Page 36 of Always Been Yours

I sit in between Lexi and Calypso. “Hey,” I say, giving Lexi an annoyed look when I notice the surprise on Vivi’s face.

When I turn my head back to Vivi, sitting in between her two brothers, I’m relieved that there doesn’t appear to be any anger or discomfort. Just shock.

Lexi nudges me with her elbow. “It’s good to see you.”

Vivi gives us a weird look I can’t decipher. “Hi, Grady.”

I clear my throat. “Knox and Lucas should be meeting us here as well.”

“Oh, thank God you invited that poor man. He’s been trying to be Vivi’s friend for years now,” Calypso teases.

“You guys aren’t friends?” I ask.

“We are friends.” Vivi rolls her eyes. “He’s asked me over for dinner a couple times and I wasn’t able to make it.”

Lexi snorts, “Yeah, a few times.”

“They invited me over for dinner sometime too,” I say.

“Oh, I think I see them actually.” Asher stands.

We all turn toward the entrance and find Knox walking toward us. He’s holding the hand of a slightly taller, just as handsome man and pulling him forward. Lucas looks like what I could vaguely recall—short brown hair and clean-cut scruff over a sharp jaw.

Asher is already up and dragging another table and two morechairs over to make room. I get up to help him as Knox and Lucas join us.

It isn’t until we’re all settled with a drink that Lucas, unknowingly, picks up exactly where our conversation left off.

“You know, it’s really good to see you, Viv, but I’m a little hurt that it only took Grady one lunch to invite us out.” Calypso snickers and Knox shushes his husband.

I look down to my left, having ended up next to her when we sat back down. She’s putting on her best effort to be annoyed but she clearly isn’t. Genevieve always wanted to be everyone’s friend, so I’m confused why it seems like she isn’t closer to Knox. I haven’t heard a single negative thing about him.

“I’m sorry, okay? I don’t like to impose on anyone.” Lucas huffs out a breath and before Knox can comment, Vivi continues, “Either way, everyone at this table will tell you that Grady has always been the more gracious one between us.”

She smirks up at me and I quirk an eyebrow in response. It almost feels playful. The thought alone makes my cock twitch.

“Hell, isn’t that the truth?” Asher pipes in from across the table, causing Calypso to laugh out loud this time, followed by asking Lucas about their trip to Hawaii.

“It was amazing, and I hate to be so bougee, but we took the nanny, and I don’t feel remotely bad about it,” Knox confesses.

“We were out there for a week and let her have half the time off and bring her boyfriend for free. There’s nothing to feel bad about,” Lucas shrugs.

Lexi claps her hands together under her chin. “Please, adopt me. I promise I’ll be a good girl.”

“Please, shut the fuck up,” Vivi attempts to say seriously, but can’t hold a straight face for a second.

Lexi shrugs and leans back. “One day they’ll finally take pity onme. I’ve always wanted two daddies.”

“Please… Shut thefuckup,“ Calypso snaps but there is no bite in her tone.

Lucas just rolls his eyes and turns back to Calypso. “Have you ever been to Hawaii?”

“No, I haven’t but Asher has.” Calypso nods her head in Asher’s direction.

“Surf competition a few years back,” Asher confirms. “That was the only time, but it was amazing.”

“Speaking of surfing,” Lucas begins, “Matty loved being in the water so much that we already asked Vivi if she would take him kayaking but he has been asking about surfing non-stop, too. Do you think we could get him signed up for some classes?”

“Oh, swimming too,” Knox follows up. “Grady mentioned that you’re teaching his daughters.” Vivi’s head turns toward me, a questioning look in her eyes. I brought up the idea with Asher when we had dinner at my parents’ house, but we hadn’t finalized anything yet.

---