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Both Lex and Vannah glanced up at Xochitl, who was at the top of the staircase behind the rest of the herd. “Right here,” she said, holding up a good-sized silver suitcase.
Once again, Lex was caught up on how damn good she looked. Obviously, he’d noticed before, but how the hell did she suddenly go from a harmless challenge to a real contender for someone who, for the first timeever, had him thinking of in terms of seriously trying to impress for more than just a little fun? Despite her dismissive reaction to him, he’d thought her sweetlookingfrom the very first time he met her. As in, looked sweeter because of her fresh face and natural beauty. Versus girls like Angela who wore way too much makeup and spent too much time worrying about their looks. Xochitl obviously didn’t have to. All this time, Vannah had shared that her dormmate in the past year was a no-nonsense school-comes-before-everything type of girl. It was the consolation Lex hadn’t even been aware he needed, that explained her total lack of interest so far. Maybe it wasn’t just him she wasn’t interested in. Since she was so into school and from what his sister told him, a bit obsessed about keeping her GPA way up there, he would’ve never pegged her as a sexy siren. He’d definitely label her that now, if this was his first time ever seeing her, regardless of that hint of timidity he picked up on every now and again in those otherwise eternally poised eyes.
He wondered now if, like with his sister, that poise was maybe a bit of a front. He knew firsthand Nena, the more brazen and outspoken of his identical twin sisters, had let her guard down on more than one occasion over the years. Even she wasn’t nearly as self-confident as she let on most of the time. Everyone had a little timidity in them, right? Hell, even Lex had been there every now and again. Case in point. For someone who prided himself on being able to look people straight in the eyes most of the time, he sure as shit chickened out when he asked Xochitl to pretend to be his girl. He hadn’t even been able to look at her when he’d said it, much less right in the eyes. Instead, his ass had stared down at his phone—heart pounding. Like what the guys would refer to as a total pussy. After much fussing over getting Vannah and the rest of the wedding herd outside where the limos arrived, there was more endless filming and photo taking. More than a half hour later, they were all finally in their assigned limos. What Lex would give to have been Xochitl’s partner in this damn wedding now. If his dumb ass had noticed just what a hot friend his sister had sooner, he might’ve suggested it. Gordo could’ve easily walked his mom down the aisle instead.
When they arrived at the mission where the wedding would take place, there were a ton of phones instantly filming as they all made their way out of limos. Lex had been so busy in his own world this last year, trying his damnedest to land a scholarship, he hadn’t even realized what a celebrity his sister’s soon-to-be husband was becoming. Because of his status as reality show star there was even an entire fenced off area for the paparazzi. The wedding planners walked around in a frenzy, wearing headsets and holding clipboards. The whole thing was even being filmed for his show. All but Vannah and Lex’s parents got out of their limo. As everyone but the wedding party began getting ushered into the mission, Lex glanced around, trying to think of an excuse to go talk to Xochitl. She was partnered up with one of Byron’s brothers, but at the moment he was busy chasing around what Lex assumed was his toddler. Just as Lex had begun to make his move, someone tapped his shoulder. He turned to see Angela smiling. “You look so handsome.”
“Thanks,” he said ,taking her in, but only out of habit. “You’re looking good yourself.”
She touched the front of her dress, shrugged, and smiled even bigger until her smile waned a bit and she glanced around. Turning back to him, she pulled a strand of hair away from her face. “Listen. I just wanted to apologize for being a little bitchy with you before. I guess I started to get a little ahead of myself when our thing wasn’t ever supposed to be anything serious. I get now why you pulled back. But I miss hanging out with you. Any chance we can go back to that?”
Peering at her curiously, Lex pressed his lips together. “What happened to your boyfriend? The one you brought to the shower?”
“I think you know what that was about.” She smirked, shifting from one leg to the other, then looking at him coyly. “Same thing you were doing with your sister’s friend. I asked Vannah if there was anything going on between you and her friend. She said absolutely not. Her friend wouldneverbe interested in her little brother.”
Feeling unreasonably annoyed by this, but refusing to let it show, he forced a smirk. “Yeah, well, Vannah didn’t know anything about you and me either.”
