“Not at all,” Gracie replies. “What brings you back to town, Lexi? I don’t remember you from school.”
“I didn’t go to school here. I moved to Star Falls after college when I started working for a local advertising agency. I stayed a few years and then headed to California to work in Hollywood.”
“No shit,” Vito whispers. “That’s pretty fucking cool. Meet any celebrities?”
Lexi laughs, but she nods. “They’re everywhere out there. They blend in after a while, and you stop being so starstruck when you run into them.”
“No way. I’d never get used to it,” Vito says. “If I ran into a hot actress or two, I guarantee I’d at least get a date out of it. It wouldn’t ever get old for me.”
I roll my eyes. “They wouldn’t want your ass.”
He folds his hands together on the table. “They all want a piece of what I have.”
“And that would be?” I raise an eyebrow. “They want a guy who lives in his parents’ basement? What else do you have except the same bed you’ve been sleeping on since you were pissing the mattress?”
“You’re a real douche,” he says to me. “I have a lot to offer.”
“You forgot about the stint with the stripper wife,” Gracie adds like I could’ve forgotten that clusterfuck.
“No one gives dick like me.” Vito’s gaze swings to Lexi. “I don’t mean to be so crude. My apologies.”
My brother thinks his cock is the greatest thing he can give a woman. He also truly believes no one fucks better. The man is delusional and somehow really confident, honestly believing his own bullshit.
She covers her mouth, hiding her laughter. “No offense taken.”
“How’s the store? It looked swamped today.” Gracie asks Chloe, ignoring Vito’s conversation about his abilities.
“Busier than ever. I’m just hoping it stays that way after the holiday shopping season.”
“Word will spread about the better selection of books. You’ve really outdone yourself with all the new changes.”
Chloe smiles as she curls her fingers around mine underneath the table. "I'm trying. My aunt had a decent selection, but it was time to bring it into more current times and ride some trends."
"You own the bookstore in town?" Lexi asks Chloe.
"Yeah. It used to be my aunt’s, but when she passed, she left it to me.”
“She was a kind woman. I had many conversations with her when I lived here. I didn’t have many friends, but she was always sweet and a good listener.”
“Thank you,” Chloe tells Lexi. “It seemed she touched a lot of lives.”
Lexi gives Chloe a warm and genuine smile. “And now you’re going to touch even more people. An entire new generation here in Star Falls.”
I already know Lexi’s too nice for my brother. She deserves someone better than him and his womanizing ways.
“They’re exactly as you described them,” Lexi says to Benito. “He told me so much about you all when we were younger, and when he said you were coming for dinner, I begged for him to allow me to stay.”
“Lex, there was no begging involved. At least not this time.” He winks at her, and there’s a collective groan from everyone around the table.
Chloe leans over, bringing her mouth close to my ear. “I love this.”
I turn my head, looking into her eyes. “What?”
“Your family.”
“They’re your family now too,” I remind her. She’s one of us now, whether she realizes it or not.
“What are you two whispering about over there?” Gracie asks, never wanting to be left out of a conversation, even a private one.
