Apple of Someone's Eye

Xenia's eyes went wide before she quickly recovered. Of course, her mother knew. Nothing gets past this lady. Xenia shook her head, ignoring her mother's question.  

"How can you ask me that after assaulting someone? Mother, you know you can't go on abusing every man that wants to fuck me," Xenia said while bagging all the chocolates her mother pointed to. 

"Hmph, it's not abuse, sweetie, if they like," she beamed. "I can teach you some things you know." 

Xenia shook her head and gave the bag of goodies to her mother. Lottie clapped her hands as she walked over, giving her mother a hug. 

"Miss Delilah, I'm not sure if I ever said this, but I think you're my spirit animal." 

My mother grinned at the compliment, flipping her hair to the side. "Oh, Lottie, you flatter me so." She gave Lottie a once-over. "Darling, what is this new look? I am loving this fabric. It feels like Faevian silk." Her mother walked around Lottie. "Who do I have to seduce to get one of these?" 

Lottie grinned as much as her mouth would allow her. Xenia knew she was thinking of her mate. It was the only time Lottie made a face like that.  

"My Spencer. His pack is one of few surrounding the Royal Kingdom, so he's giving me a personal tour when we get back," Lottie geek like a kid with candy. "Maybe I'll even meet the Alpha King." 

My mother grinned at her. "I'm so happy for you, Lottie. If only my daughter could find someone who would dote on her like your Spencer." Delilah's eyes lit up like she had an amazing idea. "Maybe when you go on this tour, you'll find someone handsome and strong for my Xeni." 

Xenia glared at her mother. "I don't need anyone, mother. I have Cris-" 

Delilah flicked her hands in the air dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, you have Cristo-bore," she joked before leaning against the counter and whispering, "You know I've seen him down at the brothel talking to Miss Hayworth. Who knows what that thing gave him?" 

Xenia sighed and shook her head. She knew Cristobal had friends, and she didn't care much, but her mother did. She would always find ways to try to get Xenia to end her relationship with Cristobal. She even tried to sleep with him once to get Xenia to leave him. It wasn't like they were in a committed relationship.  

Cristobal was a soldier, and the chances of him being faithful were ridiculous in her mind. So, Xenia told him point blank, 'We are nothing more than friends who enjoy each other's company' whenever he's in town. It's been this way for two years, and her mother has been hounding her about commitment since then. As if she was the greatest role model. 

"Mother, we're not a couple. We're friends who, on occasion, comfort each other, and as far as I know, it will stay that way. So back off." 

Xenia busied herself around the shop, ignoring her mother's glares and Lottie's amused face. Lottie never got involved in their arguments, but Xenia bet she found them entertaining. Her mother scoffed at her proclamation. 

"Is it terrible for a mother to want her daughter to be loved? I was fortunate to experience it with your father, and if I had to do it all again, knowing the outcome would remain the same, I would. Without a doubt."  

Her mother grabbed her hands and stared into her eyes. Xenia tried not to let it affect her, but her mother had a way of getting in her head.  

"I just want you to at least know what that feels like. To be the apple of someone's eye. To never wanting them to let you go. To love so hard, it hurts but in a good way. To feel a fire burning so deep in your soul that the only way to tame it is with their touch. There's an intimacy to be loved that way, Xeni, and I want that for you." 

Xenia immediately flashed back to Mason before shaking her head to get rid of those thoughts. Xenia saw tears in the corner of her mother's eyes. Her mother had never spoken like this before, which surprised her. So much so Xenia had to remind herself to blink. Even Lottie was hanging on to her mother's words. A lazy smile spread across her mother's face, and Xenia sighed heavily. 

"Are you high again," Xenia asked while watching her mother fail to suppress a smile. "Mother!" 

Her mother erupted in little giggles and pinched her fingers together. "Just a little." 

Xenia pushed away from her and went to the door to open it. "Get out," she yelled with a smile in her voice.  

She should have known her mother was drinking her secret pixie tea. It's a powerful hallucinogen, and too much would likely kill you. 

"You don't have to be so rude," her mother huffed as she moved towards the door. She stopped and looked at me before cupping Xenia's face in her thin, smooth hands. "I love you, and I meant what I said. You deserve love, Xeni. The best of it. And if it was this new man you met today at Barry's bar, grab it and don't let go." 

Her mother kissed her lips and then wiped off the lipstick before moving towards the horseless carriage she came in. "I'll see you in two days," she yelled as the carriage pulled away. 

Two days from now is the anniversary of her father's death, and, like every year, along with her mother and Lottie, they traveled to Glenville. They would have dinner at Lottie's grandmother's diner and celebrate his life with the townspeople. It was always a good time for everyone to connect and reminisce. Xenia looked forward to it. She closed the shop door and turned to see Lottie smiling. Xenia just shook her head and smiled. 

"You know your mother might have a point. Being in love is grand," Lottie said, spinning around. 

"Oh no. Don't tell me you fell for that. My mother is nothing but a hypocrite. She talks of love and yet gives false love to whoever has enough to pay for it."    

"Doesn't mean she doesn't know what love is. She had it once, and how she talks about it reminds me of Spencer," Lottie leaned on the counter in a dreamlike state. "He makes me feel like the only girl in the world, and when he touches me"-she smiled and closed her eyes as if he was there now-" when he touches me, it's like I could feel his love exploding all over my body like fireworks. Xeni, it's incredible." 

Xenia couldn't help but smile at her best friend, who was humming to herself. She was happy for her, truly, but she could never imagine loving someone like that. Xenia would be too afraid to lose them. The same way her mother lost her father. Xenia was strong, but if she lost her mother or Lottie, it would break her. So, what would happen if she lost someone she gave her whole heart to? Xenia shuddered just thinking about it. 

Then she thought about him and smiled. Mason. Just a bit, but it was enough for Lottie to stop humming. Lottie could tell Xenia was thinking of someone. It could be Cristobal, or maybe it was the new person. Either way, Lottie wanted to know. 

"Okay, you have to tell me who you were daydreaming about," Lottie asked while propping herself on the counter. "This looks new on you." 

Xenia gave her friend a cautious look, not wanting to tell her about the little encounter at the bar. Though she felt if she didn't tell anyone, she might burst. Maybe getting this out now would somehow help her forget about him. Chalk it up as a one-time passage. 

"If I tell you this, I don't want to hear about it two days from now from my mother, Lottie," Xenia said sternly, narrowing her eyes.

Lottie gasped, her eyes had a certain twinkle in them, and she brought her hands to her chest. Xenia could already feel regret about telling Lottie the truth. That girl could hold no better secret than a holey basket trying to hold water. Still, she was Xenia's best friend, and Xenia trusted Lottie with her life. 

So, she told Lottie everything, from first setting eyes on him to him saving her from falling on her face. When she finished, she realized she was still smiling from the encounter with Mason. Xenia watched Lottie's surprised face turn sour as she scrunched her nose and narrowed her eyes. Xenia almost took a step back. 

"I…can't…believe you," Lottie stated.