Page 22 of One Little Mistake
“Never had any grandparents, did ya? Well, now ya got me. I’ll be comin’ by soon to meet you proper. Locket is a tough cookie, but her center is pure gold. It’s gonna take some work on your part, but fallin’ for her will be worth the effort.”
I choke as Lexi squeals and lunges for the phone. Enjoying the look of mortification on her face, I attempt to hold it out of her reach, but with her height and the four-inch heels she’s rocking, it’s not easy.
“Give me the phone, Easton.”
“Come on, Locket. GG wants to talk to me, not you,” I tease.
“Do not call me that!” Lexi seethes, and I hear GG’s laughter through the phone. The woman seriously has a cackle that could rival any Disney villain.
“Okay, GG. I need Lex on her A-game for this meeting, so I’d better hand the phone over. It was nice talking with you.”
“You too, Grumpy. I’ll see ya soon.”
“Can’t wait,” I respond honestly.
Lexi huffs, takes the phone, and stomps off in the wrong direction. Jogging a couple of steps to catch up with her, I take her by the elbow and immediately regret it. I watch as her body recoils, and I reactively lower my face to her ear.
“It’s just me, Locket. You’re going the wrong way.” After spinning us, I release her arm and gesture for her to continue. I hadn’t meant to use GG’s nickname, but it slipped out. I don’t kid myself, though. I’m fully aware it’s all kinds of fucked up that Lexi is getting under my skin like this.
She shakes out her free hand as if she’s attempting to rid her body of her reactions, so I let her have some space as she leads us down the busy Tribecca streets.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I see it’s my mom calling. Glancing ahead to make sure Lexi’s okay, I press the button to answer.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Easton. How’s New York?”
“Unseasonably warm for fall. How are you?” My mother is a special kind of angel. One you don’t ever want to mess with.
“Oh, I’m fine. Keeping up with you boys is getting harder than it was when you were little, though. How’s Lexi doing?”
At her name, my gaze flicks toward her like a lifeline. “She’s … she’s great, actually. We’re just heading to a meeting with Douglas now.”
Glancing around, I realize Lexi is about to pass the restaurant. Lowering my phone, I call out to her.
“Hey, Lex?”
She stops suddenly, and the person behind her nearly plows her over.
“Hold on one second, Mom, okay?”
I don’t wait for her response as I catch up to Lexi.
“This is the restaurant. I’m just finishing up a call with my mom. Can you go get us checked in?”
She glances from the phone in my hand to the restaurant door. “Sure. Tell your mom I said hello.”
I smile as I watch her enter the building.
“Lexi says hello,” I tell my mom after the door closes behind her.
“I heard.” I can sense my mother’s smile over the phone.
“She’s a great employee. She would have impressed Dad.”
The words shock me as they leave my mouth.Why the hell did I bring Dad into this?
“I’m sure Daddy would have loved her for a lot of reasons, East.” She’s quiet for a moment, and I’m not sure where to go. I’m about to tell her I have to get to my meeting when she speaks again. “You’re calm.”
