“Crap-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, I forgot those were in there.”
“They weren’t on the schedule,” Grayson said, pulling out his phone and opening up the spreadsheet he’d insisted on starting to make sure the plants I’d added to our family didn’t die. He showed me the spreadsheet. “If you buy a plant, it has to go on the schedule.”
He hurried off to go try to save them.
“Are his hot brothers here yet?” McKenna whispered to me.
“No, but they better be soon.” I helped her unload the ice in the catering kitchen freezer then headed back to the real kitchen.
“It’s a real workout living here,” my friend remarked.
In the kitchen, my mom and Grayson were making soothing noises over the desiccated air plants.
“We’ll let them soak and see how they do.” My mom gently placed them in a bowl of water.
“I can order a box of ten from Amazon for twenty dollars,” I told them.
“Lexi.” My mother clicked her tongue. “That’s not how we Collinses do things. Now Grayson, you have to make sure not to let Lexi near that aloe vera plant I brought you. She has a tendency to overwater them.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Where’s the gift table?” my dad asked, coming in with several Disney-themed gift bags.
“Dad, you didn’t have to,” I said as I followed him into the grand salon.
“I am seeing a severe lack of Disney in this penthouse.” He winked. “Got you a cuckoo clock.”
“Grayson doesn’t want that,” I hissed.
Though my boyfriend had said I could have anything I wanted, it was his home, too, and I wanted it to be a reflection of both our tastes.
I limited the Disney to some framed vintage movie posters here and there. But a cuckoo clock?
“You’re not spoiling the surprise are you, Barry?” my mom demanded when she carried in a platter of steaming and golden pigs in a blanket.
My dad made a face and reached for a bruschetta.
I slapped his hand away. “Grayson’s brothers aren’t here yet.”
“You can have a pig in a blanket,” my mom offered. “Don’t spoil Lexi’s party; she tried so hard.”
The pigs in the blanket were arranged artfully on a platter with several dipping sauces in the middle.
Grayson picked one up.
“This is amazing, Cindy. You’re such a good cook.”
My mom preened. “It’s just a little something I whipped up. The everything bagel seasoning really makes it snap.”
“Did someone order a stripper?” Grenadine’s voice rang out from the foyer, where male voices boomed.
“I’m going to have to steal your maid,” Spencer joked to Grayson. He wheeled a luggage cart holding a big box into the grand salon.
“Pigs in a blanket!” Grayson’s brothers tumbled in behind Spencer.
“Oh, wait. I didn’t know we had to bring a present,” Connor stated when he saw my parents’ gifts.
“I reminded you,” Finn shoved him lightly.
