Cursed (Enchanted Gods #1) - K.K. Allen Page 0,48

that work their way into my voice. He may be one of the only familiar faces in the room, but I’m still humiliated that he only asked me to hang out that night because of my grandma. If Iris and Ava ever found out about that, they would spread that rumor around town so fast. “What are you doing here?”

He doesn’t hesitate, despite my rudeness. “I guess I crashed your party. My parents received an invitation, though.” He looks around. “And apparently, so did the rest of the neighborhood.” When he turns back to look at me, he smiles. “I hope you don’t mind that I’m here.”

Should I admit that I might actually be starting to enjoy my party now? “I guess I’m just confused as to why you’re here, if I’m being honest.”

He takes in a deep breath and frowns. “I’m sorry for hurting you, but if you think I wanted to hang out with you just because Rose asked me to, you’re so wrong. If anything, she gave me the push to do what I already wanted to do. I like you, Kat. And I wanted to be here today to tell you that.” He smiles again, this time unleashing a flock of flutters in my chest. “And to tell you happy birthday.”

His shoulder brushes my arm, and the way the touch heats my body, he might as well have kissed me. “Thank you.” In an effort to distract my emotions, I take a slow sweeping gaze around the room.

“So,” Alec says. “Summer solstice celebration, eh?”

A light laugh escapes me. “Now you know I’m not full of it. I told you, Rose is into this stuff.” Leaning closer to him, I drop my voice to a whisper. “Maybe Rose will perform some of her witchcraft for us.” I give him a wink. My growing boldness doesn’t cease to amaze me.

Alec’s face twists apologetically. “Man, I’ve really been coming off like a jerk since we met, huh?”

I shrug jokingly. “A little bit, yeah.”

He looks at me now, eyes curious, as if waiting for me to say something more, but Charlotte approaches us. She looks stunning in her gold-and-silver-glittered facemask. Her sky-blue dress is long and flowy. Her short blond hair frames her face in an angled bob. If I didn’t know better, I would swear she was sculpted from porcelain.

“Kat, there you are. You disappeared.”

I smile up at her. “Yeah, I was starting to fall asleep.”

She laughs, then her curious eyes scan Alec. “I don’t believe we’ve properly met.” She sticks out a hand. “Alec, is it?”

He takes it while brightening with his charming smile. “That’s me. And you’re Charlotte.”

She nods, looking pleased that he knows. “And your parents are…” She taps a finger to her lips while she searches the party. “There. The professor and his wife. Charlie and Brenda.” She snaps as if she’s proud of her memory.

“That’s them.”

“Well,” Charlotte says while looking between us. “I’ll leave you two to enjoy yourself.” She leaves me with a questioning glance before turning and walking away, and I know it’s because she’s confused at seeing Alec and me together.

Alec gets me up off the bench and forces me to walk through the party. We head to the refreshment table first. It’s adorned with fruit baskets, more flowers, and a sculptured centerpiece of Goddess Hecate, a touch I’m sure Rose is responsible for. I try to ignore Johnny as he replaces an empty tray of fresh strawberries before disappearing into the crowd.

When we get to the end of the long table, Alec grabs two wine glasses and fills them with fruit punch from a three-tiered cement-textured fountain.

I take the drink with a grateful smile. “I’ve been dreading this day—” My confession catches him off guard, and his face becomes bright with confusion, but a smile still lingers on his face. “Until now.”

As expected, Alec relaxes again and even smiles. “Well then, good. I’m glad I came. Even if I did have to crash.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you did.”

“I’m glad you said that because…” He pulls something from behind his back. It’s shiny, red, and wrapped with a bow.

“You didn’t need to get me anything,” I say with surprise, unable to take my eyes from it.

I start to reach for it, then Rose approaches, startling us both. “Alec, I’m surprised to see you here.”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “I wanted to wish Katrina a happy birthday and to clear up a little misunderstanding we had.” He wraps an arm