Page 52 of Blueberry Cake
“The thought of you wearing it and me being able to use it the second we’re back on the road is hotter than anything I could do to you in that shop.” When she finally nodded, Boyd leaned in close, brushing his next words against her lips. “I’ll never make you do anything you’re not comfortable with. And let’s be honest, I don’t tend to share.” His mouth crashed onto hers, knocking her worries away with a single bruising kiss.
“Can I wear my panties, please?” she panted.
“Of course.”
Boyd took his time rounding the hood, giving Queenie time to adjust herself. Boyd had never been to this place before, but after she’d mentioned the store a few times he made sure to memorise its location.
Queenie seemed to be in heaven the second she stepped through the automatic doors. She walked from one bolt to the next, feeling each one that seemed to speak to her. With Maggie’s blanket and her dress finished, Queenie seemed to wait for her next project to find her. He loved seeing her like this, offering his thoughts on the fabrics where he could—he at least knew what looked pretty.
That evening, Boyd returned home alone, having dropped Queenie at her apartment. Luka called, and Boyd had to let it ring a few times to get his act together. His emotions were still running hot after learning about Luka’s behaviour.
“Hi,” he said, likely a little too frigidly.
“Hi, is now a bad time?”
“No, it’s not.”
Another short pause before Luka floundered. “It sounds like a bad time. I can always call back later.”
“Luka, what’s the matter?” Boyd pressed, attempting to soften his tone.
“Is our annual trip to Galveston still happening?”
Boyd sighed. He’d forgotten about that. In recent years, he’d invited his mother and Luka to his beach house for a weekend. “Of course, it is.”
“Is Queenie coming?”
“I haven’t asked her yet.”
Luka stuttered, letting out a frustrated breath. “If she wants to come but is uncomfortable with me… I can sit this one out.”
Boyd huffed and tapped his fingers against the counter. Part of him wanted to accept his son’s offer, but Queenie’s soft, soothing voice filtered into his mind.
“I’ll never make you choose.”
Even though she didn’t want her own children, Queenie was a family woman. Keeping the peace—even when it came to Luka—was very important to her.
“No, if she feels uncomfortable, I’ll take her another time.” Then Boyd made a decision to continue his open and honest streak. “We sat down with Queenie’s parents today and told them about her past—about you. She’d never told them and had wanted to keep it that way. I thought it was best if everyone knew the truth. It upset me to hear about everything you did.”
There was a beat of silence before Luka rather hesitantly spoke, “I’m sorry. I wish I could take it all back.”
“I know. I’m trying to remind myself it is in the past and nothing can change it. I still love you, but I had a hard time listening to it. I never raised you that way.”
“You didn’t. I was just an asshole who thought it would make him more popular to pick on people.”
“An asshole indeed.” Content that Luka was aware of the severity of his actions, Boyd switched the topic back to their annual vacation. “Send me a weekend that works best for you, and I’ll make sure to pick you up from the airport.”
They talked a little more and by the time they hung up, Boyd was much calmer. He didn’t want to ruin his relationship with Luka. After all, he wasn’t the same foolish teenager from high school anymore. Hopefully, he chose to prove that.
Queenie
A few weeks had gone by since she’d told her parents about her and Luka’s past. As promised, Boyd had tried to mend things again. They’d been out for brunch with her parents twice so far. Her father was relatively cold towards him, but Boyd didn’t seem to take it personally. Her mother, seeing how Boyd treated her, was more open to fixing the relationship.
Looking down at her bag, she sifted through the piles of clothes to find her phone. She’d grown exhausted trying to decide what to take to Galveston.
It wasn’t long before Jessica answered. “Hi, sweetpea.”
“I need your help deciding what to take to the beach. My bed is covered in clothes but there’s no way I can take all of these for two days.”
