I take a sip, then bite into another sausage. Suddenly something else she said hits me. “Max was disappointed that she couldn’t get a cheeseburger to taste like her mom’s.”
“There you go!” Xavier gives me a thumbs-up.
“Right,” Silas says. “And you have me. Just give me the recipe and I can help you out.”
“That’s the thing… I don’t have the recipe.” My shoulders sag. “Not only that, I’ve never even tasted her mother’s burgers.”
An oppressive silence falls over us.
“How am I going to replicate it?” If I can, I might have a chance. After all, it’s intensely sentimental, and she still loves her mom so much.
My brothers look at me helplessly. Or perhaps it’s hopelessly. Hard to tell in a situation like this. Actually, we’ve never been in this type of circumstance before.
“Did her mom have close friends? A brother or sister? Or some other relative who might know?” Xavier asks finally.
“Max mentioned something about an aunt, but it didn’t sound like they were particularly close. She said she hasn’t seen her or anything since her mother passed away.”
“Yeah, but that’s her and her aunt. Maybe her aunt had a good relationship with her mom, like mine and her aunt. You don’t know until you ask,” Finn says.
True enough. I straighten my back and shoulders. When have I ever feared a challenge? This is too important for me to give up without trying my damndest.
I pull out my phone.
–Me: Find out where Max’s aunt lives.
–Angelo: Got it.
–Me: And DON’T ASK MAX. There’s a pause before the reply comes.
–Angelo: Why not? That’s the easiest way.
–Me: Because I’m planning a surprise. This is top secret.
–Angelo: Secrets kill relationships.
I roll my eyes.
–Me: Not that kind of secret. If she knows, it won’t be a surprise now, will it?
–Angelo: Does this surprise maybe involve a ring?
Suddenly, I realize I haven’t even thought about the most basic fundamentals of a proposal. Cheeseburgers are nice, but Max deserves a ring. Plus I want something to show every asshole in the world she’s mine.
I put my phone down and turn to Liam. “I need a solitaire diamond ring.”
He blinks at me. “For Max?”
“Yeah. After I recreate her mom’s cheeseburger, I’m going to propose.”
Roarke shakes his head. “That might take a century.”
“Or just a few days, you negative asshole.”
“Do you know her ring size?” Gideon asks.
I blink. “No.” I didn’t think about it—I’ve never had to buy a ring.
Liam sighs theatrically. “That’s sad. How can you not know her ring size?”
