Page 23 of Lush

Dad scoffed, sipping champagne as Vincent King, Yvonne’s husband, joined.

The room tightened. Conversations died midsentence. No one had seen my father or Yvonne this close in years without a civil war breaking out. Laurene’s siblings joined her parents. Erik stayed behind Yvonne, eyes narrowed, while Serenawaited, arms crossed, tapping a finger. I did notice Gigi wasn’t here.

“Oh, Laurene! We’ve been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?” Yvonne said.

Guests stopped, parting like the Red Sea, revealing Laurene.

She floated through the crowd. Her gorgeous brown skin glowed in the light of the chandeliers. Her hair, once a wild cascade down her back, now lay tamed against her shoulders, the dark strands framing her face in a maddeningly perfect way, with the scent of jasmine still clinging to it.

She was utterly self-absorbed, demanding, and obnoxious. And she was all I longed for.

“Needed air, Mama.”

I should ruin her. Walk right up, brush my thumb over that soft fucking mouth, and remind her just how dangerous I can be.

The crowd went silent, the kind of hush that sucked the air from the room. Then whispers, sharp and frantic, spread like wildfire.

“Is that…”

“It can’t be.”

“No one’s seen her in years.”

“And now she’s back, just like that?”

I couldn’t accept how much Laurene had changed. More fullness, more curves, more of everything. She wore a figure-hugging blue gown. It drove me crazy that she still had the power to effortlessly control me.

“I will only say this once. I expect everyone, but especially you two, to act like you got some sense tonight. Let me make the announcement before anyone saysanything.” Yvonne looked at me, then Laurene.

“Of course.” Laurene nodded, her fingers casually tracing the single diamond pendant nestled between her breasts. I bit my lip so hard I drew blood.

I used to know every inch of her body. Now, she’s just a stranger wearing the face I used to dream about.

“Yvonne’s right,” Dad said. “No fights. No arguments. We…like each other now.”

Laurene looked at our parents, then touched my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. I remember that being her thing back then. My muscles ached from holding back, and it made me even madder that I wasn’t even trying to get away from her.

With a final warning glance, Yvonne turned on her heel, her husband following her. Our siblings and Noelle gave us both looks that translated to “good fucking luck,” and the air suddenly became awkward as they left us alone.

“Laurene! You’re back! And Reese…” I didn’t know the name of the woman who ran up, her voice bright and intrusive.

All eyes were on us. I hated this.That stiff air made me remember how out of place I always felt, especially after losing my brother. In their eyes, I was the killer, not the woman with me.

Laurene’s fingers brushed against mine for the briefest second—a slip or a warning, I couldn’t tell.

“I’m surprised to see both your families here,” the nosy woman continued.

There was another collective gasp. Eyes widened. Conversations dropped.

In walked the mayor.Fucking great.

“Laurene,” Dante Castillo said as he approached. I saw Yvonne’s and Dad’s glares as he strutted by, fake smile and all. “It’s been too long.”

The mayor of Lush wasn’t an unexpected guest, but these days, I was hearing more rumors about him than his work for the town. He was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a sleek, dark suit. A snake oil salesman.

And Laurene—she was looking back. Interest flickered across her face, subtle but there. The slight tilt of her chin. The part of her lips.

Jealousy curled low in my gut.

---