Page 110 of Where We Fall

Lexi reciprocates the gesture. “Thank you so much for being here to open the unit.”

“No problem. You are only about five minutes behind the truck. They just got here.”

Her friend notices me and looks at me curiously.

“Uh, who is this?” she asks Lexi, her eyes never leaving me.

“Oh, um, this is Marcus.”

I’m guessing by her using my name that she’s already talked about me. The way her friend's eyes light up confirms it.

“I wasn’t expecting you to be here,” she says, then offers me her hand. “I’m Grace.” She motions to her husband standing next to her. “This is my husband, Matt. Matt, this is Marcus. He’s Lexi’s….”

“Boyfriend,” I finish for her.

I shake both of their hands.

“So, when did this happen?” Grace asks.

Matt shakes his head. “Babe, a bit of a personal question while we’re standing here in forty-degree weather.

I laugh. I can tell I’m going to like this guy already.

“Nice to meet you,” Matt says to me. “I hear you’re the guy who’s gonna make Lexi squirt one day.”

I don’t even register the look of horror on the women’s faces.

“Fuck yeah, I am. I told her I’d figure it out.” I look to Lexi, who can’t seem to believe this conversation is happening. “I see you’ve been talking about me.”

I wink, and her jaw falls further to the ground.

“Matt, what in the actual fuck!” Grace says. "And you said my question was too personal."

Matt just smiles. “If you figure it out, let me know. I'll try it out on Grace.”

“I like this dude,” I say with a smile.

“Oh. My. God. There’s two of them,” Grace says to Lexi.

Lexi shakes her head. “I can’t believe that’s the first thing you two talk about when meeting.”

I shrug my shoulders and put my arms around her. “Clearly, it’s important to you, too, if you told them about it.”

Lexi puts her finger up. “Correction. I toldGraceabout it, and she clearly has a big mouth.”

Grace cringes. “Sorry. I’m a mom of two. I don’t have a lot else to talk about. Your life is my source of entertainment. Speaking of…what’s going on here.”

She points between the two of us.

“I’m moving here.”

“What?” Grace asks. “You are?”

“I am.”

“When did this happen?”

“This morning,” Lexi responds. “It’s all kind of last minute.”

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