Page 15 of Forever Mine

"No way, I answered your question, and that was number two, so I get two to catch up."

"Fine."

"How's Lily?"

He smiled affectionately as we walked to a bench that had just been abandoned and sat down, facing the water.

"Lil's really good. She graduated a few years ago and went right to work at the Foundation. She loves it. Can't commit to a single job to save her life, so E reassigns her every year at least, sometimes sooner. Keeps them both happy. Mostly, she's still just Lily, full of life, true to herself, doesn't seem to care what anyone thinks or says about her, but we also know behind that is a heart bigger than that ocean out there."

I brushed another tear from my cheek. Instead of making it awkward he just said, "Next?"

I laughed, grateful he was keeping it mostly light. "Let's see, what about you? What do you do these days?"

He sighed. "I took over as CEO of Westin Foundation a little over a year ago. Kyle and Dad struggled to hand over the reins for a while, but I'm flying solo now."

"Wait, what? How did you become CEO? I always thought Kyle would."

"Uh-uh, you already caught up. My turn. Plus, that was like a million questions."

"It was not."

"Was too."

I liked the easy banter between us. It made me more comfortable than I had been around anyone for a long time. "Fine, your turn.”

"Explain your last answer."

"Not a question."

He glared at me trying to portray his frustration, but I just smiled back sweetly. "You always were too good at this stupid game," he grumbled, mostly under his breath. "Can you please explain your last answer?"

"No. My turn."

"What? Not fair!"

"I answered your question. My turn."

He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed.

I giggled. "Who's Zander?"

"What?"

"You said, 'Just ask Zander,' talking about your fan club and Oscar wanting to dress like you. So, who's Zander?"

He gave me a thousand-watt smile that made me swoon. "My nephew. Kyle's kid."

"Kyle has a kid?"

"Uh-uh, that would be two questions."

I smiled at him. "Okay, so ask yours already."

"How did you meet Annie and Jacob?"

He totally changed gears on me, and it threw me off a little.

"Annie was my appointed guardian until I turned eighteen. They took me in when I found out I was pregnant with Oscar and they just became family. I owe a lot to them both," I said honestly.