Page 65 of The Maxwell Brothers

Gran was watching me with a knowing look.

Lexi rose to her feet, smiling from ear to ear. The desire to pull her closer and kiss the living daylights out of her slammed into me.

"We were making a list with summer dresses," she said, turning her iPad around and holding it for me to see. "They're all-natural fabrics like cotton and silk. Pastel colors are in this summer. Well, they are almost every summer, but I chose a few that are more powerful for Paisley too."

It all sounded like gibberish to me, but I was happy Paisley had someone to talk fashion with besides Reese and Kimberly. I'd once asked her why she didn't talk about it with Gran, and her reply had been, "Gran is ancient. I can’t wear what she wears. Everyone would laugh at me."

I’d avoided the subject since then.

“We’re also making lists for her birthday,” Gran said.

“What do you want to do?" Lexi asked, looking at me. “Want something to eat?"

"Yes. I'm starving," I said. "I only had lunch."

Lexi pointed to a huge hut on the other side of the sitting area. "They’re selling delicious fries with chicken wings. We already had a few portions throughout the day."

"I'm going to buy something for myself. Lexi, are you sure you don't want anything to drink?" I looked at her in a meaningful way.

"Oh no, I'm—” She broke off midsentence, laughing. "You know what? I do. I'm not sure what I want to drink, but I'll come with you and look."

Gran looked up from her Kindle but didn't say anything. That knowing smile deepened. Next time I was alone with Gran, she'd talk my ear off, I was sure of it, but right now, I didn't care. I wanted to be alone with Lexi, even for just a few minutes.

We walked on the crowded beach, and she was talking nonstop. "I love it here. It's such a fun vacation-like feeling."

I nodded, looking around as we joined the huge line. I hadn’t been here in a while, but she was right.

“Paisley is so excited about her birthday. She also mentioned her mom is coming.”

My jaw tightened. “Yes, Nora visits once a year on her birthday.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“Honestly, I’m not even sure. Paisley gets all excited, and then she’s sad after Nora leaves. But this year, she seems more… cautious.”

“She’s a bit older, so I think she understands everything better. By the way, I'm not sure what’s wrong, but Beatrice wasn’t her usual self today. She was more withdrawn.”

The fact that she was worried about Gran made something twist in my chest.

“The anniversary of Grandad’s death is coming up. She’s always feeling down around this time of the year. She might hang out more often with you and Paisley.”

“Poor thing! Okay, I’m going to ask Paisley what cheers Beatrice up and make a plan next time she’s with us.”

How is this woman real?

“You’re doing that thing again, where you look at me and don’t say anything,” she whispered.

"You're changing me, Lexi."

Her eyes widened. "How?"

"Today, when I saw your message, all I could think about was that I wanted to be here with you, enjoying the afternoon, and not cooped up in my office, even though I had a million things to do."

"Oh. Now I understand why Paisley acted that way."

I grunted. "Declan gave me shit too. It’s been a tough day."

“Why?”