The waitress nodded and gestured for Alex to go in. Alex turned, dropped her gaze to her feet to walk across the polished wood floors, and sat down at the table near a window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, Cenwynn,\u201d Alex said, glancing over at the woman. \u201cYou already started drinking? Without me?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cenwynn smirked. Her hair, the golden color of sun-kissed sand, sat in perfect curls upon her shoulders. Makeup upon skin so warm and familiar it reminded Alex of her time in Death Valley, amongst the sand and pale earth, highlighted the woman\u2019s eyes, which looked to be full of still-burning embers from a bonfire beneath summer stars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alex looked away, down to her menu, and picked up as she cleared her throat. Her heart beat in her ears and she worried her hands might begin to shake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The clink of glass made her glance up to see Cenwynn pouring her some wine. Without her gaze on Alex, the woman managed to see Wynn wore a long, black shawl printed with flowers, and a loose scarf around her neck as well. Cenwynn spared a look at her, smiled, and offered Alex the wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a nice place, isn\u2019t it?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh. Yes.\u201d Alex took the wine, and her fingers brushed Cenwynn\u2019s. Her heart climbed into her throat and she had to grip her drink tightly to not accidentally drop it. She took a sip and looked out the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor having been a prostitute before, you sure are nervous,\u201d Cenwynn said, a little too loudly. A few people nearby glanced over at them, and Alex paused before looking at the woman across from her. She smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re horrid,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know,\u201d Cenwynn purred. \u201cI didn\u2019t realize how bad you had it, Alex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alex rolled her eyes and set her glass down, the taste of pomegranate and alcohol warming her chest. \u201cHow long have you been out of the business, and you\u2019re still out there trying to get clients?\u201d She looked down at her menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cenwynn laughed, the sound flighty. \u201cIt\u2019s not my fault you were too naive, Alex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am not <\/em>naive,\u201d Alex insisted, shooting her date a look. \u201cJust because I thought you were too pretty to be serious about anything doesn\u2019t mean I was naive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMhmm. I asked if you wanted to pop cherries with me, Alex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not a virgin, need I remind you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve <\/em>not had sex,\u201d Cenwynn insisted. \u201cIt\u2019d be our first time together.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Heat rose to Alex\u2019s cheeks and she waved Cenwynn off. \u201cI\u2019ve been out of the dating game for a while, Wynn, but I\u2019m pretty sure that\u2019s talk for date three.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cenwynn opened her mouth to respond, but a waitress approached. \u201cCan I get an appetizer started for you two?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cenwynn hummed. \u201cHow about the meat and cheese platter?\u201d she asked, looking to Alex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat sounds nice,\u201d Alex said with a nod. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWonderful, I\u2019ll be back with that in just a few minutes,\u201d the woman said with a smile. She slipped away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think she came over to make you be quiet,\u201d Alex said, regarding her menu again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cenwynn gasped. \u201cNow that\u2019s just rude, Alex,\u201d she said with mock offense. \u201cAnd to be so rude to someone you think is so <\/em>pretty–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alex groaned. \u201cForget my mom told you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I will,\u201d she chimed. \u201cIt was quiet sweet of her to explain your feelings. You\u2019re bad at that, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am not bad <\/em>at that,\u201d Alex protested. \u201cYou hardly know me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know you get nervous because I\u2019m so pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alex flushed. \u201cI\u2019m fairly certain I hate you, Cenwynn.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cenwynn laughed. \u201cAnd now you\u2019re lying <\/em>to a pretty woman? The scandal.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alex focused on the page in front of her, pursing her lips to keep from smiling or laughing or in any way encouraging Cenwynn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWas your trip nice, though?\u201d she asked after a few seconds. \u201cTo visit your mom?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was,\u201d Alex relented. \u201cHer kids are sweet. I\u2019m like an aunt to them, and they\u2019re always funny when I\u2019m around. I\u2019m honestly surprised they like me so much.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t they?\u201d She arched a brow. \u201cAre her kids not your siblings?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh. Yeah, I guess I haven\u2019t explained why I have two different moms.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, you haven\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026 sort of heavy,\u201d Alex warned, setting her menu aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cenwynn offered a soft, welcoming smile. \u201cThat\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI ran away when I was young. A lot of reasons why, but I ended up leaving. My dad died after I left and my mom left us before all that. Gwen sort of took me in when I was nineteen, and eventually I sort of moved up here to be with Dr. Moon, who also officially adopted me. So I sort of have two foster moms.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat must\u2019ve been hard. Being on your own for so long before Gwen came around.\u2019 Cenwynn took a sip of her wine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t easy, no. I managed all right, but\u2026 I mean, it was nice to have a home and a bed and people who cared about me. I didn\u2019t really like it at first, of course, but\u2026 it was good.\u201d Alex gestured to Wynn\u2019s menu. \u201cDid you choose what you want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did. Did you see something you liked?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought I\u2019d get the roasted duck breast,\u201d Alex said. \u201cSounds good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, a prostitute with a high-society taste buds.\u201d Cenwynn smiled. \u201cI\u2019m getting the halibut. We can share, if you\u2019d like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow long were you on your own?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA few years.\u201d Alex shrugged and rubbed her left forearm. Sometimes, now and then, it still felt sore. Sometimes, when she thought back to that time, to the fear, to the pain and agony inflicted upon her body, she felt her bone throb, where years and years and years ago it once was broken. It resided as a phantom and nothing more, she knew that. And so did the woman who hurt her. So did the woman that led the violent gang Alex once found herself tangled up with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs your arm okay?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The question brought Alex back to the present. She pulled her hand away quickly. \u201cOh. Yeah, it\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cenwynn reached her hand across the table. \u201cWe don\u2019t have to talk about that. It\u2019s much for a first date, right?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alex hesitated, then set her hand in Cenwynn\u2019s. The woman\u2019s calloused fingers from working in her garden scraped pleasantly against Alex\u2019s flesh. \u201cOkay,\u201d she breathed. \u201cThank you, Cenwynn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure, Alex. What about I tell you what I\u2019m growing in my garden next year?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alex smiled. \u201cOkay.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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