Page 10 of The Enemy

“Thank you…are you nervous?”

He let out a humorless chuckle.

“No, honey, I’m not nervous.”

There was a tense silence that I didn’t feel like diffusing.

My father sighed and then spoke. “I wish I could have given your mother a grand wedding. We deserved that.”

My lips stayed shut. Did he feel guilty? Good.

My parents eloped right after they graduated. My father knew that getting my grandparents to agree to a marriage with a commoner—someone who was clearly not in their circles—wouldn’t go over well.

It was just them, my mom’s best friend and one of my father's friends. Mom used to say it was perfect. She said that when you’re in love, you don’t need all the fanfare to make it special.

Every year, my father made their anniversary special by gifting her jewelry and taking them on a week-long trip.

“We should probably start getting in place,” I told him. He got up and gave me his arm so he could escort me.

I took it without hesitation, and I realized how nice it was to be close to my dad. However, then I remembered he was about to get married, which soured the experience.

“Neo, you look dashing,” my father called out, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

The asshole walked toward us, the floral box still in his hand.

“Thank you, sir,” he said, then turned his profile to me. “Lou, would you be a good little sis and help me with this thing?”

My eyes narrowed, but I held back on a retort since my father was next to me.

“What’s family for,” I said sarcastically.

I took the box from his hand while ignoring the triumphant way he looked down at me. Even with my heels he still had a good few inches on me. I grabbed the flower and the pin, then handed him the box.

As I lined up the pin on his lapel, my father decided to move. He put his hand on my lower back, causing me to step forward. The first thing I noticed was his smell. It reminded me of that abandoned stairwell.

“I’m going to go check which guests have made it here.”

Mierda. Shit.

My father sucked at this whole protecting part of parenting.

“Don’t expect me to help you when you break your ankle tonight.”

Instead of looking at the pin going through the flower, I looked up at him and smiled as I poked the needle into his chest.

He flinched but didn’t say anything, because otherwise that would mean I won.

“Oh.” I pouted, and I felt him stare at my lips. “But isn’t that what big brothers are for? To help you out when you’re in need?”

I held my breath and waited for what he would say next. His eyes had darkened, almost black, and it was impossible to look away. The air seemed to thicken. His chest rose and fell a bit quicker, and I felt like my heart was trying to syncopate the rhythm.

“Mr. Caldwell, Miss Riviere, please go to your places,” the wedding planner called, effectively diffusing the tension that had been there only moments ago.

THREE

LOURDES

Just as I predicted,Pricilla was unhappy about my dress. She had greeted her son as soon as she arrived at the church, telling him how handsome he looked, all the while pretending I was the hired help.

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