Page 6 of Pomegranate Kiss

Bell clapped a hand on her shoulder. “Not bad,” he said, which in Bell-speak was high praise.

Lex’s cheeks heated, so she didn’t look up. Fuck, she didn’t deserve to be surrounded by all these good, caring people. She was mean on a good day, sharper than a bag of needles, and kept trouble in her back pocket any time she got bored.

“Gotta pay my dues,” she forced out, keeping her tone gruff.

Mitch shifted onto his feet and slapped the cash on the table. His gaze sparked with the same mischief that circulated through her veins. “You, me, Notes Nightclub at nine.”

Lex seized the distraction. “You’ve got it, brother.”

Mitch flicked her in the arm. “The attack plan is for me, not you this time.”

“Not my fault your ladies love me,” Lex drawled. Mitch lifted his middle finger as he walked to the front of the shop, night and day different from their sterile stalls. The waiting room of Inkspirations was a splat of crimson paint covered in art books,rockabilly and retro lamps, knick-knacks, and traditional pinup work on the walls. She adored it.

Bell squatted in the stool across from her. “Your work’s been consistent, and your skills haven’t lapsed in your time apart. In six months, we’re going to have a talk about moving you up to a shop regular.”

Lex’s brows drew together before she could help herself. The panic seized her chest and ran with it. She’d always raced forward a hundred miles a minute, and her mantra through all of high school was ‘get the hell out of here.’ The idea of being stuck in one place constricted her insides.

“I dunno, Bell,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “I’ve got a lot of work to do before my shading’s up to snuff.”

She chanced a look up.

Bell raised one of his thick brows, and a grin played on his lips. “You have six months to settle into the idea. Take your time and think on it.”

Her heart squeezed tight. Damn the man for knowing her far too well.

“If you were a chick, I’d marry you in a heartbeat.” Lex cracked a grin.

“Our resident commitment-phobe proposing? Consider me flattered.” Bell pushed up from his seat and strode through the door to the front of house. “I’m heading out. Lock up after your last appointment.”

Lex didn’t bother responding as she began spraying down her station. This place had become a home and she loved it, so why did her stupid mouth get in the way? She slumped into her seat and ran a hand through her hair.

She probably caught a curse or some shit. Her love life was definitely hexed. Any girl she’d developed feelings for as a kid ended up being straight, even if they didn’t mind experimentingaround a little. And every time without fail, her feelings slipped out and friendships didn’t just crack—they shattered.

God, she was more of a mess than Uncle Noel at a wedding.

This whole thing with Cam was an exercise in futility. Another straight girl who wanted to splash around in the shallows but would skip out before she got dragged in by the tide.

“Fuck,” the word slipped from her, exploding through the empty room like shrapnel.

Head in the game. One more client tonight, and then distraction time with Mitch.

***

“Adrian, you’re a lime in a basket full of lemons,” Danny commented, leading the charge toward Notes. The woman dressed for the occasion in a slinky knee-length black number that made her red hair pop. Adrian on the other hand wore a polo and a kill-me-now expression. The crimson lights cast dappled patterns onto the inky asphalt, and the bass beats from inside the club reverberated out to here.

Lex didn’t bother to hide her snicker. Adrian hated clubs, but he loooved Danny. And her future sister-in-law was an inveterate club kid like herself, which had cemented their friendship.

Mitch strode to meet them outside the entrance. “Like I don’t get enough of the Dukases on the regular. Your family keeps crawling out of the woodwork, like a termite infestation.” The guy looked sharp as a switchblade in his gray button-down, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows to keep his arm from getting contaminated. His thick black hair had been tamed, and he’d even taken a tangle with his scruff from earlier.

“I like the idea of being an infestation,” Lex responded, taking the lead into the club.

“You would,” Adrian muttered, casting an irritated look the overhead sound system blasting music their way. They nabbed their wristbands in the foyer and then pushed open the heavy double doors to enter into a world of heavy electronica, sweat, and pulsing neon lights.

“Did you just get work done?” Danny asked, glancing to Mitch’s arm. Already it grew harder to hear from the pounding music. With the flush of bodies surrounding them, Adrian tugged Danny tight to him, who bounced in her Docs as she entered.

“Lex did it,” Mitch said, jerking a thumb at her.

“Jealous,” Danny’s eyes glittered. “I’m going to have to make an appointment.”

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