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I wiggle my eyebrows at him leaning a bit closer. “Are you willing to risk it?”
He rolls his eyes, attention back on his hand. “Well, it wouldn’t be a fair game now. You’ve seen Enzo's cards.”
“All bark, no bite. Right Benny?” Luca adds.
Benny screws his face up, drops his cards and tackles Luca backwards. Luca starts laughing as they both start play-fighting, trying to swing each other overboard.
“I’ll put $500 on Luca.” Enzo drops his cards and wraps his arms around my waist pulling me against his warmth.
“I’ll take that. Can’t ever underestimate the underdog.” I say holding his arms to me.
We watch on until Luca manages to throw Benny over the diving deck and Enzo starts grinning to himself. “I ever tell you, you're terrible at betting?” He holds his palm out to me. “Pay up.”
I fake a pout. “But I don’t have any money on me. I'll have to pay you another way.”
He runs his hand over his chin, eyes grazing over me slowly. “Yeah?”
I get to my feet and he rolls his head back to look at me lazily. Massive legs spread wide, arms relaxed on the arms of the chair. Jesus Christ, he's just something else. “Yep,” I say popping the p. Pretending one mere look at him doesn’t make me want to do very, very unsavoury things to him. I reach out and grab his hand, making sure to lean down more than needed so he gets a good eyeful of my tits. Might even push them up a little more. He loves them. He loves me.
He runs his tongue over his teeth and allows me to pull him to his feet so he towers over me again and follows me towards the doors. I pretend as if I’m leading him inside but I deliberately walk close to the edge of the deck. Spinning around as quick as I can, I plant my hands on his chest and push him over but he's too quick for me. He grabs my arms pulling me with him as we both fall into the sea. I'm so unprepared I didn’t even have a chance to take a breath. My head breaks the lukewarm water and I’m coughing and spluttering as Enzo is crying with laughter. The kind of laughter that comes straight from deep in your stomach. I add it to my collection.
He pushes his wet hair away from his forehead. “You're too easy to read.” He gets out between breaths. I shake my head, laughter bubbling up and out of my mouth as I slap my hand against the surface sending a huge splash towards him. He darts out and grabs my hand pulling me towards him. I wrap my legs around his middle and his hands slip below my bikini bottoms. “I can think of a few things you can do to repay me, Vita Mia.” He whispers into my ear before nipping my ear lobe.
43
Casimira
Manhattan, New York City
I'm sitting in my apartment with Hannah. She's helping me pack my stuff out as I'm moving in with Enzo. He asked if I wanted to move into the penthouse. Just me, him and Ares but quite honestly I love his house with all his siblings there. I love the thought of having lots of family around us and it already feels like home. I don't mind having that apartment as our private place for a getaway. Somewhere just for us.
“I can't believe you're moving out,” Hannah says with a sad expression on her face. “I'm going to miss you both so much.” She sighs and pouts. “Who am I going to have Sunday morning dance parties with?” I crack a smile. It's usually just Hannah and Ares twirling around the apartment on a Sunday while I record.
“We're not going far and I'll still see you all the time. Plus you and James will have so much more space. It's about time I gave you guys some privacy.”
Hannah laughs a bit joylessly. “Yeah, I suppose my sex life has taken a bit of a dive having a baby around.”
“Exactly.” I wrap a picture frame up with brown paper, slipping it into a box. “You can thank me later when he breaks your back.” I wink and she smiles but she doesn't look convinced.
My phone rings and it's Michael's fiancéé Leah. I move off towards my bedroom leaving Hannah in the lounge.
“Hey, mate,” I say as I manoeuvre my way around all the cardboard boxes to perch on my bed.
“I can't believe you.” She squeals. “They cost a fucking bomb!” I laugh and take a seat on the mattress. “I was just going to get snide ones.” She says. I suppress the gasp that threatens to slip out. Fake Louboutins? Absolutely not.
“It’s your wedding. You only get one and I wanted to do something nice for you.”
“I love them.” She pauses and it's a lengthy pause, weighted with something I already don't like. “Which makes what I'm going to say next a little harder.” I groan. Fucks sake. What now?
“Look, I understand why you're not coming to the wedding and I totally get it.” No, you don’t. “But I won't forgive myself if I don't try one last time. Micheal won't say it to you because he feels bad but he really wants you there. He was talking about it the other night and getting really emotional. There will already be an empty seat where Aleksy should be. He needs his big sister there. I know you probably hate me for guilt-tripping you but I just had to try one more time.”
My chest heaves and a heaviness settles on my shoulders when she mentions Aleksy. It's my fault he won't be there. I can't let my brother down again.
I let out a measured sigh as I rub my hand over my forehead. “It's fine, I get it. Let me talk to Enzo. If he can, then, we will come.”
She lets out a squeal. “Oh, Cas. Thank you so much. It would mean the world to both of us and you don’t have to worry. Tom’s not allowed anywhere near the venue, I promise!”
“Okay,” I say shakily. “I've got to go, Ares is crying.” I lie, hanging up the phone without waiting for a response. I can feel a panic attack building at the mention of Tom's name. My chest begins to feel tight like he's pushing up against it again. His hand over my mouth so I can't drag air in. I open my bedroom window putting my hands on the ledge, fingers digging into the wood and breathe through it slowly. Controlling the intake and shakily letting the air trickle out of me.
