Ring by Spring

5 - Max

School kept me busy. On top of that, Holly's wedding was about a week away - and seemed to get closer and closer every day; I couldn't imagine how she was feeling about it. Despite it all, I still managed to get in more hours at work than I had the previous year. It was something that relieved my stress instead of causing more. I enjoyed time spent with my coworkers, but my friend group had also decided to make it their hangout, so I would usually always see someone I knew whenever I was there.

It was mid-morning, and business was slow. Bertie and I sat at the counter - he sipped black coffee while I worked on homework - and I thought he was kidding when he said, "Is that your entourage?" Then my parents came through the door, leading a group of all-too-familiar faces.

"Hello, darling." Mom hugged me and kissed my cheek like she hadn't seen me only a few weeks prior, and talked to me on the phone and texted after that...I knew my parents missed me more than they'd ever admit. It may not have been quite as bad as last year, but they were still adjusting. Maybe by junior year, it wouldn't seem strange to them not to have me home regularly.

"Bertie," said Dad. They shook hands.

"Ellie's here, too," he said, and she put aside her homework to say hello. Mom hugged her, too. Jesse raised an eyebrow, then punched Dominic in the shoulder - best he could. Some things hadn't changed since high school.

"College visit," he said, explaining his presence before I could ask. "And we have some tag-alongs."

"How else do you propose I fill my vacant time?" Summer flashed the tongue ring she'd gotten as a teenager.

"I don't know - reign over your fashion empire? And your poet husband should be writing his way to another Pulitzer."

"It gets lonely," Denzel said, his voice quiet, low, and tipped with melancholy, like always. He looked significantly less gaunt and grey.

"We're glad to see you." Ellie stepped up and charmed him with her smile.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." She grinned, then passed him and hopped up to sit on the counter. (Bertie glowered, but it was habitual, and a little forced.)

Jesse's curiosity bubbled over.

"Hello, little lady," he said, approaching her at the counter and looking up. It was funny enough on its own, but when Ellie glanced at me and giggled, I couldn't help laughing louder than I meant to. Bertie even choked on his coffee.

"Hi." Ellie offered her hand, and Jesse took it, pulling her off the counter, catching her in a hug. Her surprise had a brief lifespan; soon she was laughing again.

"Have you heard a lot about me?"

"Was I supposed to? Max, you've been slacking."

"I think we have some mutual friends." Bertie often intimidated without knowing it, with his crossed arms and intense eyes combined with lack of a smile, but it didn't faze Jesse. He knew better.

"Yeah, we do," he said. "Your parents helped us out with some investments - and you went to school with Petra Rothschild."

"My parents always wanted me to date the governor's daughter."

"I remember. I'm sorry." I hadn't heard Jesse talk like this in over a year, but Bertie's facial expression didn't give me any clues.

"Well, I'm glad to have been fully introduced to your family. Here's mine. The boys aren't here today, but I do have my beautiful wife, and this is my daughter - " but when he peeked behind Lavender, she wasn't there. Jesse went to his pocket for his phone, and he had it halfway out when Denzel stopped him.