Page 20 of Highball and Chain

Maggie nodded, and I sipped my espresso.

“Honestly! Why am I having to pry these things from Leo when you two already have the dirt?”

The waiter stopped a few feet away as if afraid to interrupt the conversation.

Dahlia motioned for him to set our food on the table. “Leo doesn’t like her.”

“No one likes her. She’s awful,” Maggie snagged a croissant and slathered on a mountain of butter.

“Whatever. It’s none of my business. I’m over it.” I had no way of knowing if Enzo was on or off with Nico the night of the gala, but hearing they’d had a relationship for so long stung. Like a wasp-in-the-eyeball stung.

“You don’t seem over it. You seem pissed.” Maggie stuffed the pastry in her mouth, closed her eyes, and sighed.

Since evidently, I couldn’t lie for shit, I shrugged, a noncommittal gesture that neither confirmed or denied my state of mind where Enzo Marchionni was concerned.

“You like him,” Dahlia whispered.

“Just because he gave me the best orgasm of my life doesn’t mean I like him.” As soon as the words fell out of my mouth, I regretted them.

Maggie nodded with a knowing expression. “I thought you said almost slept with him?”

“News flash, you don’t have to have sex-sex to have an orgasm.”

Thankfully, Dahlia saved me from myself. “They must all be gifted in that department.”

Maggie and I gawked.

Dahlia and Leo vehemently denied they’d ever gotten horizontal. The news grossly overshadowed my almost tryst with Enzo.

Dahlia waved her hand as if to erase what she’d said. “Not that I have personal experience, but every woman I know who has slept with one of them says the same thing.”

“Methinks the lady doth protest too much.” I seized the opportunity to take the attention off myself. “Just admit it. You and Leo have wild sex.”

“Seriously, Dahlia, how can you expect us to believe you’ve never crossed the line with him?” Maggie laughed.

“Leo and I have known each other a long time. We are just friends.” Dahlia’s cheeks turned red. “Like you and Jack.”

“Jack’s like a brother to me. You and Leo don’t exactly treat each other like siblings.”

She sighed. “We’re friends. Nothing more.”

“After all of this time, you’ve never even kissed? You are such a liar.” Maggie snapped her mouth shut.

Leo, Marco, and Gabe approached the table, and joy of joys, Enzo trailed behind them.

“Dahlia doesn’t lie—she twists the truth into a work of art.” Leo bent and kissed her bright red cheek.

“What did I miss?” Gabe set his hands on Maggie’s shoulders.

“Girl talk.” She beamed up at him.

Marco plopped down next to me and stole the croissant from my plate. “Hey, beautiful.”

Enzo glared at his younger brother and frowned at me.

Screw this. I flashed Marco a smile and wiped a glob of chocolate from the corner of his mouth. “Are you my escort for the day?”

“The day, the night, as long as you’ll have me.” He slung his arm over the back of my chair.

---