Page 19 of Pomegranate Kiss

“I think I could’ve made some more dolmades, or at least some keftedes,” Mom fretted over the dishes laid out in front of them, probably enough to feed a wedding let alone a bridal shower.

Lex clapped a hand on her mother’s shoulder. “You did good. Danny’s going to love it.”

“I hope I’ll be getting to throw one of these for you some day, sweetheart,” Mom said in a questioning tone that always caused Lex to feel guilty.

“You’ll be waiting a long time,” Lex said. “An ex-con tattoo artist isn’t most folks’ top choice of dates they want to bring home to meet the parents.”

Mom arched her brow and pursed her lips, a look she delivered every time Lex gave her a “smart” response—which happened any day ending in Y. “Alexis, you’re so much more than a label. Someday, some girl is going to see that, and I can’t wait to meet her.”

Lex’s eyes heated up, and she forced herself to look away from her mother. This was why she avoided her family at all costs, particularly Cal and Mom who flounced around making people feel things. Spend ten minutes around the two of them and she could almost believe in herself again, which was an extreme disruption to her booked schedule of self-flagellation.

“I didn’t tell you guys, but Bell offered me a stall at Inkspirations,” she offered, trying to deflect the complicated emotions that arose at the mention of her love life. She especially tried to avoid the thoughts of Cam that surfaced. “At least, if I make it through the next two months without royally fucking something up. Probably end up setting fire to the shop or some shit.”

Mom reached out and brushed a thumb across her chin. The affection in her gaze made Lex’s eyes sting. Holy hell, she needed to extricate herself. Every time she was around this woman, she reverted to six years old with a broken arm or thirteen with a broken heart. The warmth in those soft brown eyes was the same Cal had inherited. Like Adrian, she leaned more toward her father in looks.

“I won’t do you the disservice of lying—you were never an easy child, but that doesn’t change how proud I am of you. You’re a fighter, whether you’re protesting injustice, the world trying to force you to conform, or in standing up for the people you love. But you’re allowed to fight for yourself too.”

Fuck, the woman had emotional x-ray vision. Lex’s temptation to bolt rose with every day closer to the permanent position at Inkspirations. Yet Cam’s words clanged around in her head. The choice was in her hands.

Lex winged an arm around her mother and squeezed tight so she could hide her watery eyes. No crying on the dolmades they’d worked so hard wrapping up this morning. “Enough with the speeches, woman. What are you, campaigning for office?”

“Didn’t you know she’s the mayor of Charleston?” Nellie called as she entered the room. Lex’s chest twisted with relief—with her little sister there, she could wade out of these too-deep waters. Nellie had scrubbed the stains off her arms and face and changed into her second outfit for the day, a floral swing dress. She’d been keeping spare clothes here and sleeping over Mom and Dad’s house when her obnoxious husband Greg traveled for work.

“Live long enough in the same area and you just end up knowing people,” Mom said, pinching the Saran wrap along the edges of the trays covering the table. “Are you sure we’ve got enough food?”

“Mom, there won’t be enough room for the people if we make any more,” Nellie said, a soft grin on her face as she tugged her wet hair into a bun. “Lex, the shower’s free if you need to take a turn.”

“Trying to imply I stink?” Lex asked, lifting her arm to sniff her pits. She made a face. “Maybe I like smelling like grape leaves and sweat.” She strode in the direction of the steps, raising a hand up as she headed for the shower. “Don’t let Mom make any more food, Nells.”

She needed to wash off these feelings before they infected her.

***

Danny’s bridal shower went by in a whirlwind of loud cousins and aunts, a fair amount of wine and ouzo drunk, and far too much food. Lex was already coming down from the heady buzz of the ouzo, even though the licorice taste lingered.

Thankfully, after two hours in, Danny unwrapped the gifts and sent about a thousand “help me” looks to Lex who just shrugged, and then some of the older ladies headed out. Once the numbers died down, there was more room for casual conversation and lounging. When all five of them had been growing up in this place they’d been punching at the walls for more space. Lex and Adrian had been the only ones to get their own rooms until Mom and Dad finished the basement. She tugged out the trash bag and began to pluck up rogue paper cups with unfinished drinks, tossing the liquid out before they went in the bag.

Cam approached, looking good enough to steal the air from the room. She’d dolled up today in a scarlet swing dress that clung to her curves, flaring out at thigh length. Her lips were the same color crimson, and the curve of the matching pumps looked hot enough that all Lex could think about was slipping them off her to glide up those silken legs.

The past couple of weeks they’d both been scarce—between Cam’s overtime at the Horntrees’ and Lex’s late nights at Inkspirations, there hadn’t been much time. Truth be told, if the texts between them hadn’t remained constant, Lex would’ve thought Cam was avoiding her again. When she’d crashed Cam’s date and they’d watched Cal’s show together, something between them had shifted, a softening of Cam’s tone and a wry affection that Lex would go to embarrassing lengths to draw out.

“Hey there, gorgeous,” Lex kept her voice low.

Cam’s gaze heated, sweeping over the length of her body. That sort of attention made her glad she’d spent time on her appearance, the military green dress with pockets about the onlyone utilitarian enough for her to wear. She’d kept the Docs on though, but so did the bride-to-be.

“How are you still functional after all the chaos?” Cam said, leaning against the now-emptied kitchen countertop.

Lex slipped beside her until their hips touched. “Because I was born and bred in that chaos.”

“Seriously,” Danny said, strolling in from the other room. “Y’all are a handful, but at least you’re fun.” Cam shifted away from her as if she’d been burned, and damn if that didn’t douse her with ice.

Mom, her sisters, and Abigail leaned back, chatting on the couch. Nellie hadn’t escaped the conversation yet, even though the rest of the bridal party managed to extricate themselves.

“I need that sort of introduction at the clubs,” Lex drawled. “Think you can swing it next time? I’ve hit a bit of a dry spell.”

Cam’s face tightened at the comment. It had been low, but she took a vicious satisfaction in knowing the knife cut both ways. Lex hadn’t missed the signals from Cam every time they met up, how every encounter brought them closer and closer to implosion. At first, Lex had initiated every touch, yet now when it was just the two of them, Cam leaned in, brushed her fingers across Lex’s legs, and even clasped her hand.

However, any time Lex considered taking the next steps, she froze. Part of her couldn’t bear the idea of thisthingbetween her and Cam devolving into the same mindless escape as all her other hookups.

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