Page 188 of King of Envy

I turned and immediately snorted.Did you go to the islands, or did you fall into a vat of bronzing oil somewhere?

“Hilarious,” Jordan said, rolling his eyes. He’d gone to St. Bart’s over the weekend, and he was at least five shades tanner than before he’d left. “You should think about doing either of those things sometime, or people will mistake you for a corpse.”

That was fine with me. I’d rather roll around on a mat of poison ivy than willingly bake on a hot beach surrounded by sweaty strangers. Whoever invented the concept of sunbathing must’ve been a masochist.

“Did you get everything sorted out?” Ayana asked. “How’s your grandmother?”

Jordan’s face sobered. Orla went into hospice at the beginning of the month. She’d held on longer than the doctors expected, but her time was near. Everyone had mentally prepared for it and were getting her affairs in order.

That was why Jordan had gone to St. Bart’s—to officially hand over her villa there to its new owners. Save for her Rhode Island home, Orla wanted to divest herself of all her real estate holdings before she died and donate the proceeds to charity.

“She’s the same. Always tired now, but she has some fire left in her. She was the one who insisted I go down to the islands instead of letting her lawyers handle it.” He gave us a sad smile. “The old dragon can’t stand to have us all hovering over her.”

He used the term “old dragon” affectionately. Jordan had grown even closer to his grandmother after Thanksgiving, when he’d officially told his family that he was aromantic and asexual. He also never planned to marry, and he didn’t want biological children.

His father hadn’t been present (though he’d apparently been indifferent when he found out), and his mother had broken down about never having grandchildren, but Orla had taken the news in stride. She hadn’t questioned him or tried to convince him he was “wrong.” She’d simply changed her will so Jordan would keep his inheritance.

“People are who they are,” she’d said. “They shouldn’t be punished for it.”

All that time, Jordan had been terrified of telling his grandmother—even going so far as to attempt a marriage of convenience—and she’d turned out to be the most understanding one of all.

“Anyway, I heard you guys were coming, so I swung by to see you and say hi to Stella,” he said. “But I have to leave soon. I’m heading to Rhode Island tonight. I think I’ll stay there until…well, you know.”

“We know.” Ayana enveloped him in a hug. “I know it’s family-only there these days, but tell Orla we’re thinking of her, okay?”

Call us if you need anything,I added.

Jordan responded with another sad smile. “I will.”

We chatted for another few minutes before he excused himself so he could make his flight.

No one had paid our trio any more attention than usual. People had gotten used to our new normal, and the scandalous whispers that’d circulated about Ayana and I dating so soon after they broke off their engagement had died once everyone realized we were all on truly good terms.

“I’m glad he’s spending Christmas with Orla,” Ayana said, looking wistful. “I hope she’s at peace.”

It’s Orla Ford. She’ll be fine no matter what.

She was a tough woman. Death would have to drag her kicking and screaming through its door. Once it did, she’d probably flip the tables and rule the afterlife too.

“That’s true.” Ayana let out a small laugh. “Okay, that’s it. Wereallyneed to stop talking about morbid stuff over the holidays. If my parents were here, they’d slap me on the head for it.” She twined her fingers through mine and pulled me toward where the preview was starting. “They’re so excited to see you again, by the way. Expect lots of food and board games for the next two weeks.”

We were spending Christmas and New Year’s with her entire extended family in D.C. We were scheduled to leave in two days.

I smiled.Looking forward it.

I meant it. With Willow retired and living in Oregon, spending time with the Kidanes was the closest I’d felt to having a family since mine died.

Ayana and I took our seats. The lights dimmed, and the preview started. I really didn’t care about fashion, but I loved Ayana’s gasps and laughs of delight at the outfits on display.

“Which one is your favorite so far?” she whispered toward the end of the show.

They all looked the same to me. Lots of red and gold and sparkles.

I shrugged.I guess that lacy thing with the bow. You’d look great in it.

“Is that your way of saying you want to see me in holiday lingerie?” she teased.

I want to see you in everything. Anything.A wicked smile.Nothing.

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