Her smile flattened. “Well,isthere something going on between you two?” She glanced in Xochitl’s direction, who was now laughing at whatever her partner was saying to her. “He’sgood-looking.”
Turning to Xochitl and Nine laughing it up, Lex refrained from rolling his eyes. “He’s married,” he retorted a little too quickly. “But like when you and I were hanging out, I’m not at liberty to answer what you’re asking.”
Lifting and dropping what he knew wassupposedto be an indifferent shoulder, Angela glanced back at Xochitl again. “Well, she’s going back to Los Angeles. Vannah says she stays in the dorms at ESU, so you’ll be free soon, right?”
Thankfully, one of the wedding planners, started calling out for everyone to line up. “Five minutes!” One called out all overly dramatic.
“Gotta go,” he said before walking away without answering Angela’s question. The ceremony was, as expected, as emotional as he’d imagined. From the moment her groom laid eyes on his bride being walked down the aisle by her dad, Byron just couldnothold back the emotion, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It’s why, despite the shock of his sister committing to marriage at her young age, Lex was glad her husband-to-be was so obviously in absolute love with her. The family couldn’t ask for more. Lex held his mom’s hand as she sniveled through Vannah’s and her groom’s vows. They got through all the other formalities of the ceremony and reception, and Lex was finally able to focus on something he’d rather focus on once the partying started.
Despite mostly family being in attendance, there were still plenty of other friends and business associates at the massive wedding, not to mention the crew filming the wedding. a lot of people Lex didn’t even recognize. To his annoyance, one of said unfamiliar faces was now dancing with Xochitl, and Lex had to wonder if maybe she’d invited the dude. Standing across the banquet room with some of his cousins and uncles, he watched subtly as the guy walked her off the dancefloor, holding her hand. “I can’t believe Vannah’s marrying a reality show starandis related to Beast now,” Gordo said as he glanced over to where Byron’s brother sat with his wife.
“Ican’t believe I didn’t make the connection until all this wedding crap started. What are the odds, uh?” Uncle Manny asked before starting up his wheezing laughter as he pointed at Uncle Romero. “I still remember this guy telling us about your drunken singing over the whole thing.” He addressed Uncle Angel now as he continued to laugh even more, shaking his head. “Dramatic teens. I tell you what.”
Angel half smirked but looked confused and turned to Uncle Romero. “What’s he talking about?”
“I don’t know.” Romero frowned. “Ignore him.” He turned to Manny, shooting him a glare. “Shut up, will you?”
Manny turned to the cousins standing with them, including Lex. “I hope you’re not all a bunch of dramatic teens like your uncle.”
“Manny shut up,” Max said then turned to smile at Angel.
“Seriously, what the hell are you talking about?” Angel asked curiously.
“Beast,” Manny said.
“Fuck,” Romero muttered, shaking his head. “He doesn’t remember, Manny. Why don’t you go check on your wife?”
“Remember what?” Angel asked, sounding even more curious.
“This guy.” Romero rolled his eyes. “He’s got the memory of a fucking elephant. It’s probably something stupid, just like when he brings up all my shit from way back in grade school.”
“No, not grade school.” Manny shook his head adamantly, wagging a finger in front of him, looking all serious. “College. I remember because you said Beast made his move on Sarah while Angel was in Hawaii playing football against HPU.”
“What?” Angel peered at Manny. “Beast made what move? We’ve never met the guy before now.”
Manny could be way off, but even Lex was curious now, especially considering how annoyed this all made Uncle Romero. Not that Manny wasn’t notorious for annoying him and often, but this felt different somehow. Clearly, whatever Manny was talking about was not something Romero wanted to remind Angel about. Even Lex had picked up on that. But he knew his Uncle Manny; the guy was dense when it came to him picking up on hints that maybe he should shut, or in many cases, lower his foul mouth.
Of course, the man went on without a hitch. “Sure, you did. Sarah’s fake brother, remember? That whole con he tried to pull on her. Made his move in Havasu when she went there for spring break or something without you.”
“Oh,nowhe can’t get his facts straight.” Romero glared at Manny. “It was just a weekend.”
