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Chapter Fifteen
Brady
Hiding in a corner inside the lobby, I peak through a window and watch the parking lot with interest. Our high-profile guest will be arriving soon, and I can’t wait to see her again.
As a non-descript, blue compact sedan pulls in, my eyes go wide when I notice who is driving. Where’s Kay and Jay and the massive SUV’s? How’d she fit all her luggage in that tiny trunk?
Bursting out of the inn’s Christmas-themed entrance, I greet her as soon as she steps out of the car. This version of Alexis Taylor is wearing blue jeans, an orange T-shirt, and tennis shoes. She looks like the all-American girl-next-door and not an A-list celebrity. Wow. Her understated beauty hits me in the solar plexus while my heart does a flip. I like this version of Lexi much better than her glittery superstar look.
She leaps into my arms, almost knocking me off my feet with the impulsive gesture. An “oomph” flies through my lips at the unexpected contact. Quickly recovering my balance, I plant a clumsy kiss on her lips. Between her breathy giggles, and our murmurs of “I’ve missed you so much”, we manage to trade more kisses, although they lack any finesse in our haste and excitement. When another car pulls into the lot, we break apart from our spontaneous reunion, staring at each other in breathless wonder.
After several beats, I float back down to earth, assuming my bellhop role. “Is your luggage in the trunk?” I peer around her small frame, expecting to also see the backseat piled with bags, but it’s empty.
“Yep, everything’s in the trunk,” she says. Clicking a button on the key fob in her hand, the back-end pops open.
When I step around to the trunk, there’s only one, small roller bag inside. Staring over at Lexi, I arch an eyebrow, as I say, “Only one? Where’s the rest of your stuff?”
A grin of satisfaction crosses her face as she replies. “I decided to travel light, like a normal person.”
Her words give me pause and I finally take a moment to notice that the T-shirt she’s wearing is emblazoned with the University of Tennessee logo. “Does this T-shirt mean anything?” I ask in an excited voice.
She looks down, drags her toe in the gravel, while shyly biting her lip. I gently tip her chin back up, so I can read her eyes. After a few seconds of stare down, she laughs, fist pumps the air, and says, “Meet freshman Lexi Taylor!”
I haul her into my arms, peppering kisses along her neck, while she quivers with excitement. “I knew you could do it!” I shout, giving her a high-five and then several more kisses.
“When did you apply? When did you find out the news?” The questions tumble out of my mouth in an enthusiastic flow.
She puts her fingers on my lips to halt my stream of unbridled enthusiasm. “I just found out yesterday, but I wanted to share the news with you in person.”
Lifting her off her feet, I twirl her around, as we both laugh and shout with joy. “This is the best news ever! We gotta celebrate!” Grabbing her bag from the trunk, I place my arm around her shoulder, and we walk side-by-side into the inn.
Willow greets us and her eyes enlarge at my public demonstration of affection for Lexi. On Lexi’s previous visit, we kept our relationship on the down-low, especially since Evelyn was watching Lexi’s every move.
“Where’s Evelyn?” I ask as I realize the absence of Lexi’s redheaded assistant.
Lexi giggles. “Am I not allowed to travel alone?”
This version of Lexi is a far cry from the woman I met on her first visit. Between the lack of bodyguards, the one tiny suitcase, and the missing assistant, I’d say that Lexi has shed her superstar image and truly wants to be a normal person.
“Your baby bump is so cute!” Lexi squeals when we get to the reception desk. She rushes around the desk, giving a very pregnant Willow a big hug, as if they’ve been friends for years. “How have you been feeling?”
The mom-to-be blushes at Lexi’s attention. “I’m feeling great other than Jace won’t let me lift a finger at home. He’s like a mother hen.” Despite Willow’s criticism of her overattentive husband, she beams when she mentions him.
Laughing, Lexi says, “That kind of love sounds wonderful to me.” Glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, she gives me a bashful grin.
“Let’s get you checked in, so you can enjoy a mug of hot chocolate and some of Harper’s cupcakes,” Willow says as she resumes her professional receptionist façade. After a few clicks on the computer, Willow hands Lexi a room key. The new computer that Willow and I installed is much more efficient than the old paper and pencil method.
“Is your T-shirt in honor of Brady’s new alma matter?” Willow teases. “We’re sure going to miss him around here.”
Lexi and I reciprocate excited looks. “Go ahead and tell her,” I say.
“I’m going there, too. Starting in the summer semester along with Brady!” The exuberance in Lexi’s voice carries across the lobby and she bites her lip when she notices a couple people occupying chairs in the reading nook. “Oops. I wonder how long it will take before that’s posted on social media?” she whispers after her outburst.
Willow and I chuckle.
“May I help you get your bag to your room?” I ask with a flourish of my hand as I wave towards the stairs.
Lexi nods and giggles, while Willow gives me an approving wink. She had to practically bribe me to handle Lexi’s bags the first time. Granted there were a lot more of them, but now I’m happily volunteering to help. I’ve fallen hard for this woman.
When I first met Lexi, I judged her because of how she looked and acted—playing the role well of an entitled celebrity. But, just as my pastor reminds us at his weekly sermons, ‘Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.’
After getting to know her, Lexi isn’t the spoiled actress who doesn’t care about others. She’s a woman with hopes and dreams, with insecurities and an unhappy childhood where her parents treated her like someone who could pad their wallet rather than like a daughter. But she’s come out the other side, willing to take a chance on a new career, and hopefully on me.
She puts her small hand in mine as we walk towards the stairs, content and happy in what the future holds.
