Page 42 of You, Again
“The NHL hometown hero.”
I didn’t bother denying it. As Jean-Claude noted, I was a terrible liar.
“I—it’s—don’t say anything,” I sputtered. “I’m not kidding. This is new, and he’s…”
“Not so straight,” he finished, raising his hands in surrender before making a button-lip gesture. “My lips are sealed. But are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“Of course not. It’s a terrible idea,” I scoffed. “It’s just a summer thing and it won’t last, but he’s my brother’s—”
“Shh. I am like a vault. I tell no secrets.”
“Thanks.”
“It’s okay. Have fun and…be careful, yes?” JC waited for my nod of agreement, concern etched in the corners of his mouth. Then he pointed at the door. “Good. Now out of my kitchen. Go. Your mother and Mary-Kate are here. Bother them, not me. I’ll bring you samples when I’m ready.”
“Soon, I hope. I’m hungry,” I grumbled, chuckling when he threw a carrot at me.
“Out!”
The smell of apple pie, french fries, and summertime mingled with soft chatter and laughter in the dining room. Midafternoons were pretty mellow in the restaurant.
I waved at our hostess, Marlene, and made my way over to the counter, where my mom and Mary-Kate were hovering over a laptop.
“What kind of trouble are you two getting into?” I asked, squinting at the computer screen.
“Hi, Uncle Nol. We’re shopping for new books.”
“Again? What happened toAnne of Green Gables?”
Mary-Kate furrowed her brow. “I finished that ages ago.”
Oh. That seemed like something I should have known, but in my quest to get up close and personal with Vinnie’s dick, I’d been lapsing in basic guncle duty. I still saw my niece daily, either here at the diner or at my mom’s, but we usually had at least one outing a week on our own—a trip to the ice cream parlor, the nail salon, the bookstore. I had to step up my game.
“Hey, I have an idea. How about if you and I go book shopping in Pinecrest? We can stop for ice cream on the way home.”
She swiveled on her stool and gasped gleefully. “For real? Now?”
I winced. “I have to work now, but…how about tomorrow?”
Mary-Kate jumped off her stool and lunged for me. “Yes, yes, yes! Thank you! What time?”
I mentally ran through my calendar. “I’m free after practice tomorrow. Four-thirty.”
“Perfect,” Mom chimed in. “I’ll drop you off at the rink to save Uncle Nol a second trip.”
Mary-Kate grinned. “Yay! Let’s shake on it.”
We both shimmied, flailing our arms like the Gumby inflatable in front of the tire store on Main Street. This was our sacred uncle-niece version of a secret handshake. I hoped we were still doing it when she had kids of her own someday.
“Sounds like a lovely date.” Mom smiled and primly tucked a stray piece of her short gray hair behind her ear.
“I can’t wait!” Mary-Kate pushed her red-framed glasses into place on her freckled nose with her forefinger in a move that made her look just like her grandmother. Yeah, the kid was spending way too much time with adults. “I’m going to tell JC and see if he needs help in the kitchen, okay?”
“Yeah, but make sure it’s okay with him. You know how he gets,” I warned.
Mary-Kate beamed. “Mais oui. Merci!”
“And wash your hands,” Mom called out, sliding onto the stool Mary-Kate had abandoned and leaning against my side. “You, my darling, just made that girl’s day.”