Page 70 of Hexed
My gaze swings back to Venesa and gets stuck again like glue, because I can’tnotlook at her. She curls a strand of her hair behind her ear. Then picks at a cuticle. Teeth into her lip again. Nervous tics that seem so fluid, I can almost convince myself I imagined them, but they’re there all the same. Little leaks of vulnerability, seeping out from boxes locked up too tight.
I can relate to that.
“When is it?” I ask, a little annoyed I don’t already know.
“When’s what?” Venesa retorts, looking anywhere but at me.
“Your birthday. When is it?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“It’s August eighteenth,” Fisher cuts in.
“That’s in three days,” I note.
Jenny laughs uncomfortably, shifting on her feet as she looks over at them. “Well, Idobirthdays but not ones on such short notice.”
My phone chimes with a text from Scotty saying he’s out front, and Aria sighs, turning her attention on me instead of whatever Jenny’s saying. “Let me guess, you have to leave?”
Fuck yeah, I do.
Nodding, I try to adopt a sympathetic look as I stand, buttoning my suit jacket and brushing a hand down Aria’s hair. “Ladies, it’s been a pleasure, but my future father-in-law wants some attention.”
Venesa tilts her head and gives me a curious expression, which immediately puts me on edge.
Is she here because of him?
Aria pouts. “You didn’t tell me your stuff was with Daddy.”
“You should be happy your dad and I are getting along.” I lean down and press a kiss to the side of her head. “I’ll see you later.”
My chest burns when I meet Venesa’s stare, and it takes everything in me to tear my gaze away.
Aria stands and wraps her arms around my neck, pressing her lips to mine, her tongue prying my mouth apart.
And again, I let her becauseshe’sthe one I’m supposed to want.
SIXTEEN
VENESA
I can’t decideif Enzo’s leaving because he’s doing something he doesn’t want any of us to know or if he was lying just to get out of party planning.
But I highly doubt he’s meeting with Uncle T.
Either way, his leaving really puts a wrench in my plans because the whole reason I’m here is to keep an eye on him. The way I’ve been told to. And now I’m stuck with Fisher and Aria, which is what I imagine the seventh circle of hell feels like.
When I look over at Fisher, I see him gazing after Aria as she walks to the front counter with a wistful look in his eyes.
I pick up a pen that’s lying on the table and chuck it at him.
It hits him in the chest, and he jolts out of his daze, shooting me a glare. “Jesus.What?”
“You look like a lovesick puppy.”
He scoffs. “I do not.”
Leaning in, I lift a brow. “Do you need to not be part of this?”
