Page 223 of Barinov

I bite back the laugh, gaping at Clay. “Really? You had to go there?”

“Come on. Let’s give them some privacy,” Clay chuckles, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“You’re right,” Savannah laughs. “Besides, we’ve got the boys’ graduation party to plan,” she says, her voice dropping to a whisper before quietly adding, “God willing.”

The smile slips from my face. My hand loosens around the tube of paint before I can stop it. It tumbles from my fingers, rolling across the hardwood until it bumps into the toe of Savannah’s cream Louboutin pump.

She bends to pick it up, studying me for a moment.

“Bella…” she says softly. “Did your father RSVP, sweetheart?”

I nod. “Yes, he and Luciana are both coming.”

“This could be a good thing, you know?”

“Meeting my stepmother?” I groan.

“Give her a chance, darling.” Savannah lays the tube gently in my palm. “She may surprise you.”

I open my mouth, already preparing my argument, but the oak doors leading into the studio from the hallway swing wide before I can get a word out.

“Yeah…” Lex’s voice cuts through the studio before he does. “No.”

All three of our heads snap toward the doorway.

He’s barely stepped one boot over the threshold, sunglasses still perched on the top of his head. His gaze sweeps over the room before settling on Clay and Savannah.

“Everyone out.”

Clay’s brows climb. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” Lex checks his phone. “In approximately three minutes, Cade’s gonna get here and trust me you don’t want to see what happens next.”

“Oh my God, Lex,” I laugh, burying my face into Savannah’s shoulder.

Clay tries to keep a straight face but folds, laughing so hard he nearly falls backward. He reaches out a hand to his wife. “Let’s go honey.”

She takes it as he ushers her to the doorway.

“Please don’t break anything,” Clay tosses over his shoulder before heading out.

“No promises,” Lex calls back.

“Nice of you to finally show up,” I tease.

A grin stretches across Lex’s face as he closes the distance between us. He hooks an arm around my waist and spins me into his chest.

“Guess what, baby?”

I squint up at him. “What?”

His smile grows even wider.

“You’re lookin’ at Northvale University’s newest graduate from the School of Architecture.”

I blink.

Then blink again.