Page 40 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

“Which one are you taking?”

“The bigger one.”

“Then I should be allowed to eat the little one.”

“You should be allowed to wait.”

He placed one hand against his chest.

“I worked all day to provide this lifestyle.”

I glanced around the kitchen.

“You sold one house.”

“It was a very expensive house.”

“And now you feel entitled to cake?”

“I feel entitled to peace in my own home.”

I laughed, and that was all he needed. He grabbed a fork from the drawer and slipped past me before I could stop him.

“Zaire!”

He cut into the edge of the smaller cake while it was still warm, scooped out a piece, and blew on it.

“You are so irking.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“You’re ruining it.”

“It’s already ruined now.”

He took a bite, then stopped chewing. I folded my arms.

“Well?”

He stared at the fork.

“This is fire.”

He pointed the fork at me.

“This is revenge cake.”

Something shifted under my ribs, quick and sharp, gone before I could name it. I turned back to the glaze.

“I don’t know what that means.”

“It means this cake is good enough to make somebody mad.”

A laugh slipped out of me.

“If cake can start a fight, I don’t want any parts.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re the one showing up armed.”