Page 45 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

The way she said it stuck with me. It felt like she meant more than just cake. Before I could think about it too much, Camille clapped her hands.

“Nobody touches dessert yet.”

Everyone in the room let out playful groans.

“You all know the rules.”

“What rules?” I asked.

Simone laughed.

“The food comes first.”

“Then dessert.”

“Then everybody votes.”

I blinked, surprised.

“Votes?”

Nia grinned.

“Oh, honey.”

“You didn’t know?”

Camille laughed.

“I forgot to tell her.”

“Every meeting we vote for our favorite dessert.”

My eyes grew wide.

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

“The winner gets this.”

She opened a cabinet and pulled out a bright yellow ceramic cake stand with tiny lemons around the base. Fancy gold letters on the front read...

Queen of the Cake.

Laughter erupted around the room.

“Tasha cheated last month.”

“I did not.”

“You absolutely bought those cookies.”

“They were homemade.”

“By who?”

“Costco.”