does that?”
Max shrugged. “Perhaps storage is expensive.”
She grunted. “I guess.”
“The fire at the apartment was bad?”
“Very bad,” she said, turning into a driveway near the end of a cul-de-sac. “Chris
was looking for trapped people when the ceiling caved in on top of him. Another
firefighter broke both of his legs in the fall. They were pulled out of the crumbling
apartment just minutes before the roof collapsed.” She shuddered and killed the engine.
“Scary stuff.”
Max couldn’t find the words. He just nodded. Thinking of how easily Chris could
have been killed made bile rise in his throat.
“This is it.” She took her keys from the ignition and dropped them in her purse.
“Doesn’t really compare to your grand chateau.”
He chuckled at her playful wink. “It’s cozy.”
She laughed and climbed out of the car. He walked around to the trunk and
grabbed his bag then followed her into the brick ranch-style house. The moment he
crossed the threshold, the scent that was so perfectly Chris filled his nose. The smell
recalled a host of memories. Like a sucker punch to the gut, Max remembered the last
time he’d tucked his nose against Chris’ neck and inhaled that delicious scent.
“You okay?” McKenzie studied him.
“Fine.” His voice was rough so he cleared his throat. He cast a glance around the
living room filled with comfy furniture and electronic gadgets. One wall was covered
with pictures. Max drew closer out of curiosity. His eyes danced over the snapshots of
80
Swap Meet
Chris as a kid playing baseball and a teen in a football uniform. There were photos
taken during his time at the fire academy and plenty of Chris with McKenzie and the
two people he assumed to be their parents.
McKenzie moved to stand next to him. She tapped a picture of Chris making a
funny face behind their father’s head. “Chris was such a goof.” She pointed to another
series of photos. “He loves being the center of attention.”
She gave him a quick tour of the house before writing down her cell number and
the address of Chris’ house just in case he wanted to call a cab. McKenzie handed over
the keys to the place. “I’m heading back to the hotel where my parents are staying. I
have a room there. I think they need me right now. If you need anything, don’t hesitate
to call, okay?”
He pocketed the keys. “I won’t.”
McKenzie surprised him by throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight.
“I’m so glad you came, Max. Chris really needs you.”
He returned her embrace. “I’m grateful you called.”
She patted his cheek before heading toward the front door. “I’ll pick you up in the
morning for breakfast. It’s time you met my parents.”
Before Max could protest, she’d disappeared. He had a feeling she wouldn’t have
listened anyway.
Left alone in Chris’ house, the reality of the situation finally sank in, and hard. Max
couldn’t get the image of Chris in that hospital bed out of his mind. He could smell the
fire and feel the flames licking at his own skin. Just thinking of Chris crushed beneath
burning debris made him weak with fear.
Max needed to ground himself somehow. He wandered into Chris’ bedroom.
Standing in the doorway, he eyed the bed with its rumpled covers. Tees and jeans and
socks littered the room. An amused smile tugged at his mouth. During the few times
they’d spent time together, Chris’ sloppiness had exasperated Max. He liked his spaces
clean and neat. Chris seemed to thrive on chaos.
81
Lolita Lopez
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Max wondered how in the world they were going to
mesh their lives. How quickly would he tire of picking up Chris’ dirty socks?
Max stopped himself. What was he thinking? Just because he’d come all this way,
there was no guarantee Chris would have him back. Despite McKenzie’s assertions
Chris had been preparing to apologize and beg forgiveness, it hadn’t happened
Max shrugged. “Perhaps storage is expensive.”
She grunted. “I guess.”
“The fire at the apartment was bad?”
“Very bad,” she said, turning into a driveway near the end of a cul-de-sac. “Chris
was looking for trapped people when the ceiling caved in on top of him. Another
firefighter broke both of his legs in the fall. They were pulled out of the crumbling
apartment just minutes before the roof collapsed.” She shuddered and killed the engine.
“Scary stuff.”
Max couldn’t find the words. He just nodded. Thinking of how easily Chris could
have been killed made bile rise in his throat.
“This is it.” She took her keys from the ignition and dropped them in her purse.
“Doesn’t really compare to your grand chateau.”
He chuckled at her playful wink. “It’s cozy.”
She laughed and climbed out of the car. He walked around to the trunk and
grabbed his bag then followed her into the brick ranch-style house. The moment he
crossed the threshold, the scent that was so perfectly Chris filled his nose. The smell
recalled a host of memories. Like a sucker punch to the gut, Max remembered the last
time he’d tucked his nose against Chris’ neck and inhaled that delicious scent.
“You okay?” McKenzie studied him.
“Fine.” His voice was rough so he cleared his throat. He cast a glance around the
living room filled with comfy furniture and electronic gadgets. One wall was covered
with pictures. Max drew closer out of curiosity. His eyes danced over the snapshots of
80
Swap Meet
Chris as a kid playing baseball and a teen in a football uniform. There were photos
taken during his time at the fire academy and plenty of Chris with McKenzie and the
two people he assumed to be their parents.
McKenzie moved to stand next to him. She tapped a picture of Chris making a
funny face behind their father’s head. “Chris was such a goof.” She pointed to another
series of photos. “He loves being the center of attention.”
She gave him a quick tour of the house before writing down her cell number and
the address of Chris’ house just in case he wanted to call a cab. McKenzie handed over
the keys to the place. “I’m heading back to the hotel where my parents are staying. I
have a room there. I think they need me right now. If you need anything, don’t hesitate
to call, okay?”
He pocketed the keys. “I won’t.”
McKenzie surprised him by throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight.
“I’m so glad you came, Max. Chris really needs you.”
He returned her embrace. “I’m grateful you called.”
She patted his cheek before heading toward the front door. “I’ll pick you up in the
morning for breakfast. It’s time you met my parents.”
Before Max could protest, she’d disappeared. He had a feeling she wouldn’t have
listened anyway.
Left alone in Chris’ house, the reality of the situation finally sank in, and hard. Max
couldn’t get the image of Chris in that hospital bed out of his mind. He could smell the
fire and feel the flames licking at his own skin. Just thinking of Chris crushed beneath
burning debris made him weak with fear.
Max needed to ground himself somehow. He wandered into Chris’ bedroom.
Standing in the doorway, he eyed the bed with its rumpled covers. Tees and jeans and
socks littered the room. An amused smile tugged at his mouth. During the few times
they’d spent time together, Chris’ sloppiness had exasperated Max. He liked his spaces
clean and neat. Chris seemed to thrive on chaos.
81
Lolita Lopez
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Max wondered how in the world they were going to
mesh their lives. How quickly would he tire of picking up Chris’ dirty socks?
Max stopped himself. What was he thinking? Just because he’d come all this way,
there was no guarantee Chris would have him back. Despite McKenzie’s assertions
Chris had been preparing to apologize and beg forgiveness, it hadn’t happened
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