This I Promise You (16 page)

“All right.” Lexi slowed for a red traffic light. This was her chance to do some sleuthing for Veronica. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Anything.” But he sounded wary.

“Is everything okay between you and Veronica?”

Liam got quiet for a moment. “Did she say something to you?”

“No. Of course not.” The lie made Lexi cringe and cross her fingers again. “I was just asking. I mean, you’ve been seeing her for several months now, and you seem to really like her.” She paused. “You do, right?”

“Of course,” he said. “Veronica’s cool. She’s smart, beautiful, works hard. I really care about her.”

Lexi grimaced. “Uh-oh.”

“What?”

“You used the ‘c’ word. Two of them, at that.”

“Did I?”

“Afraid so. You called her ‘cool’ and said you ‘care’ about her.” She paused. “Do you recall Michael ever describing Reese that way?”

“Uh…no.” Liam let out a grim chuckle. “Damn.”

Lexi shook her head, merging onto the congested freeway. She’d known the fellas for so long, she’d become an expert at decoding certain terms that spelled the death knell for their relationships. If a woman was considered “cool,” that usually meant she was one phone call away from being friend-zoned. It was even worse when said woman got demoted from girlfriend to fuck buddy and then nothing.

Lexi sighed, unable to hide her annoyance. “What’s going on, Liam? You guys are getting too old for this.”

There was a long silence.

Then Liam pushed out a deep breath. “Remember that research fellowship I told you about a few months ago?”

“The one where you’d be studying urbanization and economic development in Kenya while teaching at the University of Nairobi?”

“Yeah. That one.”

“Of course I remember. You were very excited about it. As you should be. It’s an amazing career opportunity and— wait. Did you get it? Were you awarded the fellowship?”

She could hear the smile in his voice. “Yes, ma’am. I was.”

“Oh, my God!” she squealed excitedly. “Are you serious? That’s wonderful, Liam! Congratulations!”

“Thanks, Lexi,” he said warmly.

She beamed. “I’m so proud of you, Dr. Masters. This is
huge
. We need to take you out to celebrate.”

He chuckled. “I’d like that. But you’re the first person I’ve told outside of my family, so—”

“I won’t say a word,” Lexi promised. “This is your good news to share, not mine.”

“Thanks, angel.”

“But Liam?”

“Yeah?”

Her tone gentled. “I think it’s very telling that you haven’t shared the news with Veronica yet.”

“I know.” His sigh was heavy. “I just haven’t found the right time. I’ll be gone for a year, and I honestly don’t know if our relationship is strong enough to survive that kind of separation.”

“It could if you both tried.”

“Maybe.” His voice lacked conviction.

Lexi sighed, feeling sorry for Veronica and a little for herself. “I’m going to miss you, Liam. No one else appreciates
The Walking Dead
as much as we do.”

“I know.” She could hear his grin. “We’ll have to do our recaps over Skype.”

“It’s a date. So when are you leaving?”

“Not until summer.”

Lexi smiled. “I know how much you enjoy visiting Africa, and you’ll be doing important research work. But you have to promise to come back, you hear? Don’t be going to Kenya and getting your heart stolen by some Lupita Nyong’o.”

Liam laughed. “Listen, baby girl. If I get over there and see that fine ass woman, I ain’t coming back!”

14

W
hen Lexi arrived home, she was pleasantly surprised to find her younger sister sitting in a chair on the wraparound porch. As Lexi pulled into the driveway, Summer Austin glanced up from texting on her phone and waved at her.

Lexi buzzed down her window. “Hey! I didn’t know you were coming home.”

Summer grinned. “Surprise!”

As she grabbed her overnight bag and started toward the car, Lexi couldn’t help noticing that she’d put on a few pounds. Her hips were rounder, her thighs fuller. Dressed in a snug white sweater and tight jeans, the extra weight looked good on her.

After graduating from NYU, Summer had opted to remain in New York rather than return home to Atlanta. She worked as a senior specialist at Sotheby’s, one of the oldest and largest auction houses in the world.

As she came to the window, Lexi smiled up at her. “Hey, girl. You look great.”

Summer made a face. “Don’t lie. I’ve gained weight.”

“And it looks good on you. How long have you been waiting?”

“Not too long.”

“Why didn’t you call me? I could have picked you up from the airport, or I would have come home earlier so you wouldn’t be waiting.”

“I know. But I remembered you had a meeting this afternoon. And I figured you’d be home soon anyway.”

“How’d you figure that?”

Summer grinned. “It’s after five o’clock. I know how you like to have dinner ready for your man.”

Lexi chuckled. “Let me park.”

Summer followed the Mercedes as Lexi pulled into the garage. She’d barely turned off the engine before Summer was opening the back door and cooing excitedly to her nephew, “Hey, cutie pie!”

As Lexi grabbed Junior’s diaper bag, Summer took him out of his car seat and kissed him noisily, laughing as he patted her cheeks with his pudgy little hands.

