Leo

The only reason I agreed to visit the burger joint with Aria is that it's on the bucket list. According to Mom, this was one of Dad's favourite places to eat when they were teenagers. I'm also supposed to order the California chicken burger because it's supposed to be delicious, as well as the vanilla milkshake and deep-fried pickles. Ever since work ended, I've been subtly texting Mom while Aria continues to make small talk. I feel like a jerk for directing ignorance towards Aria, but I need to get some answers from Mom without making her question what exactly my purpose in Whistler is. And it's worked so far. I simply told her - 

"So," Aria says as we step into the air-conditioned building. "Who have you been texting this whole time?"

I stuff my phone in my pocket, feeling sheepish. It's a little hard to in a subtle manner when you have to hit the number two or three times to get the letter you want. "My mom," I admit. "I'm sorry. I know I was being rude."

Aria waves it off. "I know how moms can be. They just want to know if their babies are okay. So believe me when I say it's not a big deal. I do, however, appreciate how you were at least trying to listen to me while you texted. Most people who attempt to multitask usually have their full attention focused on their phone."

I don't point out that she's contradicted herself. If someone is multitasking, then their attention is split evenly between two tasks, not focused on one in particular. So, instead of correcting her, I focus on her words. The emphasis she adds in her sentence causes me to snort. That, and the fact that she doesn't even need to explain what she's on about. Moms, despite the ages of their children, always want to make sure they're alive and well. It's just in their nature.

"Yeah," I reply, running a hand through my hair. "That's exactly what my mom is like. I wouldn't be surprised if she showed up here for the summer just to see me."

Aria smiles to herself, and then quickly tells the hostess that we need a table for two. I can tell the hostess is a little shocked at the fact that Aria Madden is standing in front of her, but I give her props for maintaining her composure and not fainting or breaking down and asking for an autograph. "I think it's cute," she says, turning to me while the hostess momentarily leaves to make sure there's a table for us. "That your mom would come across the country to see you."

I frown slightly. "Wouldn't your parents do the same?"

"It's hard to say," Aria admits. "My family and I are close, yes, but Jax is the baby of the family. I think my parents feel as though they've taught me everything they already know, and that I'm ready to face the world on my own. Jax, on the other hand, is just stepping into the major hockey world. It's going to be his first season with a major team, so I don't mind that my parents are allocating their support in a different direction. I can handle the pressure."

Something in the way Aria's voice changes pitch as she speaks tells me she's lying to me, but I don't press for further explanation. Clearly, she's lying for a personal reason. She's entitled to keep that very reason to herself.

After we've been seated at our table, we order drinks and then immediately grab our menus. Both of us are starving after a long day at work and need to get something in our stomachs before they turn inside out.

"God," Aria groans, pressing a hand to her stomach. "I'm starving. The deep-fried oily, delicious smell of this place isn't helping me."

"Me too," I reply. "So what's good here?" I already know what I'm getting, thanks to Mom, but the reason I ask is to keep the conversation going. I'm a terrible conversation starter.

Aria laughs. "I think the question is: What isn't good here? If I were to suggest anything, though, I'd go for the California chicken burger because the guacamole is to die for. Or the deluxe burger because there's nothing better than onion rings and loads of ketchup being mixed in with the rest of the components of a burger."

I rub my chin thoughtfully as I pretend to examine the menu. "I think," I say, "I'll go with the California chicken burger, then."

"Excellent decision," she nods, closing her menu. "I'll get the deluxe burger so you can see what it's like."

I'm ready to protest and tell her that she doesn't need to share her food with me when the waitress arrives to take our orders. We each order our burgers, as well as a milkshake to split because Aria says they're huge and that we won't be able to finish off two of them. I'm the one making the rules for this bucket list thing I'm doing, but I'm still not sure if "sharing" classifies as "completed" or not. I'm supposed to be experiencing the things my dad did so I can get a better understanding of him, so I can feel closer to him. 

That being said, Dad did do a lot of the things on this bucket list with Mom. So I guess doing one thing with Aria isn't really going against anything.

And with that thought, I decide to drop the issue I'm obsessing over because overthinking things isn't going to make this experience a good one. I need to be relaxed and enjoy myself, try to understand why my dad loved this place so much. 

"Well," Aria says after a sip of water. "I'm going to run to the washroom. Be back in a minute."

Because I don't want Aria to know why I accepted this invitation, I wait until she's gone before I pull out the bucket list to check off this destination. It's the seventh one from the top and has a faded checkmark on the rugged, yellowing paper. I run my fingers over it, questioning whether or not he would have brought me here for my birthday or if he would have just for the hell of it. I'm leaning towards the latter option because after everything I've heard from Mom, Kit, and Aunty Tenillel, and my grandpa, about Dad, he was a family man; someone who would rather invite the closest friends and family members over to the house to spend some quality time together. 

As usual, I'm stuck in the depths of my own mind, thinking about each and every possible outcome that could be different than it is at this very moment. Life is a delicate scale that can be tipped by even the smallest moment. 

