Page 44 of Redemption

Colt laughs and slaps him on the back as they make their way into the clubhouse. His eyes look around at every female, hoping to spot the one in the strapless blue dress with matching big, blue eyes.

“She’s in the kitchen,” Shep whispers as he walks past, and his voice comes out so quietly he almost misses it.

Of course, she’d be in there helping get things ready. Plus, it’s a convenient excuse to hide. Giving the man a nod, he walks towards the kitchen and opens the door.

Lex stands at the sink, her back to him, and takes deep breaths as she braces herself on the sink. Her shoulder blades stick out as she does, and he can see every vertebra along her spine above the fabric of her dress. She’s too damn small.

“You look beautiful,” he says.

His voice fills the small, quiet space, and she jumps, whipping around to face him. One hand jumps to her chest while the other holds her stomach. “Jesus, you scared me,” Lex breathes. “Thank you.”

“You’re still too fucking skinny, though. We’re going to have to start force feeding you fried food to get meat back on those bones.”

She smirks. “I’m trying to work on my appetite. It’s slowly coming back.”

“That dress suits you. I don’t think there’s a better color to make your eyes pop.”

Her head bends down to look at the dress, and her hands run along the fabric of the skirt as though smoothing non-existent wrinkles. “You think? I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. It’s not really me, but I’m also not the one who gets to make this decision.”

He leans against the wall. “I do. And I think Heidi picked it for you. It looks the best on you out of all three bridesmaids.”

Resting against the counter, she avoids his eyes. “Well, thanks.”

“You’re hiding.”

“Maybe.”

“It’s not because of me, is it?”

She sighs and crosses her arms over her stomach. “No, not really. Well, not completely. It’s weird being back here.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t really belong here anymore.”

“Babe, you will always belong here.”

Reaching up, she runs her hand over her shiny, straight hair. “I’m not an old lady anymore.”

“You’re a daughter of the Drifters. You’ll forever be welcome here. Just like Ashley and Lily and Klaire. Even Phoenix’s sister, London, if she ever decided to come back.”

“I guess that’s true, but I don’t really feel like I fit. Not anymore. It’s all so different now.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

Sniffling, she looks at the floor, her eyes still avoiding him. “Yes, it kind of does.”

“Is anyone treating you differently?”

“Kind of. The women are friendly for the most part. Then again, Tess and Goldie got their anger out at Heidi’s bachelorette party, but we’re good now. I think. It just feels like we’re all walking on eggshells. I don’t want that. And the men, well, they don’t really seem to know how to act.”

“Because they don’t want to make the situation worse. They want you back.”

She laughs. “No, I don’t think so.”

“They do. They’ve been asking about you for months because you stopped coming to the clubhouse before this shit with us blew up. The last person they want giving up on the club is you.”

“Just because I know so much.”

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