Page 39 of Truths

The redhead, who normally looks like she's skin and bones, has gained some weight, and she glows. “Lacey, babe, you're looking amazing.”

“I don't know what happened, but maybe my metabolism finally slowed down. I have curves. And boobs!”

If Lex didn't know any better, she'd think Lacey was pregnant. Never in a million years will she ever ask, considering how many miscarriages the poor woman has suffered due to trauma growing up. The last one Lex knew about pushed Lacey over the edge until she hit her breaking point. To this day, that situation in the bathroom is still one of the scariest moments of Lex's life.

“Yeah, you do!” she says and smiles. “Psycho.”

“Female Psycho. How ya doin', babe?” he asks as he hugs her.

“I’m good,” she says and means it. It's also one of the first times in a long time she hasn't lied and said she was fine when she was anything but.

Brock and Summer take their turns hugging her, and Ky and Diesel lift her into bear hugs while Felicity glares from the corner of the dance floor.

“You look radiant,” Diesel says. “I hate to say it, but Summerville seems to look good on you. Just like Black Valley looks good on Lacey.”

“It's been a nice change,” she says, her hand tightening around Colt's. “And there's not a lot of pressure to, like, solve life's problems and all that like I did here.”

Both men laugh, and Colt kisses her temple. “She's just not quite comfortable enough yet. That'll change, I'm sure. At least, she will if she stops mothering some of the men. This woman and her strays.”

“Like who?” Jennings asks. “Who's our little Lex befriended now?”

“Well, she's basically Bodie's mom.”

Lex rolls her eyes. “That boy needed a mother, though. And it's so cute how close he is to Noah. They're best friends, and Bodie still comes to hang out with him even though he's moved in with Jolie.”

“Don't forget about Venom,” Colt says. “The newest little Psycho.”

Everyone around them seems to want to hear this, and Lex just rolls her eyes. “He's a good guy.”

“Of course, he is. To you,” Jennings says. “That guy's off his fucking rocker.”

“But he and Lex became friends. Lex got into it with Chance, and Venom was right next to me, ready to beat his ass for getting in Lex's face. I can't say I hate having him on our side,” Colt says.

“Here's the thing. He scares people. You know... like someone else here used to. I don't understand how people want to basically condemn him for being 'evil' while he's the one they all turn to when they need something gruesome done that no one else can do. So, yeah, we're friends. Which Colt put money on, I think, and won,” Lex says and laughs. “But seriously, that guy's good shit.”

Jennings just shakes his head. “You do look different.”

“I feel good,” she says, and she waits for the anger to kick in. The frustration and pain, but nothing comes.

“Can I hug you?”

Holding her arms out, she lets him take her into his, and she feels a twinge of longing. She misses her Griffin's Beach family. As much as she likes Summerville, and she's made friends there, they just don't have the same connection as the people she grew up with.

“How is everyone?” she asks, pulling back from Jennings. “Has Melanie killed Autumn yet?”

“They avoid each other like the plague. Thank God,” Tess says.

Summer pales, but Lex gives her a reassuring smile. Brock's wife may have been on the side of the women who wanted out, but Lex knows it was more out of fear for her and her daughter. She quickly changed her mind, and Lex can't blame her. Not like she can with Felicity who's held down Ky through prison sentences.

“That's probably safest,” she says with a laugh. The music starts, and Lex watches Ashley dance with Diesel on the dance floor. She turns to Colt. “I'll be right back.”

She feels Colt watching her as she walks away, and she knows he wrestles with whether or not he should follow. But since big boots don't hurry after her, she knows the option to give her space won out, and she goes to the car to find her phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey, VP,” she says.

“Lex! How are you?”

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