Page 56 of Sweet Temptation

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She’s kind of pissed at me right now. She’s the reason I want to learn to make an omelet.

Mom

I see.

The dots under her name start and stop a few times before her name pops up again.

Mom

Do I need to kick your ass, Luciano Beneventi? Because I will. That girl doesn’t need a man who’s going to play with her or make her one of many. She needs a good man. One who will make her stronger. Not weaker.

Lucky

No ass-kicking needed, and for the record, I agree.

Mom

Are you that good man, Lucky? Because I swear if you’re not, I will be more disappointed in you than I ever knew possible.

Lucky

I’m the man you raised, Ma. The one who’s waited a long damn time for this and the one who’s asking you to help me. The rest is between Lexie and me.

Will you help me?

Mom

What does she like in her omelets? I’ll go to the store and meet you at the house.

Lucky

Love you, Ma.

Mom

Don’t make me regret this. And do not make her cry.

Lucky

I won’t.

Never again.

LEXIE

I will always be that girl who believes love will save us all...

I just know there’s no saving me.

—Lexie’s Secret Thoughts

When I sneak downstairs in the middle of the night, I’m careful to be as silent as possible. I haven’t managed to avoid Lucky all day for him to corner me now. But sleep hasn’t come for me tonight. Not even a minute of it, and I need to clear my head.

I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed to see I’m alone when I step into the kitchen, but I choose to focus on the relief. I’m not ready to face Lucky yet. This man has let me down twice in my life, and I’m not willing to give him a third chance. Screw that.

I yank open the fridge to decide what I feel like eating and find a tinfoil-covered plate with a pink sticky note on top, staring back at me.

Eat me.

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