Alexandra's move to California with her had been delayed. Alexei and Tatiana had the slight impression that they weren't heading to the other continent so inconspicuously. So, Lexi had to stay behind and was invited to stay with the Wallaces.
Normally, she wouldn't mind because she liked her godmother and enjoyed Billy's company. However, Billy was in rehab, and his outings were only permitted once a month, and she had kissed Sean Wallace on her birthday and been rejected.
There was nowhere else Lexi would have liked to be less, however, her mother insisted that she stay with them for the company of her godmother, as Ed Dumani barely had time to breathe, and the adult children were mostly left alone.
Still, Lexi tried to occupy her time. She read by the pool, watched TV in her room, and took advantage of every opportunity her godmother invited her for a walk. However, it had only been four days since she had been there, and she had a long month ahead to avoid Sean, who was at home due to spring break.
They only saw each other during meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sean also had his own activities to keep him entertained, but unlike Lexi, he didn't make an effort to avoid her. In fact, Sean seemed to want to talk to her.
— Brought you a soda.
She listened and raised her eyes from the book resting on her lap. It was a hot day, and as usual, Lexi was reading by the pool. The difference was that her legs were in the water this time.
— Thanks, — she said accepting the glass.
Sean sat down next to her and mimicked her. His long legs speckled with light freckles also dipped into the cool pool water.
They sat in that awkward silence for a while until Sean noticed the book Lexi was reading.
— It's The Great Gatsby, — he commented. — What do you think?
It was the book he had given her for her birthday.
— It's great, — she replied, because it was true. — I already knew the story, but I hadn't read the book.
— Glad you like it, — Sean smiled. — I figured you might enjoy romance novels.
She rolled her eyes, annoyed. Lately, she was always annoyed with Sean.
With the way he looked at her, with the hair he hadn't cut yet, with the way he had been a damn gentleman on the day she kissed him.
— Because of my age, I suppose, — she grumbled.
— Yeah, — he confessed, but laughed. — But who doesn't love a good romance?
[...]
— You can't possibly want to watch Harry Potter again!
— You'd be surprised.
— Good Lord, girl, — Sean complained. — There are plenty of interesting movies. I like Harry Potter, I really do, but...
— Well, — Lexi interrupted. — We can watch something else, but it'll also be my choice.
Sean seemed to find that reasonable. He usually liked Lexi's choices; he just hadn't expected to have a whole night of girly movies – let alone find it as funny as it turned out to be.
The next day, when Lexi pulled her chair up to join the Wallaces for breakfast, Sean was quicker.
— You can't sit with us!
— Sean! — Marian reprimanded him, looking stunned at her son's inappropriate behaviour.
But Lexi wasn't the least bit shy. She rolled her eyes and laughed.
YOU ARE READING
E M P I R E
Romance"You could be a king. You could have an empire" Lexi and Sean had known each other since childhood and had lived a story for years that involved love, family, business, kisses and guns. When life's turns put both couple together, they try to figur...