Suddenly, the bucket list disappears from my line of vision.

"What's this?" Aria asks, sitting down with the old piece of paper in hand. 

"Nothing!" I reply too fast, reaching over to try and steal it back. It's a worthless attempt, but I still try to do it again. "It's nothing, Aria. Just give it back to me."

She flicks her gaze up to mine, cocking a brow. "Nothing, eh? This was the paper in your book the day we met, wasn't it?"

Damn it. Clearly, Aria is more observant than I give her credit for. I fall back against the padding of the booth. "So what if it was?" I counter. "It's just a bucket list."

I watch as her eyes analyze every piece of information on the paper. "One that's already been partially completed," she observes. "One that someone else is trying to complete." She frowns as she finds the bottom of the list, trying to figure out the significance of each and every written line. I then watch as her gaze softens. "This was your dad's, wasn't it?"

I look away, focusing on a dent in the table. "What made it that obvious?"

"You told me your mom's name was Eliza, and I highly doubt that you would want to marry your mom."

My nose wrinkled in disgust. 

"I figured," Aria laughs. 

I don't know how to respond to her discovery. To be honest, I'm a little pissed at myself for letting my guard down. I wanted to do this myself, keep it a secret in my heart for as long as possible. But now that Aria knows, I guess those plans have slipped down the drain. 

"So," she continues, her voice filled with fascination. "This is what you've been sneaking off to do, right? I knew you were lying when my family and I ran into you in The Village."

I cross my arms, levelling my gaze with hers. "I was getting groceries."

She waggles her finger in the air. "But you weren't simply in town. You had been doing something that day. And judging by the small number of red check marks on this list, you were either at Shannon Falls or hiked around Lost Lake. I'm going to guess Shannon Falls because there was some mud on your shoes and you smelled pretty ripe."

I cringe, reminding myself that if I go on more hikes, to pack some deodorant for after. 

"Don't worry about it," Aria laughs, tossing her head back. "My hockey gloves alone smell worse than you did. I'm used it some pretty rank scents."

I don't know whether I should be relieved or even more embarrassed than I already am. Either way, I don't have a chance to decide because before my brain can even process an answer, Aria's speaking again. 

"Which one are we doing next?"

"What?" I blink. "What do you mean by we?"

She actively gestures to the list. "You can't do all these alone, Leo!" she exclaims. "How are you going to make memories if you don't have someone to make them with? It doesn't make any sense."

"Aria..." I trail off. 

She holds up a hand. "Look. I understand that this is some type of master plan to find a way to be close to your dad, but judging by most of the activities on here, I highly doubt he was alone when he did them." She rapidly gestures around the building. "Who would go out for lunch alone? I think it would be fun for us to do this together. Besides, I could really help you out. I know Whistler like the back of my hand and I have access to a vehicle we can depend on. No offence to your truck."

"I like my truck," I frown. "It runs perfectly fine. You just have to know how to work it properly. My aunt has had that truck for years. That's the vehicle she learned how to drive in."

"What is it with men and defending their vehicles?" Aria asks, tapping her chin. "Either way, you need someone to do all these activities with, Leo. I know all the shortcuts and the better places to rent kayaks from. I can even get you a discount for the ride up to Blackcomb Peak." 

She pauses, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth as she stares at me, as she inspects me. It's hard to tell what she's thinking at this given moment, but I can tell it's something...new. I've never seen a woman look at me with such interest before. That being said, maybe it has happened and I've just been oblivious. I don't know what it is about Aria, but there's something alluring about her, almost magnetic. 

"Leo," she says softly, reaching out and taking my hand in hers. 

I look down, fascinated by her hand. It's calloused and rough, but ever so comforting. Almost familiar.

"I want to do this with you," she continues. "I almost hit you due to my reckless driving. Let me do this. Let me be that friend who helps you figure out the mysteries and ties of your past. It would be a wonderful adventure for us to go on."

As I flick my gaze upwards and stare at her, my mind running a million kilometres per hour, I try to resonate with myself and come up with an answer. No one was supposed to find out about my goals, about my true purpose in Whistler. But then I think back to that moment atop Shannon Falls when I was looking out at the view and wondering what it would be like to have someone to share that moment with. As much as I hate to admit it, I think Aria is right. I think it would be better for me to have someone there to create memories with. 

Sighing, I run a free hand through my hair. "Okay," I reply, just as the waitress arrives and sets our food and milkshake down before us. "Okay. I'll take you up on that offer. But we need to figure out a schedule that's going to work for the both of us."

"That can be arranged," she smiles, giving my hand a squeeze as she leans forward and takes a sip of the milkshake. "This is going to be a fun summer."

I do my best to smile and nod, but I know I come up short because I can see the faint line of worry between her brows. At some point during this adventure, I know she's going to want to know more information about my parents and their backstory. 

But the problem is: I don't know if I'm strong enough to tell it.