The Elite Press (Complete)

Introductions: Family

Dinner was nice and Max didn't expect that. Slade seemed smart. Probably smarter than most that Brooke brought home. Pretty and smart. He had a sense of humor and a great personality to go with the pretty face and sexy body. Max was sure that Slade had a sexy body. He noticed that the jeans fit Slade perfectly.

Slade ate sparingly. "So, what kind of doctor are you?" He looked at Max. It didn't escape his attention that Max was watching him.

Max met his eye contact. "A general doctor. Family practice. I am prepared for just about everything. I got to help deliver a baby last week. A sweet little boy." Max sighed.

He knew he would never have children or get married. He kind of wanted to at times. He was lonely but that feeling would pass. It's the reason that he hated Christmas. He felt more lonely during this time. He figured that most people did. He had no one special to share things with or talk to. He figured he never would but this Christmas he had Slade to look at. That was something.

Slade smiled at Max but noticed a sad expression but it was gone. "That is awesome! Really. I have never done something like that!"

Brooke smiled. "You are the drummer for a very successful band. You play for thousands. It's better than being a doctor in some stupid small town." She glared at Max.

Max smiled. "She has me there." He stood and took his plate to the sink. "Well, thanks for dinner, Dad. I will see you this Friday at the Christmas ball."

"Stay and get to know Slade." Bill wanted Max to be there too. He didn't know what to say to this tattooed person. "Stay. Max."

Max sighed. He knew his dad needed him to stay. "Fine." He sat. Dinner continued in silence. "So, Dad works at the saw mill."

Slade smiled. "I heard. A manager. Right?"

Bill smiled. "Yes." And there was silence for a little while. Too long. Brooke was on her phone and didn't notice and didn't seem to notice the looks between Slade and Max. They didn't escape Bill's attention. He just smiled.

Max laughed and covered his face. "We are so bad at small talk!"

Slade chuckled. "I am too."

Brooke glared up from her phone. She was waiting for a text from her friends in LA. "So, I put in an application for a magazine! I hope to get it. I can move from this place." She still lived with Bill.

"What magazine?" Bill was curious.

"It's a food magazine called Chef. I can't wait. I will be working in advertising." Brooke smiled.

"Really?" Max looked shocked. He was actually. "A real job?"

Brooke glared. "Yes. A real job, asshole. But if I get considered for the job, I have to fly to Seattle for the interview. They are flying me and paying for my stay. Don't worry."

"Sounds promising." Bill smiled.

Brooke inhaled. "If I get it, I will have to move to Seattle."

"Permanently?" Bill watched her.

"Yes, but I can still get home. They have invented planes for such occasions!" Brooke smiled. "You can come out, take a vacation, bring Boring with you. I can give you a tour of the city." She smiled at her brother. She didn't know him that well but she loved to tease him. They really had nothing in common and he was eight years older than her. He intimidated her but she would never tell anyone that.

Max smiled. "If you get that job and it works out, I will think about it." He didn't take vacations. "I will be so proud of you, Brooke."

Bill glared. "You should be. She is smart, Max."

"I know that. She just doesn't apply herself. This is new and I love it." Max smiled.

"Well, I leave next Wednesday to go to that LA party for New Year's Eve. Someone has to keep an eye on Slade while I'm gone." Brooke smiled.

Max glared. He really wanted to raise his hand, bounce up and down in his chair and volunteer to watch Slade. He stayed calm. "He is a grown man. I'm sure he'll be fine." He looked at Slade and saw a smile.

Bill smiled. "I'm sure but he can hang out here and Max can watch him."

"Max can watch him?" Max glared. "He isn't a puppy and Max didn't volunteer. I am working all week!" He would quit his profession and live in a box to watch Slade.

Slade smiled. "I appreciate it but I will be going to finish our tour next week so it works out. I'll be just fine, but thanks."

Max covered his face. "I'm sorry if I insulted you." He dropped his hands. "I just...I work from eight to five. I'm not much into entertaining."

"I understand, Max. I love to entertain and I am never bored. Don't worry about it." Slade smiled at Max.

"Max isn't bored either but he is where boring goes to die." Brooke glared at her brother.

Max flipped her off. Bill glared. "Not a the table, Max!"

Slade laughed. "So, you work on New Years?"

Max sighed and looked at his father. "Don't start. I do. I get a lot of patients actually. I stay busy." He looked at the table and sighed. He looked at Slade. "So, any siblings, Slade?"

Slade nodded, trying to recover from that look that Max just had. That was the sexiest shy look he ever saw on anyone and Max never noticed. Slade was about to drool. "I have a huge family and we are close. I am number three out of seven kids. My parents are still married, almost forty years."

"Wow! That's amazing. Good for them." Max smiled.

"Forty years!" Bill looked surprised. "I made it to fifteen."

Max sighed. "Well, I am leaving. Sorry. I have things to do. I love you all." He stood and walked out. He almost peeled out of the driveway.

"Uh, what was that?" Brooke stared at the window.

Bill shrugged. "No idea." He took his plate to the sink and sighed. Slade noticed a change in the atmosphere but had no clue what changed it. The divorce was a touchy subject, clearly.

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Hope you are enjoying the story! Thanks for hanging on!!!