Page 115 of Hexed
“So you finally admit it,” Aria says. “You’re a lesbian.”
“Well, I’ll tell you a secret, sweet Cousin.” I cup my hand around my mouth and incline my body toward her. “The women make me come harder, but the men are easier to train. So I like them both but for very different reasons.”
Uncle T stiffens because he’s a bigot and prefers to pretend like my bisexuality doesn’t exist. Aria chokes on her champagne.
Enzo has a practiced grin on his face as he rubs her back and presses a kiss to the side of her head. “Careful, princess.”
A hit of jealousy sears through me when his lips touch her skin.
“Well,” I snap. “As fun as this is, don’t you all have some schmoozing to do?”
I wave my arm to the few hundred people pretending to give a damn about their nuptials, but I see the spark in Aria’s eyes when I bring it up.
This is her moment. She loves the spotlight, always has. It’s the reason she’s here with Enzo right now, the reasonallthis is even happening.
“That’s a fantastic idea,” Uncle T says. “Aria, why don’t you go say hi to the mayor? I just saw him and his wife walk in.” He looks at me. “I need to speak with you.” Then he turns to Enzo. “Both of you.”
“Daddy, does that have to happen rightnow?” Aria protests. “This is my party!”
“I’m sorry, baby girl. Unfortunately, it can’t wait.” He smiles at her and then turns to Johnston, clapping him on the back. “I’ll have Bas take you to my office, and I’ll be there shortly.”
Uncle T looks over the crowd and waves, and Bastien appears out of thin air, maneuvering his way through the room and taking Johnston away. He barely meets my eyes as he does.
Why is he acting so weird?
Aria rises on her tiptoes to press a kiss to Enzo’s mouth, and my stomach churns, envy slithering up my spine and wrapping around my chest like a constrictor until I can’t breathe.
This is ridiculous.
Sighing, I turn to Athena. “You don’t mind, sugar, do you? I’m sure you can entertain yourself until I get back.”
She grins and kisses my cheek before moving her mouth to my ear. “Don’t leave me for too long with these people. I’d rather get you home and on your back.”
My eyes flick to Enzo and see his jaw clenched tight, his eyes narrowed dangerously on her.
We follow Uncle T out of the main ballroom until we’re in a hallway off to the side. Enzo’s trying to get my attention, but I studiously ignore him because having us both back here with Uncle T is either because he can tell we’ve been less than appropriate with each other or, more likely, Johnston ratted us out about last night.
Why else would he be here?
The tinkling of champagne glasses and inaudible murmurs of people from the ballroom just beyond us filter through the air, and I cross my arms and lean against the wall, waiting for Uncle T to speak.
Finally, he clears his throat. “Either of you care to tell me what went on last night with Johnston Miller?”
“You didn’t let Bas go with me,” I state.
Uncle T looks at me incredulously. “And that’s your excuse for having E go with you instead?”
“Excuse me? I didn’thaveE go with me. I don’t even know why he was there. I was handling things just fine.”
Enzo snorts from beside me.
I glare over at him. “What?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing.”
Uncle T’s fiery gaze turns on him, and he points a finger. “It’s starting to feel like you’re fucking with my business.”
“I was saving your niece from being assaulted,” he says icily and takes a step forward, seeming to grow in height with every move he makes. “Something you should thank me for instead of trying to reprimand me like I’m some asshole you picked up off the street.”
