she moves her feet side-to-side, watching her brightly colored toenails glitter in the night sky. “You’re lonely though,” she ponders, more to herself than to me. “And you’re always searching for purpose.”
She’s not wrong. Camryn isn’t dumb. She knows I’m searching, she doesn’t know what for, but she knows it’s important enough that I won’t ever stop.
“And your heart isn’t ugly,” she implores. “Different than most, but different is good.”
Her lips purse, a silent contemplation hitting her. “Not Gaston, but not the beast.”
She shakes her head. “You’re Rocco. You have too many layers for a villain in a Disney movie. They’re always fighting for power. You don’t care for power. You fight for what your heart deems is right.”
I pinch her side. “Poetic.”
She laughs. “That one was all my own too. No Dominic influence. He’s rubbing off on me.”
“Or maybe you’re trying too hard to see me as more than I am.”
“Maybe,” she muses. “Can I ask you something?”
I don’t answer, knowing she’ll ask me anyway.
“Do you wish you kissed me back?”
The whispered words freeze between us, caught across the cold night air in expectation.
“No,” I answer honestly.
Bottom lip tipped out, she doesn’t look hurt by my response.
“You didn’t want me to kiss you back,” I explain.
Turning, she faces me, throwing her leg over the bench we’re sitting on, straddling the concrete structure.
I follow her lead.
“You didn’t kiss me out of craving. It wasn’t an attraction that triggered you.”
She looks at the bench between us, her cheeks changing in color before my eyes. “Would you now? Kiss me back? If I did it again.”
I clear my throat, waiting for her to look at me. I wait a full minute, having to use a finger to lift her chin. “I don’t know. All I know is, I won’t kiss you until you’re ready.”
Shifting closer, she touches her forehead to mine, our noses touching.
“Are you ready?” I murmur.
“I don’t know,” she whispers.
“That’s a no, beauty. You’ll know when you’re ready.” I pull back, searching for disappointment in her eyes.
I stand reluctantly. Her big blue eyes watch me, an appreciation twinkling up at me.
Leaning down, I touch my lips to her forehead. “Come.” I hold my hand out for hers. “Let’s go watch our siblings all but procreate in front of their guests.”
The warmth of her skin slips into my palm as I pull her up. I wait while she readjusts her dress one-handed, not willing to let her hand go.
“Please don’t joke about that. They’re too much. And they live with me.”
A loud boom of laughter jolts out of me unexpectedly. “If I didn’t find so much joy in your misery, I’d actually feel bad for you.”
“Rude!” She balks. “Don’t talk too soon, Shay. They turn out to be too unbearable and I’ll be moving into your place, messing with your bachelor vibes.”
I squeeze her hand. “Wouldn’t work. My loft has an all-round sugar ban. You wouldn’t survive.”
“You suck joy out of life.”
I push her away gently, our hands holding on until we can no longer reach. “It’s part of my world domination plan.”
Flipping me off, she moves toward her sister, leaving me to stand on the edge of the Rein patio watching her retreat.
“Rocco.” Dominic approaches, a whiskey in his hand.
“Dominic. Nice setup.” I gesture to his back yard, if you could call it that. The grandiose decorations transform the space into a wonderland of tulle, white roses and lanterns. Silver service an added bonus to the over-the-top cocktail party.
“Sarah’s been spotted in the city.” He ignores my praise, drawing my attention immediately.
“What? When?”
“Earlier today,” he worries. “I don’t like it, Rocco. She should’ve gone deeper into hiding. Instead, she’s out in the open. Something’s happening. I don’t know what, but I can feel it, she’s planning something.”
“You sure she’s not just cooked on meth and makin’ stupid decisions?”
“No.” He throws the contents of his glass down his throat, snapping his fingers in the direction of the closest waiter, demanding a refill.
The waiter brings me one too and I mumble a thank you, eyes set on Dominic.
“But we can’t rely on that. Prepare for the worst and hope for the fucking best.”
I sip the amber liquid, letting the earthy flavors soak into my lips. “Do we have any leads of where she’s stayin’?”
His head shakes, a fake smile on his lips, waving to Codi as she drifts past.
“No. Which means she has connections here I don’t know about. Fuck,” he spits, rubbing a hand roughly down his face.