Lexi Cocker - Faleena Hopkins Page 0,50
off, he shouts, “If you end up sticking around. Which I doubt.”
Lexi’s fire flares up and she almost calls him a name, but glancing to Grams, grits her teeth instead, “That wonderful human being.”
“That’s better, child.”
I chuckle, “Mrs. Cocker, you want to give me some lessons?”
“Time, Gage, time and consistency. That’s all anyone needs to know how to behave.”
The redhead at my side isn’t sure how she feels about this particular wisdom, grumbling, “I’m more hungry than I thought.”
So am I, now that I think about it. We had one hell of a morning and only some coffee on the way here. Meeting her extensive family distracted me. Didn’t expect such nice people.
I tip my head to her Grams. “If you’ll excuse us, Mrs. Cocker.”
She brightens, straightening up on her two pillows to beam at me, saying wistfully, “When you did that, I could almost see a fedora tipped on your head like they wore back in my day.” Her attention switches to something behind me and I turn my head to see Lexi’s grandfather, the ex-Congressman, carrying two plates that make my stomach growl.
There’s that chili I smelled in the kitchen and have heard so much about. Can’t wait.
But didn’t he know Ethan had this covered?
“Mom, can I get you more ginger-ale while I’m up?” He sets them down opposite his mother, and I realize Nancy Cocker — Grandma Nance, as they call her — is working her way over to him, brown eyes warmly checking in with her guests before she relaxes to eat. The extra plate is for her.
In my house, my mom always brought the plate to my dad.
“No, thank you, Michael,” Grams waves, “I have half a glass. Eat! Before it gets cold!”
He first greets me with a dignified, “We haven’t met. I’m Michael Cocker,” offering his hand, pale green eyes intense. This is a man who wrote laws and fought for them, and now it’s his family he fights for. He’s trying to see if I’m up to his granddaughter’s level.
“Gage Holbrook, sir, nice to meet you.” I shake his hand, aware of the feeling in my gut that says I am up to her level. In fact, I’m up for anything she gives me as long as she knows who I am. I have no doubt in myself. But I do in her opinion of me. That I’m not sure of. “Your house is very welcoming.”
“That’s a compliment for my wife.” He reaches out for her, “Nancy?” and she fits herself against his body, their arms slipping around each other. “Lexi’s hunk says you’ve made a welcoming home for me.”
Lexi covers her beautiful eyes with one hand. “Oh no!!!”
Nancy Cocker pretends to reproach the smirking centenarian. “Mom, look what you did!”
Big blue eyes ask, “What?”
“You know! Don’t play innocent with me. Hello. I’m Lexi’s grandmother.”
Hoping to return my dignity, Lexi introduces me, “This is Gage, Grandma Nance.”
“Now that’s a name!”
Lexi grumbles, “I think so, too,” wicked amusement behind the squint she throws at her grandfather. “If only people would use it!”
He sighs, “I’ll try to do better next time.”
“We were just about to get in line.”
I tip my head again. “We’ll leave you to your lunch. Nice meeting you both.”
Michael Cocker eyes me, “Good meeting you, Gage,” before moving to take his seat.
Nancy gives Lexi a loving hug, whispering, “You look beautiful in green.”
“Thank you, Grandma!”
And we stroll off.
Nancy calls out, “Nice to meet you, Hunk!”
My head flies back on a laugh, and Lexi shouts, “Not you, too!”
We look behind us and find all three of them laughing. And they’re not the only ones. Didn’t take much for everyone to catch on. For the rest of the BBQ I am no longer Gage.
I am Hunk.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
GAGE
Now that Ryder and I are alone, standing side-by-side on the lawn, away from and facing the party, he cocks an eyebrow at me. “So, what d’ya think?”
I rattle my ice. “The fresh ginger-ale is addictive.”
He agrees, “On a sunny day like this one,” and downs the last of his. “The difference between the California or the Georgia heat? Humidity.”
“I like that they don’t use plastic cups.”
“Though today is drier than normal.”
“Guess you can always clean up glass if it breaks.”
“Now that I think about it, we haven’t had rain in a week.”
“Enough people to watch over the kids.”
“I prefer the humidity.”
“Clean up a break as soon as it happens.”
“Feels tropical. Like Hawaii.”
“You’d have to invest in the glassware.”
“No ocean here, though.”
“But if you know you’re having a