“The family?” My stomach bottoms out for a moment. I was hoping to keep The Sloppy Pelican a drama-free zone this evening—but mostly the drama I was concerned with was between Lex and Axel. “Let’s see. Raven’s whooping it up at a luau with a bunch of beefy fire dancers, so that leaves Chip and Meredith.” It’s funny how even saying his soon-to-be ex’s name makes me naturallygrimace.
He gives the slightest hint of a nod. “I couldn’t say no.” He shakes his head over at BrodyandAxel.
Brody gives him a mock sock over the arm. “Youokay,man?”
“Yeah. Chip and I are communicating. Meredith and I—well, the court approved our divorce.” He grins down at me. “I should get my papers in the mail anydaynow.”
“Yay!” I’m testing out the nonexistent springs on my Louboutins as I bounce up and down. “That means I’ll no longer be fornicating with a married man.” I glare over at the peanut gallery. “Don’tjudge.”
Both Brody and Axel raise their hands insurrender.
“All right.” Levi walks me backward. “It’s five minutes ’til show time. I’ve had the kitchen make everything we’ve got. We really need towowher.”
“Wowing Lex? I’m pretty sure that never happens. I say, if she gets even mildly close to happy, we’ll be sittingpretty.”
Axel huffs, “So, you doknowher.”
I hold my breath, unsure of what to say. Axel and Lex are both great people—complex people, but pretty greatnevertheless.
“Okay, so I know her,” I finally fess up. “What’s the deal with you two, anyway? Why aren’t you together?What did you do?” No sooner do I snap that last question out in an accusatory fashion than the ice queen herself struts through the door—only she’s a lot less ice and a lot more…porcupine?
“Oh, wow.” Brody groans at the sight of her, and I can feel Axel stiffening at the sight. I bet a part of him wants to get realstiff.
And what a sight she is. Lex is sporting a black leather jacket completely covered with miniature silver spikes. Her hair is vamped out, long and dangerously bloodcurdling red as it springs down her back in full bodied waves. It’s practically an entity in and of itself, and I’m half-tempted to offer it a seat of its own. To complete the look, she’s donned a black leather skirt that’s so short it’s almost an idea than an actual accouterment, sky-high heels, a leather choker with a ring of spikes that are each at least an inch long, and she’s swabbed on her vampiest dark red lipstick to finish off the biker-straight-out-of-helllook.
“No hugs for you!” I tease as I lead her to her seat, and she doesn’t even flinch asmile.
Levi thought we should have her near the bar, which is about as close as you can get to the kitchen, and it’s only now I see the grave error we’ve made. Each and every barfly has paused his or her good time to ogle the queen of mean in our midst. And since Lex here hates people, I’d say all that ogling doesn’t bode wellforus.
“Would you look at that outfit?” Leviwhispers.
“How aboutIdo, butyoudon’t?” I give him a playful swat over the arm. I’d introduce Lex, but she’s stoic as a statue. She’s all business tonight, and I can tell she’s extra careful not to make eye contact with the good-looking man in the zoot suit. God, she’s so zombie-like I’m afraid she’s going to crack. “Um, Axel?” I swear on everything that is holy she just straightened as if I zapped her. “Why don’t you help Brody bring out the first round of dishes for our guest?” I wait until they’re out of sight before leaning toward my favorite queen of terror. “You look fab, girl. Trust me, death glambecomesyou.”
“You think?” She picks up the knife and blows a kiss into her reflection. “Because I happen to thinkso,too.”
“That’s my girl.” I glance over to the kitchen, and thankfully Axel is still out of sight. “Areyouokay?”
She gives a nervous glance around. Her eyes are outlined perfectly with the blackest pigment on the planet. Her contours are well-defined, and her face gives off that dewy glow without crossing into alien territory. As always, her face isimpeccable.
She takes in a quivering breath as if attempting to center herself. “I’m always great. I’m always great,” she says it twice, almost catatonic as if it were her morning mantra she’s been repeating for years, and knowing Lex, it justmightbe.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be over before you know it. If you need me to meet you at Hallowed Grounds tomorrow morning to help with that fab write-up, I’ll be there withbellson.”
She shoots me a look just as the boys come out carrying two huge oversized plates, each with a smorgasbord of everything on it from foie gras to Sevruga. Not including the fact two of the plates are loaded with our new vegan options for the less carnivorous among us—asparagus fries and cauliflower hot wings that are to die for—and yes, ironically, they taste likechicken.
“I’ll walk youthroughit.”
“No speaking,” she hisses my way as plates brimming with food land magicallybeforeher.
Brody gives an awkward sort of a bow and ducks out of her way before she does something irrational and pins him in the head with a saucer. And Axel just sort of stands there staring at her as if he were in atrance.
“Lexy,” Axel strums it out slow and sedated, and I can’t helpbutgasp.
Lexy? What is this shit? Even I know the rules of engagement as far as her tripleXhighness is concerned. Her name is Lex. Under no circumstances does anyone call her Alexa or God forbid Lexy. Is hetryingto inciteawar?
Lex’s eyes grow wide with fury, but thankfully she keeps her gaze fixed straight ahead, and my foie grois still has a fighting duck liver of achance.
Levi pulls me in close and plants his mouth near my ear. “What’sgoingon?”
