Inflame

Chapter 31

Lucy

I STRETCH as the sun shines through the window and realize I’m in bed alone. Glancing at my phone, I see that it’s after ten in the morning and jump out of bed so I can get ready for the day. It’s going to be a very informal baby shower with just my family and Kale’s, but I still want to look my best because, knowing Mom, there will be gobs of pictures taken.

When I finally emerge from the bedroom, I’m freshly showered with my blonde curls hanging loose down my back. I’ve been fortunate to have flawless skin throughout the pregnancy, and I keep it simple by adding bronzer to my cheeks and just a few swipes of mascara to my lashes, perfecting the look with a pale pink gloss.

Kale’s eyes widen when he sees me as I walk down the stairs. I’m wearing a charcoal-gray wrap dress with a V-neck to show off just how much pregnancy’s changed my now full breasts. The wrap sits just above my bump, effectively highlighting it, and even at eight months pregnant, I feel sexy. It took Charlie and me forever to find the perfect dress for the shower, but when Kale reaches me and pulls me into his arms, I know I picked the right one.

“You look absolutely breathtaking, baby,” he whispers in my ear. “And if we had more time, I’m be taking you back upstairs to unwrap you myself.”

I melt into his arms, about to tell him baby shower be damned, but I pull back when I hear a throat clearing behind us. Turning to see Ginger beaming at us, I give her a sheepish smile as I bury my face in the crook of Kale’s arm, causing him to laugh.

“Morning, Lucy. How are you feeling?” she asks.

When I turn back to her, she hands me a glass with a green liquid that I know must be her famous ginger-kale concoction. Taking a sip, I allow the cool liquid to run down my throat before answering.

“I’m still a little tired from the trip yesterday and my back’s killing me, but I’m no worse for wear. Just a few more weeks, right?” I say with more optimism than I’m feeling. Kale’s hand comes up to rub my back as he tries to soothe the soreness.

Ginger gives me a wink then smiles at her son. “It’ll all be worth it in the end, I promise. Once this one was born, I completely forgot all the mornings spent rushing to the toilet.”

Kale grimaces as I down the rest of the juice. “Okay, no more talk about pregnancy and bodily functions for the rest of the day. I want to enjoy this shower, not run away screaming.”

Patting his cheek, Ginger nods then takes the glass from me. “Can you two do me a favor?” she asks. “The twins are off picking up, umm, a package, and I’m still trying to get everything ready with Marcy. Do you mind ru

I look at Kale and shrug my shoulders, not minding getting out of the house for a while.

“Sure, Mom. Not a problem,” he tells her, and she hands him a piece of paper with all the information.

When we pass through the living room, Steve and Riss call out good mornings, and my sister is quick to cover whatever she’s wrapping. “No peeking, Lucy!” she exclaims, exasperation lacing her tone.

I’m thankful they’re here, even more thankful that Ginger opened up her home to them so they could spend the weekend with me and Kale.

“Okay, okay. I’m leaving. Just know if it’s any sort of crazy noisemaker, there will be payback one day.” Steve’s eyes widen with alarm, and I choke back my laughter. “You know, fifteen, twenty years from now.”

Shaking his head, Kale pulls me outside, and we settle in his car. He takes the scenic route, pointing out his old school and his favorite spot on the beach, and I enjoy the ride as the cool breeze whips through my hair.

When we pull up to the bakery, he leans in and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Be right back, babe,” he says and hops out of the car. I watch as he jogs into the store.

The cake must not be ready, because five minutes later, he still hasn’t returned to the car. The baby’s chosen this morning to be pushing onto my bladder, and if I don’t get to a bathroom soon, I’m going to have to change my dress.

I wait another minute or two until I can no longer stand it. Getting out of the car as gingerly as I can, I make my way inside the store, holding my belly and my bladder as I pray that there’s a bathroom inside.

Kale turns to look at me as the door chimes, and I barely notice the stern look on his face. “Bathroom?” I ask desperately, and the woman behind the register points to the back of the room. I let out a quick thank-you and sigh with relief when I find it empty.

Kale

“CAN I help you?” the person behind the register asks as the man in front of me moves away.

I’m looking down at my phone. Xavier just texted me that everyone’s at the house, and I don’t look up. “Yeah, order for Montgomery.”

As I look up, I hear a sharp intake of breath, which I echo when my eyes meet hers. Shaking my head, I can hardly believe my bad luck. Standing in front of me is Tara Je

“Hey, Kale,” she says hesitantly.

Tapping my wallet on the counter, I motion to the register. “Let’s not do this, Tara. I just want to get my cake and get out of here.”

She gives me a scowl but turns to the shelf behind her and finds the box with my name on it. Setting it in front of me, she checks out the design, her eyes darting up to mine. “Who’s expecting?” she asks curiously, and when I glance back to the car again, her eyes follow mine. She nods in understanding and moves to ring up the cake.

Her eyes widen when the door chimes, and I turn to see who’s just entered. My worst nightmare is about to come true as I watch Lucy shuffle in, her eyes frantically searching mine. My heart sinks, knowing that the jig is up and I can’t keep her separated from my past, but instead, she asks for the bathroom and gives Tara a grateful look when she points her in the direction. She closes the door behind her, and I move to pay as quickly as I can.

“She’s beautiful, Kale,” Tara admits, but there’s something underlying in her voice that I don’t like.

“She’s the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever seen,” I counter, causing her to bristle.

“When are you due?”

Rolling my eyes, I hand over my card, ready for this to be over. “Tara, like I said, let’s not do this. We aren’t friends. We aren’t anything. And the last person I want to talk about this with is you.”

“Kale, don’t be like that. We were something once upon a time. Don’t act like we weren’t.”

I close my eyes, trying to control the fuming anger that’s begi

Resting my palms against the counter, I look Tara directly in the eyes, mustering the most serious tone, trying to hide the desperation lacing my voice. “Look, whatever we had was a lifetime ago. Right now, my very pregnant girlfriend is right behind that closed door and she has no idea about you or any of our past together. The last thing I want to do right now is upset her, so can you please process the transaction so I can get the fuck out of here?”

My face drains as a wicked smile crosses her lips, and I know I just fucked up with that admission. Before I can remedy the situation, I hear the door behind me open up, and my heart begins racing. Steeling myself against the counter, I let out a deep breath as Lucy slides up beside me.