Page 1 of Key Lime Kisses
Chapter One
Weston
I was just putting the finishing flourishes on the meringue when I heard my apartment door open.
“Kitchen,” I called with a chuckle.
In moments my sister was in the kitchen, looming over my shoulder. “Oh, that looks fantastic, Weston!”
“And there we go,” I said, adding the last swirl of meringue. “I’m afraid I accidentally added way too much nutmeg.”
“Thank you so much for making it for me,” my sister said, dismissively waving a hand at my apology. “It’s been forever since…” Stella trailed off and cleared her throat.
Forever since I baked anything.
All thanks to Bernard… It didn’t matter to him that I loved baking, he was of the opinion that an alpha shouldn’t do domestic things. His insistence that I not bake might not have mattered so much ifhehad any interest in it; considering his determination to strictly divide our roles in the relationship by designation, he hadn’t been the best at traditional omega things. In hindsight, it should have been a red flag. But I was convinced I loved him and I was happy to overlook the baking thing… and so many other problems we had…
“Do you want a slice, Stella?” I asked, trying to distract myself. “Nutmeg aside.”
“No, I’m taking the whole thing,” she said. “It’s not for me.”
I turned to her curiously. When she asked me to bake it, I had assumed it would be for her. “Who is it for?”
“You meanwhatis it for,” she corrected. A sly smile I wasn’t sure I liked crossed her face.
“Okay… andwhatis it for, then?” I swear if this was one of her schemes to get me dating again…
Yeah, maybe two years being hung up over an ex was a long time. But I had been head-over-heels for Bernard and the breakup had been devastating… I still couldn’t imagine dating anyone but him. The silver lining, I supposed, was that Bernard was off galivanting and being spoiled by his new alpha, which meant that every embarrassing time I had driven by his place, I had been spared further heartbreak because he wasn’t there. I was over that pathetic display. I was overhim. Really. And yet, I still couldn’t seem to connect with anyone like I had with him. The sparks I wanted just weren’t there and by the third date or so, I lost interest.
At first Stella had been understanding and supportive, but in recent months she had started introducing me to every single omega she knew and trying to guilt me into dates. I was getting quite tired of it.
“It’s for the auction,” Stella said, as if I should know what that was.
“The auction?”
“It’s a fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital,” she explained.
I looked skeptically down at my pie. “There must be a better way to raise money than a bake sale.”
“It’s anauction,” she said. “It’s competitive.”
“It’s a pie,” I replied, matching my sister’s condescending tone. “How much are people going to bid for a pie?”
“It’s a pie that goes with a package.” With that, Stella snapped the pie into a carrier and started to leave. “And I’ll be late if I don’t get it to the auction. Thanks again. Keep next Sunday open!”
“Why, what’s next Sunday?” I called as she started out. The door closed. “Stella!” I shouted after her. “What’s happening on Sunday?!”
I jogged after her and opened my door; Stella was already across the hall getting on the elevator; she must have sprinted to get there so quickly.
“Bye, Easton!” she yelled as the doors slid closed.
I threw up my hands in annoyance, both at her escape and the nickname she knew I hated. Typical Stella. I went back inside, slamming the door behind me. Sunday was probably going to be another double-date with my sister, her sweet omega wife, and a random omega I had something vaguely in common with.
After cleaning up I got the mail and saw that the apartment had sent their monthly newsletter. I glanced over it, intending to read it later.
Pipe Repair – Water Shut-Off Details Below
Are You Checking Your Mail? Your Mailbox Could Be Jammed!
