Page 108 of Always Been Yours

She doesn’t care

She’s just offended that we would even consider making her show up to Thanksgiving dinner alone.

Not that I don’t love having her as our shadow but is she not spending today with her family?

Her family started to spend the day with us

Knox & Lucas are coming too it’s going to be the biggest one yet

Can’t wait. I am getting the girls buckled now. They want to spend the night with Millie. Bring a bag. We can drop Lexi off on the way home.

Yes sir

You have no idea what you started.

Lexi swings the front door open, “Took you lo–” She clears her throat. “Hello, there.”

I grab my purse off the counter and walk toward her. When I see Daisy and Stella standing at the door with Grady, I know immediately what they’re looking for. Or, I should saywhothey’re looking for. “Hi, Cinnamon and Vanilla are probably hiding in the bathroom. You can go check the bathtub really quickly.”

Our sleepovers have been minimal with how busy we both have been lately, even if the cat’s been out of the bag for about three weeks now. Daisy may be excited that we’re together, and Stella is quickly warming up to the idea, but it doesn’t mean that either has been ready to wake up to me in the kitchen or at their breakfast table. So, we take advantage of the nights the girls go with their grandparents or Blake.

But that doesn’t mean we haven’t shared a few dinners, mostly at their house. Except last week, the girlsbeggedto have dinner at my house when they learned I have two cats. It was love at first sight for all four of them.

And there aren’t enough words in the English dictionary todescribe the surreal feeling of having the three of them here, in my home, so happy andexcited.Even if it was more for my cats than me, I don’t give a fuck.

Stella and Daisy can have all the time in the world to come around to the idea of Grady and I, if it means that’s what I have to look forward to for a lifetime.

The sounds of their sweet little laughs as they run down the hallway brings a huge smile to my face. Grady steps inside and immediately slips his arm around my waist and pulls me in for a kiss. I melt into him, letting the happiness of the last few weeks warm my bones.

“Excuse me, I’m standing right here.”

Grady and I pull apart, and he gives Lexi a smug smirk that’s so fucking sexy it isn’t fair we aren’t alone right now. “All of a sudden you hate PDA?”

“Only when I am going through a dry streak,” Lexi mutters. I supportively pat her back, giving her a fake sympathetic look. “Fuck off.” She pushes my hand away.

“Swear jar!” Stella yells from the bathroom. My head falls back with laughter, so much freer and brighter than it’s been in years.

When we get to my mom’s house, we run into Lexi’s family in the driveway. Her parents, Mark and Nathalie, pull each of us into a hug. After a moment of Lexi explaining how she knows Grady, they remembered him as thevery respectful and responsible boywho took their daughter to homecoming. At this point, I can’t do anything but try not to laugh at their confusion whenLexi tells them that Grady’s here with me tonight. Maybe confusion isn’t the right word—more likeconcernthat Lexi and I will start to brawl right here, right now, at the mention of our high school days.

Johnny looks unsure of how to greet Grady—his baseball coach—but Grady takes the initiative by patting him on the shoulder and telling him how great he was at the last practice while they walk inside.

Leaning in toward me, Lexi whispers, “Do you think G knows that Johnny has a thing for his woman?”

Nathalie snickers at her daughter and I bark out a laugh. “Shut up, Alexandra.”

Except she’s not wrong. Johnny declared he was in love with me the first time Lexi brought me over to her house, during Christmas break our freshman year of college. It was awkward and adorable, and no matter how much he tries to say he’s over the crush, the boy wears his heart on his sleeve.

Lexi flicks my forehead at the use of her full name, but her mom lovingly wraps an arm around my shoulders, chastising her daughter, “Leave your brother alone, Alexandra. It’s not his fault he succumbs to beautiful women.”

“Ugh, don’t we all,” Lexi teases and bumps my hip. I grab her arm, locking it around mine. She bends down enough to lean her head on my shoulder and says gently, “Have I told you lately that I’m thankful for you?”

Placing a soft kiss on the crown of her head, I tell her, “You don’t have to, Lex. I’m thankful for you too.”

Standing straight but pulling my arm closer to her, she says quiet enough for only me to hear, “I’m thankful for him too. For the fact that it feels like he’s breathing life back into you.”

I nod, not knowing what else to say and not wanting to cry seconds before we walk into the Miller’s yard.

And even though Lexi’s words will stick with me for a long time, as soon as I cross the gate, the mood immediately changes.

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