Out in the End Zone (Out in College 2)

“Here you go! I’ve assembled a few snacks for you boys.” Maryanne sailed into the room, carrying a tray overladen with a teapot, cups, and cookies.

I stood to grab the tray before she tipped it against the table. Mitch hiked his bag on his shoulder and hugged his grandmother. “Thanks, Grams. Did you take your medicine?”

She knit her brow thoughtfully and pulled a small box from her pocket. “What day is it?”

“Tuesday. If the box is empty, you’re okay. Remember, we’re just doing one day at a time now,” Mitch said gently.

She shook the box and then opened it.

“Empty. Now go on and have fun. It was nice to meet you, dear. We have so much more to talk about,” she said to me before stepping backward. “Such a handsome couple. You look like salt and pepper shakers. One light, one dark, but you sure go together nicely.”

“Right. Good night, Grams.” Mitch kissed her cheek and waited for me to say good-bye before ushering me through the kitchen, out the side door, and into a courtyard.

A giant oak tree dominated the space. We walked around the perimeter to a set of stairs next to an unattached garage. I adjusted the tray in my arms before following him to his studio. Mitch hurried ahead to unlock the door. He held it open and then gestured for me to set the tray on the mini standalone island next to the kitchenette. I obeyed, glancing at my surroundings while Mitch poured tea for us.

The apartment was the size of a semi-generous hotel room with a queen-sized bed on one end under a window and a kitchenette on the opposite side. I couldn’t see the bathroom, but it was probably located where the wall cut off next to the sink. The decor was mid-century modern or a perfect blend of his grandmother’s formal living and family rooms…minus the personal photos. The walls were white and the funky art over his bed complemented the primary color palette of the duvet.

“Nice place,” I commented as I perched on one of the barstools at the tiny island.

“I like it. It’s close to school, the beach, and…family. Sometimes a little too close to family but that’s okay. She needs me now. I don’t mind. I’m giving you green tea, by the way. Lipton sucks.” Mitch pushed a white teacup toward me, then skirted the island and sat down. “Help yourself to another cookie too.”

“Thanks. She’s cool. You’re lucky to still have grandparents around. I only have one. My grandmother lives in Italy. We used to visit once a year when we were kids, but it got expensive for a family of four to travel. I haven’t been since the acci—it’s been a few years,” I finished quickly before stuffing a cookie in my mouth.

“So you’re Italian?”

“Half Italian, half Irish.” I brushed my hands on my jeans and narrowed my gaze. “Is she okay? You seemed kinda worried about her.”

Mitch shot a surprised glance at me. “She had a heart attack last year. She’s fine now, but she fell a few months ago and suddenly, she’s forgetting things she shouldn’t. Like taking her medicine. I’ve started separating her pills daily instead of weekly, but it doesn’t always help. She’s pretty spry for eighty-three and sharp too, but the doctor said it wasn’t unusual for mild dementia to be a side effect of a fall at her age. So yeah…I worry about her.” He waited a beat and added, “And I really worry when I think about what she said to you in the ten measly minutes you were alone with her. Grams has no filter. That’s not new, though. She’s always been that way.”

“She didn’t say much. She talked about your parents and—”

“What?” he asked, widening his eyes comically.

“Don’t freak out. She didn’t tell any big secrets.”

Mitch sighed wearily. “We don’t see my parents often. They divorced about ten years ago. Mom went to New York to see if she could make it on Broadway. I see her once a year. Maybe. And Dad is a so-called celebrity chef. If I’m lucky, I see him less than that. It’s just Grams and me. She’s been taking care of me for a while now, so it’s my turn to take care of her. What about you? I should probably know where you’re from and how many siblings you have for this project.”

“I’m from Pasadena. I have one younger brother, Eli. He’s a junior at Pepperdine. My dad teaches biology at the city college and my mom is an astrophysicist. She works at JPL.”

He cocked his head curiously. “What does that stand for again?”

“NASA Jet Propulsion Lab.”

“Whoa. You’ve got some smart folks in your family,” he drawled in a hick accent.

“And then there’s me. I didn’t get any of their science or math smarts. I took my time in college so I could play football, but I have no idea what comes next.”