Page 23 of Pomegranate Kiss (Charmed in Charleston #2)
Chapter Twenty-Three
L ex couldn’t stop grinning like an idiot.
She couldn’t have hoped for any of this—Cam as her girlfriend, the fact she’d gotten her feelings out and hadn’t been struck by lightning, or this brilliant surprise Cam concocted. Placing her family on standby for a picnic was a stroke of brilliance. After months of hiding the way she felt about her, she wanted to shout it from the rooftops, tell strangers on the street, and even bring her crazy family into the mix.
Adrian and Danny walked closer, their supplies in tow. Danny offered a wave to them while Adrian did the head bob.
“I now know who you were texting, but what if this hadn’t gone well?” Lex asked, unable to hide her incredulousness. She ran her fingers through Cam’s hair and wrapped her other arm around her waist. Cam leaned into her like she belonged there. She couldn’t stop touching her—hell, she hadn’t been able to from the moment they arrived in this park.
Cam tugged at the wrap around her shoulders as she stared hard at the ground. “Then your family would’ve been here anyway to make sure you were okay, and I would’ve made a timely exit.”
Lex squeezed her tighter. “None of that loner shit. We’re in this together now. Anything that crops up? You don’t just have me, you’ve got the whole Dukas family behind you.” Her chest burned with the feelings for this beautiful woman she’d spent far too long dodging around.
Cam’s eyes glistened, and she swiped at the corners before reaching to grab Lex’s hand. Together, they walked in the direction of the spot on the grass where Danny and Adrian had begun rolling out a plaid blanket for their mid-winter picnic. The bright sun and a high in the sixties made this the perfect day to spend outside with a few extra layers thrown on. Lex didn’t let go of Cam’s hand, even when they reached the blanket. For once, she didn’t care if everyone saw what a giant sap she was.
“Word on the street is that the infamous ladykiller is retired,” Adrian called, not bothering to hide his amused smirk.
“I’m not Jack the Ripper, fuckwad,” Lex shouted as they approached.
Danny hopped up and raced over to throw her arms around them both. “I’m so glad you guys got your heads out of your asses long enough to have a real conversation.” Danny’s voice muffled with the way she buried her head against Lex’s shoulder.
“See this abuse?” Lex said to Cam, even as she hugged her sister-in-law tight. “This is what you have to look forward to.”
Danny pulled back to wave her middle finger in her direction.
“This pales in comparison to half of the shit that spills from your mouth on a daily basis,” Cam muttered even as her eyes twinkled.
“Thank God you found someone who’s not afraid to dish your own snark back,” Adrian said, pulling out the Tupperware of fruit salad and then the wrapped sandwiches they’d brought in cooler packs.
The slam of car doors sounded from the parking lot as Cal and Nellie got out of his beat-up Dodge Neon and headed up the pathway toward them. Her brother’s hair was slicked back, and he wore a faded band tee and a clean pair of jeans. Nellie had either rolled out of the house prepared or touched up in the car. Her hair cascaded down her back in perfect waves, and the gray leggings and burgundy tunic she wore highlighted her lighter features.
A second later, Mom and Dad’s Buick flashed into view. Her parents climbed out of the car and began to amble down the walkway. Cam’s gaze followed hers, landing on Lex’s parents. She let go of her hand, stepping a pace away, like they’d vaulted back in time and this still had to be kept secret. Like their relationship was something shameful.
Rage scorched her chest. She wished she’d understood the full extent earlier.
Lex grabbed her hand again. “Come on,” she said, offering a blinder of a smile. Cam’s lips hesitated, but she managed a small grin of her own. Lex began leading them down the pathway to meet Mom and Dad midway.
“Danny texted to tell me we’d get to meet your girlfriend,” Cal said, stopping in front of them. His warm brown eyes danced with the same amusement the rest of her siblings had been entertaining. “There was no way I’d miss this.”
Nellie stomped the ground, her arms crossed in front of her. “I was with you guys for months.” Her eyebrows lifted in bemusement as she glanced between them both. “How did I miss all the signs?”
“We were keeping things quiet,” Cam responded, a gentleness in her tone Lex adored. God, she wanted to ditch the picnic and go make out with her girlfriend some more.
“Though, keeping you quiet was tough when we were trying on bridesmaid dresses.” Lex bared her teeth in a feral grin.
“Oh, gross,” Nellie groaned. “I so didn’t need to know that.”
A furious blush spread on Cam’s cheeks, and she thwacked Lex in the side.
Lex continued moving past her siblings, dragging Cam in tow. “Scram, kiddos. I’ve got to introduce her to our parents before Mom explodes.” Lex didn’t miss the flicker of uncertainty in Cam’s eyes or the tighter press of her lips. All the more reason to hurry up and show her the warm welcome she deserved.
