Page 53 of Djinn in Love

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The party wasin full swing when they entered the ballroom. Two lines snaked down the row of tables in the back, one on each side, and people were filling plates of food. Those who had already gotten their food were seated at the large round tables that had been set up during the cocktail hour.

Though his mother had wanted an actual dinner service for the wedding, the resort hadn’t been able to accommodate that much staff or food preparation, so she and Prema’s mother had agreed that a buffet-style dinner would work best.

Jasper was relieved because it meant that he didn’t have to choose a single meal but was able to try a little bit of everything. There was even a dessert buffet and an open bar.

He craned his head, looking around the room for his aunt. Though he wasn’t going to confront her tonight, he wanted to let her know that they needed to talk. Preferably soon.

Instead of finding Samira and Mina, his gaze landed on Jasmine Shah and the glare she was shooting toward him. No, toward Veronica. His eyes narrowed and, as though she could sense his attention, Jasmine’s glare shifted to him. When their stares clashed, she blinked and looked away almost immediately. For whatever reason, her anger that he wasn’tgoing to fall in line was directed solely at Veronica and Jasper did not like that.

He wasn’t going to concern himself with it unless she continued to make it a problem. And, as Veronica said, tonight was not the night to address the issue.

Jasper’s gaze swept the rest of the ballroom before coming to a stop on his brother, who was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his dad. Both men were looking right at him, their arms crossed over their chests and smug grins on their faces. His brother looked down and tapped his watch before wiggling his eyebrows at Jasper.

Knowing his brother was subtly giving him shit for disappearing with his date and screwing around in the bathroom, Jasper pretended to scratch one of his eyebrows with his middle finger.

From across the room, he could see his father sigh at his reaction, but the smug grin returned quickly. His dad was happy for him for a different reason—he was glad that Jasper had finally found the woman he wanted for the rest of his life.

He was grateful he’d had trouble finding a date for the wedding this weekend and his mother threatened to set him up with Jasmine. If she hadn’t, he would never have called Mystical Matchmakers.

Jasper slipped an arm around Veronica’s waist when she stepped away to allow one of his many cousins pass between them. A male cousin who was eyeing her like she was a tasty little snack.

“Chad,” Jasper said in greeting.

His cousin shot him a glare. “Stop calling me that.” He turned on the charm as he faced Veronica. “My name is Casper. I’m Jasper’s younger, better-looking cousin.”

Veronica nodded at him but didn’t offer her hand to shake, which pleased him. “Nice to meet you, Casper.” She glanced at Jasper. “Why do you call him Chad?”

“Because Casper and Jasper rhyme and, since I’m older, I get to keep my name. He has to be Chad.”

Jasper saw the quirk of her lips and the brief hint of the small dimple that sometimes appeared in her cheek when she laughed particularly hard.

“I see.”

“So, how did you guys meet?” Casper asked Veronica.

“Bye, Chad,” Jasper replied, using his hold on Veronica’s waist to steer her away.

“Stop calling me that!”

He felt her shoulders shaking as they walked and knew she was trying not to laugh while his cousin was in earshot.

When they were far enough away, he said, “Don’t hurt yourself. He can’t hear you anymore.”

Veronica gave a small snort. It was the cutest sound he’d ever heard. He loved her laugh, but that snort was on another level. She released a quiet giggle and swatted him on the belly.

“Why were you so mean to him?” she murmured.

“Because he was going to flirt with you right in front of me and now, he knows that’s unacceptable.”

She nodded. “He obviously likes to irritate you. I could sense his pleasure at irking you.”

Jasper shrugged. “We grew up around each other, so we act more like siblings than cousins.”

“Well, he loves you, if that helps.”

He sighed. “I know. It’s my cross to bear. I’m so lovable.”

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