reluctant amusement sparked a smile, one that Michael returned with interest.
“I’m curious. Sue me.”
“Twenty-one. If things go well, I’ll graduate this year.”
“Yet you don’t sound excited.”
“Eh, I’m a business major. It’s not the employer catnip that it used to be, so I’m not looking forward to working at Starbucks. And, wow, you’re good at this.”
“What?” He opened his eyes, innocent, but I wasn’t buying it.
“Charming information out of people.”
“You think I’m charming?”
Max joined us in time to hear the question. “Are you hitting on my brother again?”
Smart not to call him “little.” You’re learning.
“I’m just laying the groundwork, so he’ll remember me fondly when he’s legal and I’m the antisocial cat lady living in your basement.”
Michael answered before Max could. “I think you’re shooting too low. You could totally swing ground-floor accommodations if you lean in.”
Since I only knew about that book because of a sitcom and Google, I had to give him a fist bump for that one. “I’ll try not to let you down.”
“You want to ride with me to the cemetery? Dad’s going with Uncle Lou.” The offer included both of us, so I glanced at Max.
Ah, the mysterious uncle I didn’t meet last night.
“Yeah. If you’re sure it’s okay.” The hesitation in Max’s tone broke my heart because I knew exactly how long he rolled around last night, memories chewing him up from the inside.
“I’d rather not go alone.” Michael spun around and headed for the exit.
Up front, the casket was being removed out the side door, but we didn’t stick around to watch it happen. Michael opened the rear doors and unfolded the ramp, then wheeled up to the driver’s seat. Max and I hopped in, then pulled it up after us and closed up. I sat in back, leaving the front to the brothers. They talked quietly during the ride, and I tried not to eavesdrop.
Max, you should tell him.
The drive took almost forty minutes, and I texted with Nadia most of that time.
So Angus tells me you ran off with Max.
Yeah, we figured we’d get our first trial marriage out of the way early.
You realize I’m completely helpless without emoticons. You might be in Vegas right now!
I’ll explain later. Everything’s okay.
She texted me three more times but I ignored those. Max finally glanced over his shoulder. “Who’s beeping you so hard, Kaufman?”
“Some things are just too private to share,” I teased.
“Are you sexting?” He lunged for my phone.
To keep the joke going longer, I shoved it down the front of
