Page 96 of Hexed
Aria walks outside, clad in a tan knitted cover-up and a large floppy hat that hides most of her face. Gold Cartier bangles line her arms, and when she lifts her hand to adjust the brim, the sparkle of her diamond engagement ring almost blinds me.
“Do me a favor. Worry about the people you’resupposedto be worried about and leave me the hell alone, okay?” I snip.
He frowns but follows my gaze over to Aria. I hate that I can see what looks like adoration when he stares at her.
Even worse, I hate that I care.
“You should probably know you’re fraternizing with the enemy by being over here and talking to me,” I continue.
He looks back at me. “Is that what you think you are? My enemy?”
“Well, we’re not friends.”
“Ouch.” He rubs at his chest and winces. “Why not?”
I laugh under my breath before leaning back and closing my eyes again because it really doesn’t matter. “We both know why not.”
A cheeky grin blooms on his face. “I thought we were becoming pretty good at the whole friends thing.”
“Word on the street is you also think I’d make a good bridesmaid,” I snark, my gaze snapping back open.
His grin fades, and I watch as the realization washes over him. “Venesa…”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What’s going on over here?” Aria’s voice interrupts, and I bite back the loud sigh that wants to escape.
“Just getting to know my future cousin,” I croon.
She saunters over to Enzo and sits down so close to him, I’m surprised she doesn’t end up on his lap, and then she reaches up and runs her fingers through his silky dark hair.
He doesn’t push her away. But then again, why would he?
“Hopefully nottoowell,” she chastises lightly. “We all know what happens when you get too close to a man, Urch, no offense.”
My stomach drops, but I wink at her. “Not just the men, honey.”
“You’re so crass,” she sneers.
Confidence straightens my spine and makes a smile blossom on my face.
Aria’s always been a jealous hag, but it’s not like she has anything to seriously worry about with me anyway. I enjoy making her uncomfortable, but if I hurt her, if I did anything to truly piss her off, I’d be cast out by the Kingston family with a snap of Uncle T’s fingers. I’m under no illusion that he’d pick me. He’d choose her a thousand times and in a thousand different ways before he’d ever place me above her.
She’s his daughter, and I’m just an unfortunate byproduct of his family tree.
Clearly, Enzo feels the same.
Which, of course, he does. But why would I want him to place me above her anyway? I can’t offer him anything.
Still, watching them together? It’s making me sick.
Her fingers tangle one more time in his hair as my stomach twists, jealousy pouring through me.
Enzo’s eyes snap to mine, and he grabs Aria’s wrists, pushing her away.
She frowns at him and reaches back out, pulling both their hands until they’re resting in her lap. He shifts like he’s uncomfortable, like he’s been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and isn’t that just the most ridiculous thing?
I track the movement because, despite my inner monologue screaming that I don’t care, I can’t help myself, and when I finally tear my vision away, worried that Enzo can see how much it’s affecting me, I realize I had nothing to fear at all.