Lexi got out and rounded the car to hug and kiss her sister. Drawing back, she searched her face. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course,” Summer assured her.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?”

Summer shrugged. “It wasn’t planned or anything. I got up this morning and decided I needed to get away for a couple days. So I called in sick, packed some clothes and bought a plane ticket.”

Lexi nodded, taking the handle of her sister’s overnight bag. “Does Ma know you’re home?”

“No.” Summer sighed. “Do I have to tell her?”

“You don’t have to.” Lexi gave her a wry look. “But you should.”

“I’ll be back in a few weeks for Christmas. She’ll see me then.”

Lexi laughed, pushing the button on her key fob to close the garage door. “Now you know Ma will have a
fit
if she finds out you were here and didn’t tell her.”

“Who says she has to find out?” Summer challenged as they entered the house through the kitchen. “I won’t tell her if you don’t.”

Lexi frowned, leaving her sister’s bag by the door. “Summer—”

“Look, things have been super crazy at work. I just need a day or two to recharge my batteries, and it’s hard to do that when Ma’s around. You know how she is, Lexi. She’s an emotional vampire.”

Lexi sighed, crossing to the center island to unpack Junior’s diaper bag. “She’s getting better, you know. Therapy is working.”

“So you keep telling me.” Taking a seat on one of the high-backed barstools, Summer settled Junior on her lap and began bouncing him up and down as he gleefully clapped his hands.

Lexi smiled, watching them.

People often remarked on how little she and her sister resembled each other. For starters, Lexi was only five two while Summer was several inches taller at five seven. Where Lexi was the same shade of brown as the actress Nicole Beharie, Summer had inherited their mother’s caramel complexion, as well as her thick, lustrous hair and brick house curves.

She glanced up at Lexi. “So will you let me crash here tonight?”

“Of course. You know you’re always welcome in my home.”

“And you won’t tell Ma that I’m here?” Summer persisted.

Lexi groaned. “C’mon, Summer. I really don’t want to lie to her. We’re trying to work on our relationship, and that requires honesty—”

“You’re not being dishonest,” her sister reasoned. “You’re just withholding certain information. It’s a lie of omission.”

“Which still makes it a lie.”

Summer gave her a beseeching look. “Please, Lexi? Can you just do this for me? Pretty please?”

Lexi wavered another moment, then heaved a sigh of resignation and muttered, “Fine. I won’t tell her you’re here.”

Summer grinned. “Thank you, Lexi.” She kissed the top of Junior’s head and crooned, “Your mommy is the best big sister
ever
.”

Lexi laughed. “Why? Because I’m willing to lie for you?”

“No, because it’s the truth. You
are
the best big sister. Always have been. God knows how I would have turned out if it hadn’t been for you.”

“You would have been just fine,” Lexi told her, walking to the refrigerator to take out what she needed for dinner. “Speaking of that, you know you’re welcome to come to therapy anytime. We’ve all got issues, and it helps to talk them out with an objective third party.”

Summer grimaced. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass. The thought of sitting on some shrink’s couch with Ma while I tell her all the different ways she fucked me up—”

“Language,” Lexi warned.

“Sorry.” Summer grinned sheepishly and nuzzled Junior’s head. “I’m not interested in going to therapy, but I’m glad you’re getting something out of it. Your child will have something we never did: a sane and happy mother.”

“Thank God,” Lexi murmured.

“You can say that again.” Summer looked at the items she’d removed from the fridge. “So what’s for dinner?”

“Roasted eggplant and homemade ravioli filled with butternut squash and Gorgonzola cheese.”

Summer grinned. “Only you could make that sound appetizing.”

Lexi laughed. “What’s that supposed to—” She was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. “That’s probably Reese. She wanted me to help her decide which dress to wear this weekend when she meets President Obama.”

“She’s meeting the POTUS?”

“Yup. He’s speaking at a fundraiser dinner at Michael’s Chicago restaurant on Friday.”

“Ooh, I’m jealous,” Summer said enviously.

Grinning, Lexi left the kitchen and went to answer the door. She got her second surprise of the day when she saw Percy Sheldon standing on the doorstep, his hands tucked into his pants pockets.

She beamed with pleasure. “Hey, Percy.”

“Hey, baby girl.” He leaned down to give her a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. “How you doing?”

“I’m good,” she said, opening the door wider to let him in. He smiled and stepped inside, and she closed the door behind him. Since she and Quentin frequently entertained, they’d given their close friends and family members their personal access code so they could bypass the security guard at the front gate.

“Quentin’s not home yet,” Lexi said. “But he should be on his way.”

Percy nodded. “Cool.”

She couldn’t help noting how good he looked in his bespoke charcoal suit. The perfect cut accentuated his broad shoulders, narrow hips and long legs, making him seem even taller and more imposing. With his smooth bald head, copper complexion and sexy goatee, he was a dead ringer for Boris Kodjoe. Except his good looks were more rugged than the actor’s. Less pretty.

