Enzo snorts. “Straight to the jugular.”
Hudson mock clutches his chest. “You wound me.”
Enzo leans forward, arms crossed, shifting the mood. “Making sure this”—he points between Hudson and me—“isn't going to be a problem.”
I sit back in my chair, squaring my shoulders. “What exactly wouldthisbe?”
“You two, your history,” he says flatly. “We’ve got a delicate alliance on the line. We don’t have the luxury of making decisions based on how we feel.” He raises his eyebrows at me as he uses my exact words from the other night.
Poor guy, he really has no idea how to play this game.
Hudson is clearly amused. “That so? Isn’t ityourcomplicated feelings that led to this delicate alliance?”
I stare directly at Enzo as I say, “It’s givingjealous, isn’t it, Hudson? I think Enzo is jealous.”
Hudson’s grin stretches. “You may be right about that, Pippa, but what Enzo doesn’t realize is he doesn’t need to be jealous, does he?”
“No, he doesn’t. Enzo, you’re welcome to join us any time.”
And just like that, Enzo’s cheeks brighten to a shade just shy of the color of my hair. His eyes dart between Hudson and me.
“Johnny and I here have shared many times before… And we like it…a lot.”
Enzo blinks and licks his lips. Then he clears his throat like he’s searching for words.
The chef enters from the kitchen to serve the food and Enzo is saved.
Did I just tell Hudson our hook ups were over? Yes. Did Enzo’s arrival bring my confrontational, teasing side out? Also yes. I won’t dissect that.
Jules joins the table.
Niko leaves the room.
Chef Marco explains what he’s prepared. Then, he pours us each a glass of wine before returning to the kitchen.
The conversation is easy as we eat—fun, even. Eva is the life of the party, cracking jokes, keeping us entertained with stories of their childhood or their work. Hudson and Enzo often jump in to “correct” her version of events. Hudson and Luna share a story or two about working together over the years.
Luna told me earlier she is still battling how she feels about the Hudson reveal. I know she always considered him a friend at work. Luna tends to turn inward in moments like this; she can be brutally hard on herself. Like it’s a personal failure not to have seen it coming. Her scars from our past aren’t as physical as mine, but I don’t think she’s ever forgiven herself for not comprehending the dark truth back at Maribel Island. Her obsessive attention to detail as a hacker ensures she never misses the obvious again.
Jules and I add an anecdote here or there to the conversation throughout lunch. We never reveal anything too personal but always find common ground—more than I would have expected, if I’m being honest.
But Enzo, Hudson, and Eva all spend their days playing various roles, too, so they justgetit. It’s…nice.
Hudson, Enzo, and I sneak glances at each other throughout the meal, though we all pretend we aren’t.
I notice Enzo’s attention keeps drifting, and not always back to me. I notice when it finds Hudson. I wonder if he’s even aware how easily it settles there.
By the time dessert is served, I find myself wondering if Hudson and his best friend have ever crossed that line. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Enzo’s heated gazes after our joke weren’t directed at me alone.
TWELVE
consider
Enzo
Sunday Evening, Day 11
Alone in my office, I stare out the window at the property grounds. Elijah Craig 18 is helping me drown the myriad of racing thoughts constantly battling in my brain these days.
