My Girlfriends Brother || Reddie

Chapter Two

Thursday

Alexis sat at the kitchen table, her fingers drumming against the smooth wood as her phone buzzed in her hand. The kitchen was warm and cozy, bathed in the soft glow of the late-afternoon sun streaming through the windows. She had just gotten the green light from her mom about dinner tomorrow night, and the confirmation felt like a weight lifting off her shoulders. Everything was set. Now all she had to do was let Richie know—and hope he didn't completely freak out about meeting her family.

She quickly typed out a message and hit send.

Lexi: Dinner is on for tomorrow. My parents are excited to meet you!

A reply came almost immediately, as if Richie had been waiting for her text.

Richie: Excited? More like ready to interrogate me. Should I prepare a PowerPoint presentation about why I'm good enough for their daughter?

Lexi rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips. Richie and his jokes. She couldn't tell if he was actually nervous or just covering it up with humor, but knowing him, it was probably a mix of both.

Lexi: Haha, you'll be fine. Just don't make any of your stupid jokes.

Her phone buzzed again moments later.

Richie: You wound me, Lex. My humor is a gift.

Lexi laughed softly, shaking her head. Richie was impossible, but that was part of why she liked him so much. He had a way of making her laugh, even when she didn't want to. She typed a quick reply, but before she could send it, her mom walked into the kitchen, carrying a basket of freshly folded laundry.

"You let Richie know about tomorrow night?" her mom asked, setting the basket down on the counter.

"Yeah," Lexi said, holding up her phone. "He's all set."

Her mom smiled warmly. "Good. I think he'll fit right in. Your dad's already planning to fire up the grill."

Lexi laughed. "Please tell him not to scare Richie too much. He's already convinced you're going to interrogate him."

Her mom chuckled, pulling out a dishtowel to hang over the oven handle. "We'll take it easy on him. But it's our job to ask a few questions. Don't worry, honey. It'll be fun."

Lexi nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. She knew her family would love Richie—he had a way of charming people, even when he was being a goof. Still, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous about how the evening would go.

Meanwhile, Richie set his phone down on his nightstand, letting out a long sigh as he leaned back against his bed. Meeting Lexi's family felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, and his nerves were getting the better of him. He tapped his knee anxiously, his mind racing with scenarios of how things could go wrong. Would her parents like him? Would they think he was funny—or just obnoxious? Would Eddie, the younger brother he hadn't met yet, think he was cool or roll his eyes at everything he said?

"Calm down, Tozier," Richie muttered to himself, running a hand through his messy hair. "It's just dinner. You've got this."

But no matter how many times he tried to convince himself, the nervous energy bubbling inside him wouldn't settle.

Meanwhile, Lexi made her way to the garage, slipping out through the side door. The garage wasn't used for cars anymore—it hadn't been in years. Instead, it had become her brother Eddie's personal hangout, a space where he could escape the chaos of the house and just be himself. The smell of old wood and faint motor oil lingered in the air, mingling with the scent of Eddie's favorite lavender-scented candle burning on the cluttered coffee table.