The Girl and The Specialist

Chapter 14: THE ANNUAL LENNOX REUNION

It's been a week since we celebrated Ron and I's birthdays and, thanks to Ron, I'm on the way to be fully healed. Well, as healed as I can be. Even though I can walk, Ron still watches me like a hawk. It's Labor Day weekend which means a new school year and the annual Lennox family reunion. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of finishing high school and being able to just relax.

"Will, your mom called. She and your siblings are on their way.", mom stated, her words pulling me from my thoughts, "Your younger brother isn't going to make it. He got busted driving drunk and with an open bottle of vodka in the passenger seat. Your mother said he's sitting in the Chisago County jail awaiting trial. His daughters are with their mom in Maine visiting her family."

"Figures.", dad scoffed, "Thomas could never drive without being drunk. What about Hailey and your mom?"

"I haven't heard from my mom or my sister yet. Hailey's daughter, Jenna called. She said she'll be here later tonight as she's working until 5. She said she'd swing by her place and pick up Emily.", mom answered, squealing, "I can't believe she's 2 months old already."

"Yeah, no kidding.", dad smiled, "Hey, have you heard from Kelsey? I've been trying to call her for the last week."

"She sent me a text this morning asking why you didn't answer your phone.", mom said, gesturing to said device, "She also said that she was coming and apologizes for not getting back sooner as her boyfriend's sister was having her baby. Did Rick ever get back to you?"

"Uh, yes. He did. He said they were going over to his wife's mom's for the day and having dinner with her."

"He's married?"

"Oh!", dad laughed as he looked up from the list he was writing for dinner, "Cousin Rick. Yeah, he's coming. He said he was picking up dad on his way over."

"Oh, that'll be nice. I don't remember the last time he was over.", mom smiled, "What a treat."

I sighed as I looked up from my phone, having invited a few people of my own who were guaranteed to show. I pushed myself up off the couch and turned around to look out the front window. To my surprise, I spotted a familiar grey Subaru. They're early. My parents protested as I headed outside to greet my grandmother and aunt Hailey. I jogged over to the two and hugged them tightly once they were out of the vehicle. 

"Oh, it's so nice to see you, Lori. We heard you had a guest in your room already, so we got a hotel this year. Your cousin Jay will be here soon. He wanted to shower before he came over.", grandma explained to me as we walked up to the house.

The door opened and Ron stood there- shirtless and arms crossed. I avoided eye contact in an attempt to hide my blush. Of course he was in the middle of getting ready. I walked past him, my grandmother right behind me. She and my aunt thanked him as they walked by. I heard a loud horn from outside and quickly jogged past Ron, dodging his attempt to grab me.

"I didn't know they were coming.", mom said as I left again.

"Me either.", dad agreed, his voice quieted from the distance.

I recognized the large truck. He'd come over once to speak with dad about something before. I took quick notice of the other vehicles that were approaching. How many people were on this team? I stopped next to the large semi as Orion hopped out. I saluted him with a smile, and he returned the gesture.

"How are you doing, Lori?", he asked, shutting the door behind him.

"Lori Lee Lennox!", Ron called out, "Get back in the house!"

Before I could turn around and do anything, Ron lifted me up, hugging me against his bare chest. It wasn't often I saw him shirtless, and it gets me every time. I squealed and started laughing as he tickled my sides. Ron eventually decided to show mercy and stopped. My laughter died down to fits of giggles.

"Looks like the two of you have grown close.", Orion commented.

"You have no idea. You staying?", Ron asked and Orion nodded, "Come on in."

A couple days ago, dad officially told Ron that our home was his home. He even gave him a key. Ron picked me up and swung me over his left shoulder, his hand gripping my lower thighs so I wouldn't fall. The two kept talking as they walked inside, the rest of the team parking and joining everyone soon after. The entire time Ron was walking, I couldn't help but take in how muscular he looked. I began remembering the night I sprained my ankle and started blushing again.

Over the next few hours, more of the guests arrived and by 4:45, dad was handing me the package of burgers and another of brats. Ever since dad taught me how to cook on the grill, it's been something he's asked me to do any time he wanted something grilled. Apparently, I cook better than he does. I turned on the grill just as my uncle, Jack, walked over with a bag of spices and mom handed me tin foil along with a few other things she wanted cooked on the grill.

"Are these the right ones?", Uncle Jack asked, handing me the bag.

I nodded and he headed back to join his wife. I set a few burgers and brats on the grill along with the onions, potatoes, and peppers mom wanted me to cook. While the grill did its thing, I headed inside and upstairs to my room. I pulled out my swimsuit and quickly changed into it. Seconds after I was done, Ron walked in.

"What are you doing?", Ron asked.

"What? It's hot out. I want to go swimming.", I answered, my voice finally back to normal, "I'll be fine. I can swim without the boot; it won't affect me or my healing."

"Fine. By the way, I've noticed you don't talk to your parents. Only me.", Ron noted, "Why?"

I sighed, "I feel more comfortable around you and like I'm supposed to talk to you. I'm just not ready to say anything to my parents- or the rest of my family."

Ron nodded in understanding and headed into the massive closet we had split in half. I stole Ron's jacket he had draped over my office chair after grabbing a towel from the closet and headed outside. I set the jacket and towel on a chair nearby and pulled off the velcro from my boot. Slowly, I slid my sweaty foot out and limped over to the pool. I walked down the stairs into the cold water and started swimming, my injured foot unaffected.  Ron joined me soon after and I had to get out after swimming for 5 minutes, knowing the food was done.

I dished out burgers and brats to those who wanted it and topped it with onions and peppers if they asked. The potatoes became the side dish as well as some deviled eggs, green beans, and mom's cucumber salad. The whole family arrived just in time for dinner. Once I was finished, my cousin, Kelsey, came over to me.

"Come on, I want to catch up.", she stated, we snuck away from the rest of the family and headed up to my room, "Okay, I didn't really want to catch up. I mean, I do, but I have a question I've been dying to ask. I noticed how you were looking at that really strong guy with the black hair. Do you like him?"

I blushed and looked down, causing her to squeal.

"I knew it!"

Before I knew it, the entire family had left- including Ron's team. It was late. I crawled into bed to get ready for school the next day.