Mom’s grin widened when she caught sight of Cam. Her green dress with the pink flowers fluttered in the breeze, and she carried two laden bags that Lex could guarantee were filled with too much food. Dad’s eyes crinkled with warmth when Lex met his gaze, and she ducked her head. A slight wave of the jitters rocked through her now. She hadn’t realized how important it was to her that Mom and Dad liked Cam.
Lex sucked in a sharp breath, trying to summon her nerve. “Mom, Dad, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Cam,” Lex said. Cam’s eyes had grown wide with the deer-about-to-bolt look.
Mom beamed and reached her hands out to Cam who pulled hers from Lex and offered her own. “Camilla, I couldn’t be more thrilled that you’re the woman who stole our Alexis’s heart. You offered so much of your time and assistance during Adrian and Danny’s wedding and truly helped make it something special.” Mom squeezed Cam’s hands in her own, and Cam’s eyes began to water. Lex placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling the need to protect her somehow.
“You must be serious if you’re bringing her around the family.” Dad looked her in the eyes, and Lex simply nodded. Her own eyes stung at this point. Dad switched his attention to Cam. “You do know you’re the first girl Alexis has ever showed up with, right?”
Cam’s brows drew together as her head tilted in her direction. “That can’t be right. You’ve had other girlfriends before, right?”
“Have you?” Lex shot back before realizing she pulled her usual move again. Cam stomped on her boot for that one. She stared up at the sky, scratching the back of her neck. “Didn’t have anyone I was serious enough about to bring around the family. You see what an inquisition it is around here.”
Cam’s eyes gleamed with the tenderness Lex had fallen for from the first glimpse she’d gotten. She could feel Cam’s shoulders tremble under her palm in the wake of Thaisa and Nikos Dukas’s warm welcome. Pride thrummed in her chest. Pride at how her family rallied together to make her girlfriend feel like she had somewhere to belong after the devastating way Cam’s family had cut her out. Pride for Cam at how brave she’d been to stand up to her parents when they’d set up an arranged marriage.
She’d almost let her slip away. She’d almost let her fears run the show, like always. No more. Cam was hers, and if she had it her way, she’d never be alone again.
“Welcome to the family, Camilla,” Mom said, a dulcet tone in her voice, like the first sip of sweet tea on a summer day.
Matty strolled down the walkway, hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. His thick, dark hair was windswept as if he’d just gotten off his bike. Her brother’s fresh labret piercing glinted under the sun, and his eyes glowed with interest the moment he caught sight of Lex and Cam.
“We’re going to help your brother and sister-in-law set out the food,” Mom said, lifting the bag of something that smelled like spiced deliciousness as she and Dad continued on over to the picnic blankets that had been spread onto the grassy section.
“Lesbians all over are going to cry, sis. Don’t tell me you’re off the market.” Matty called over.
Lord, her family. “Let them cry,” Lex said, wrapping her arm around Cam again. Fuck, she couldn’t get enough of this woman. “I’m not interested in anyone else.”
Matty let out a groan as he reached them. “Don’t tell me you’ve turned into a sap too.”
“Not with you lot,” Lex shot back, lifting her middle finger in greeting. Matty grinned, the fierce sort that made his razor-blade cheekbones somehow sharper.
“Thanks,” Cam said, giving Matty a knowing glance. He tipped his fingers in a salute before walking a little faster to join the rest of them.
“What was that about?” Lex asked, unable to help her curiosity.
Cam looked up at her, affection in those dark eyes. “Matty was the reason I came home for winter break in the first place,” she admitted. “He sent me an email that gave me the push I needed to try a little bravery on for size.”
“Hunh. Better buy the little fucker a fruit basket then. He and Adrian were the ones who smacked some sense into me at Christmas.” Lex rifled her fingers through her hair, shaking her head at the realization Matty had been playing matchmaker the entire time. Not like he’d admit it, but she owed him more than she could ever repay.
Lex couldn’t help but soak in the sight of the gorgeous woman in front of her, barely daring to believe her luck. Cam’s raven strands trailed behind her with the breeze, and her crimson lips looked so kissable. She was all soft curves and gentle eyes betraying a tenderness she’d guarded before.
She leaned down and brushed her lips against Cam’s.
“What was that for?” Cam asked, her brow wrinkling.
Lex shook her head. “Nothing, I just love you.”
She slipped her hand in Cam’s again and soaked in the sight of her family by the stretch of green, the Ravenel bridge looming in the background, and the bright sunlight painting the whole park in technicolor hues. Matty had already picked a fight with Adrian, and when Cal stepped in, he added fuel to Matty’s fire. Mom and Dad bustled about getting plates ready, while Nellie and Danny helped them, everyone else happy to not get involved.
Lex tightened her grip on Cam’s, and they took their first steps forward, together.