Page 94 of Hexed
Something sour hits the back of my throat because I know he’s lying. “What rumor mill?”
He opens his mouth to reply, but then his gaze slides past me, and my vision follows his.
Uncle T is making his way up the dock, and he’s not alone, because of course he isn’t.
Enzo and Aria are both with him, and don’t they just looksocozy together, with Aria’s hand wrapped around his so tightly, their arms look intertwined.
A heavy sensation drops in my gut, like thick green slime coating my insides and weighing me down. Enzo glances up, meeting my gaze from across the dock, and my stomach jumps into my throat, that envy whipping into anger.
I glare, and Aria turns toward him, whispering in his ear. His attention leaves me for her while he chuckles at something she says.
And whywouldn’the pay attention to her instead of me?
I’m nothing but a bridesmaid, after all.
I huff out an audible breath and cross my arms, earning me a curious look from Bastien.
“I thought this was supposed to just be the three of us,” I murmur, keeping my eyes on them as they make their way up the steps and onto the yacht’s deck.
Bas sighs, dog-earing the page in his book and closing it, setting it down on the table. “It was.”
My eyes widen in horror.
“What?” He straightens like he needs to be on guard.
“What do you mean ‘what?’ How could you do that?”
He rubs at his jaw, his brows drawing down in confusion. “Do what?”
“That.” I gesture at the book. “Get a bookmark, good lord. Were you raised in a barn?”
“Oh,” he replies, picking the book back up and flipping it open. “You mean this?”
He takes another page and slowly,torturously, curls over the top part of the paper.
My skin crawls.
“You’re disgusting,” I spit out in horror.
He grins widely. “Feels good.”
I grab a scrunchie from around my wrist and throw my hair into a loose messy braid just to get it out of my way, then sigh in relief when the ocean breeze ghosts across my exposed neck.
“You know Trent’s never able to tell Aria no. She probably said she wanted to come along,” Bastien notes. “She’s been very into family things lately.”
“It’smybirthday, Bas. I should get to throw her overboard and never hear her voice again.”
A haunted shadow comes over his features. “Don’t let him hear you talk about her like that, you understand me? Actually, don’t letherhear you talk like that.”
“Please,” I sneer. “She doesn’t scare me. Maybe he’s bringing dear ol’ daughter into the family business.”
I grin, and Bastien’s amber eyes volley between me and everyone walking on board.
“There they are,” Uncle T says, his tone light and jovial as the three of them make their way across the deck until they’re standing in front of us.
“Uncle T.” I smile and half stand to give him a hug. He presses a kiss to the top of my head and pats me on the back like I’m a pet. I don’t make eye contact with anyone else because I’m really not in the mood to fake it today, and hell, it’smybirthday. I can be icy if I want.
Not that anyone is actually wishing me a happy birthday right now.
