Page 70

Bella glared at me. “Uncle Zachary.”

“What? No lying, remember?”

She looked down at her hands.

“I, for one, feel like it was always amazing to wait for the next movie,” I went on. “The first ones came out once a year, but the next ones we had to wait two whole years.”

Bella looked at Scarlett. “But that means you were ancient when all of them came out.”

It took all I had not to burst out laughing.The things kids say.

“I have an idea,” Scarlett said. “Why don’t you and I go upstairs and discuss the movie? There are some points that they left out, and I can tell you all about them.”

Bella looked at Scarlett as if she hung the moon. I was beyond happy that my brother had decided to give his relationship with Scarlett a real try. It turned out to be exactly what he and Bella needed. After his divorce, he’d intended to stay celibate. He’d even managed for a few years—God knew how—until he met Scarlett.

The second Bella went upstairs, we all rose from the couch. I noticed Beckett was looking at me with a smug smile.

“I’m surprised you made it,” he told me.

I narrowed my eyes. “Why wouldn’t I make it?”

“Considering last night—”

“Beckett,” I said in a warning tone.

“I thought you’d still be asleep,” he finished.

“You were out until late last night?” Chad asked.

“I have no idea,” Beckett replied. Now his smile wasn’t just smug, it was downright malicious. “Zachary here ran into Grace Deveraux. He played the role of knight in shining armor very well, scaring off some dude who was hitting on her and being a jackass. Then I don’t know what happened. Anthony and I went to Julian’s bar with Grace’s friend. She seemed very adamant that the two of them needed time alone.”

There was a bit of silence in the room, and then Chad said, “Beckett, this is none of your business.”

I turned to look at my older brother, a bit surprised. Then again, Chad had never been one to pry. I appreciated that.

A second later, he raised a brow at me. “But Grace Deveraux, really? Weren’t you telling us that you two aren’t on good terms?”

“Things change,” I said.

“Ha!” Beckett exclaimed. “Damn. We tried to get Lais to tell us all the details, but my initial assumption that she was going to spill the beans was completely wrong. She didn’t say one word.”

“I bet that frustrated you to no end.” That thought gave me much satisfaction.

“Well, I, for one think Zachary’s business is his own,” Bailey cut in.

“Bailey, you’re a good soul,” I said, “but half the family never got that memo.”

She laughed. “That’s true. Anyway, I’ve got to go. I promised Xander that I’d meet him for coffee in the Quarter later on.”

Chad scoffed. “I knew it! He just blew off Bella.”

“Come on, give the man credit where credit is due,” Beckett said. “He does a lot for Bella, but he probably figured...”

“He wasn’t needed here,” I finished.

Chad seemed to consider this, then nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. It was torture for me. I can’t imagine how it would be for Xander.”

Bailey bristled. “I can’t believe you two. How can you be such grumps when it comes to Harry Potter?”