Page 43 of Always Been Yours

I nod and lean to grab my purse.

“Your bookstore?” Stella perks up.

“Yeah, we have to work,” Lexi tells her with a fake sad face. Lyp and Lexi love being at Brighter Daze, it’s never a chore for them.

Stella’s eyes swing to her dad, and she gives him a perfectly practiced pout—one I’m more than familiar with.The sad puppy face.“Dad, can we please, please,pleasego with them?”

Daisy sits up, setting one hand on each of his shoulders. “With cherries on top!”

Grady chuckles and looks at his older daughter. “Did you finish the book already?” Stella nods. Grady looks at me and clarifies in a shy voice, “I introduced her to May-Bird and the Ever-After.”

The shock is written across my face, I’m sure of it.

Not only was that my favorite book series when we were younger, but it’s what we were reading the night I snuck into Grady’s room and fell asleep next to him in fifth grade. We were in so much trouble when Selena found us the next morning, but it had been worth it.

The memories of young Grady reading to me under the blanket while I held the flashlight are some of my favorites to this day.

“I only have the first book. Do you think you have the second?”Stella looks toward my sister and best friend.

“Yeah, we actually do. That was Vivi’s favorite book growing up, so I make sure to keep it in stock,” Calypso smiles at me.

“Let’s go!” Daisy hops to the ground, and we obediently follow behind her.

As soon as Grady walks through the door, both of his girls run to the children section at the back of the store. It’s one of the few areas Lexi and Lyp decided to put money into fully renovating. Not that they don’t dream about updating the entire space but most of their money went into just buying the store and setting up the bakery. And while they are successful, it’s nowhere near Asher and Hudson yet.

I’m equally proud of all four of them, and it isn’t a competition. The store that Lexi and Lyp have created is amazing, but I know that they both wish they could afford to throw more money into Brighter Daze.

They’ve met with Stanley, the owner of the construction company and hardware store in Amada Beach, more than a few times. He keeps most of the plans for the building that he, Lexi and Lyp have designed together. No one except the three of them has seen the blueprints but I’m positive that they aregorgeousand modern and a perfect mix between the two of them. Calypso’s feisty consistency and Lexi’s lively mutability.

Daisy skips up to the counter and watches as Calypso sets up her materials. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to frost this cake. Want to help?”

“Yes! Can Stella help too?”

“Of course, she can. The more the merrier.”

It’s interesting to see Calypso interact with children. She’s never rude to them and has more respect for kids than some teachers. But I’ve never seen her willingly offer her time to a child either.

Once they’re set up and busy at work, I wander toward the cash register. Lexi is talking to Gavin, my favorite of their employees, about the courses he’s taking at UCAH.

“Sorry to interrupt but have you gotten anything new?”

Lexi nods toward the romance section. “There are some new romances highlighted on the table you might like. Also, a new fantasy author I think you should check out.”

I’m about to thank her and turn away when Gavin leans forward. “But you won’t be needing those novels pretty soon, huh?” He fails at subtlety when he tilts his head in Grady’s direction.

Lexi playfully shoves him with her hip. “We can only hope.”

“He’s hot,” Gavin whispers, clearly checking him out by the bakery counter.

I roll my eyes in fake exasperation and turn away from Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum behind the register counter. Over my shoulder I say, “Whatever she told you is a lie. You should know better by now, Gavin.”

It takes no more than sixty seconds until Grady steps up next to me in front of the shelf I’m skimming. Internally, I smileandgroan.

“It should surprise me that you’re a romance reader, but it doesn’t.”

Oh, Grady, if you only knew what I read.

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