“Come on back to the kitchen,” Lexi told him. “Summer’s here. She’ll be happy to see you.”

Percy nodded and followed her to the kitchen. When they reached the arched doorway, she announced cheerfully, “Look who’s here.”

When Summer glanced up and saw Percy standing there, warm pleasure flickered in her eyes before she smiled shyly. “Hi.”

Percy’s lips curved in a lazy smile. “Hi, yourself.”

Struck by a sudden thought, Lexi looked from one to the other and raised a brow at Percy. “Did you already know Summer was here?”

He glanced away from Summer. Reluctantly. “I did.”

“While I was waiting for you to get home,” Summer explained to Lexi, “I texted Percy to let him know I was in town.”

And he came right over
, Lexi mused.
How interesting.

“Can I get you a beer, Percy?” she offered.

“Sure. That’d be great,” he said, walking over to greet Summer and Junior.

Lexi crossed to the refrigerator and grabbed a cold beer. After opening the bottle, she turned and started toward the island, where Percy was affectionately rubbing the back of Junior’s head. As she watched, his eyes slowly lifted to Summer’s. As they stared at each other, something crackled between them—a tangible current of awareness that Lexi would have felt all the way on the other side of the house.

Well, well, well. What have we here?

Hiding a smile, Lexi walked over and handed the beer to Percy.

“Thanks, Lexi,” he said warmly.

“You’re welcome.” She grinned. “So how was work? Earn another gazillion?”

He chuckled. “Not quite,” he drawled, lifting his beer to his lips. “But it was a productive day.”

Percy was a hugely successful venture capitalist who’d backed several hot tech startups over the years. Every time one of the companies went public or got sold, he made a fortune.

Lexi walked to the sink and washed her hands, then turned the oven on low heat to bake the eggplant. “If you don’t have any plans tonight, Percy, we’d love to have you stay for dinner.”

He didn’t answer.

Puzzled, she glanced over her shoulder. That was when she saw Summer cuddling Junior to her chest and crooning to him while Percy stared at her with a look that could only be described as yearning.

Yearning? Percy Sheldon?

Lexi wouldn’t have believed it if she weren’t seeing it with her own two eyes. Back in college, Percy had been such a notorious player that they’d nicknamed him “Hound Dog.” Like Quentin and Jagger, his reputation had preceded him wherever he went. Lexi could remember several occasions when she’d run into him while walking with some of her friends. As soon as the girls saw him coming, they’d sighed and exclaimed,
Lawd have mercy, Percy!

For as long as Lexi had known him, Percy had been an unrepentant manwhore. So it was shocking to see him melting over her sister like this.

Catching her stunned gaze, he quickly glanced away and took another swig of his beer.

At that moment, the garage door opened and Quentin stepped into the kitchen. He looked surprised when he saw Summer and Percy.

“Welcome home, honey,” Lexi said gaily. “Look, we have company!”

“So I see.” Grinning, he walked over and kissed her soundly on the mouth before moving toward the island to greet their guests.

“Wassup, baby girl.” He leaned down and hugged Summer, then drew back to tweak her nose the way he’d been doing ever since she was young. “I didn’t know you were coming home this week. Everything all right?”

“Yup. Just needed a change of scenery. And it’s working already,” she added with a fleeting but unmistakable glance in Percy’s direction.

Quentin kissed the top of Junior’s head and then turned to greet Percy. As they exchanged a brotherly handshake and shoulder bump, Lexi was struck anew by just how handsome the two men were. Dressed in their expertly tailored Italian suits, they could have graced the cover of
GQ
twelve months in a row, and no one would have complained.

When she caught Summer’s eye, she knew her sister was thinking the same thing.

“I thought that was your car in the driveway,” Quentin told Percy. “What’re you doing here?”

“Uh, well, I—” Percy stammered.

“I invited him over for dinner,” Lexi smoothly intervened.

Quentin cocked a brow at her. “You did?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. I completely forgot to tell you.”

Quentin gave her a long look. She knew he didn’t believe her.

“Dinner, huh?” His voice was amused, indulgent.

She smiled sweetly.

Percy cleared his throat. “I don’t want to impose—”

“Nonsense,” Lexi interjected. “You’re not imposing at all. You guys know how much I love to entertain.” She winked. “The more people there are to feed, the more compliments I receive on my cooking. Hint, hint.”

Everyone laughed.

When Junior began to fuss, she grinned. “Speaking of mouths to feed.” She rounded the island and lifted her son out of Summer’s arms. “Let me take him upstairs and give him his dinner. The eggplant’s in the oven. All I need to do is make my butter sage sauce and boil the ravioli.”

“Want me to boil it?” Quentin offered.

“That’s okay. It’ll only take a few minutes, and I don’t want you to overcook it.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Just keep Percy company until Summer and I get back.”