Page 118 of Jordan

“It won’t make a difference, Vincenzo. I already told you. Please stop bringing it up.”

He holds his hands up in a surrendering way.

“One thing you’ll learn about Vincenzo, if you haven’t yet, is he thinks money can solve anything,” Rafael says to me while eyeing Enzo.

“It can,” he argues.

“It cannot,” Rafael fires back.

“He’s right,” I say meekly, gesturing to Rafael.

“Oh? And what do you know about it?” Enzo asks with a gleam in his eye.

“I know I offered to pay off my father’s debt, and you didn’t want the money. Therefore…”

“Money can’t solve everything,” Rafael finishes for me. I smirk at Enzo. I feel the smile from Rafael.

Enzo points to the both of us. “You’re both going to be punished later.”

“I hope that’s a promise,” Rafael says, cutting into his meat.

Enzo raises a brow at me, but I pull my attention away and focus on my food. Not ready to admit that yet, but yeah. I kind of hope that’s a promise too.

“We actually need to discuss that,” Enzo says.

“I’d assumed that’s why we were dining together,” Rafael adds, reaching for his wine.

Nice of Enzo to give me a heads-up, but why didn’t he give Rafael one?

“I can’t want a meal with you and my wife?”

“You don’t tend to do things for the hell of it. There’s always a reason.”

My stomach sours. He knows Enzo well. Better than I do. They go back and forth like they’ve been at it for years. I find I’m more jealous of that than the sex. I want to know Enzo like that. Hell, I want to know anyone like that.

“You’re feisty tonight,” Enzo comments.

“Sorry,” Rafael says with a shake of his head. “I’m just tired.”

“This is a safe space. You’re allowed to express yourself as you see fit. You know this,” Enzo adds.

That is somehow relieving to even me. Is that how it’ll be like with us too? A safe space? Come to think of it, yes. I haven’t been kind to Enzo while being here, granted I had a reason, but he never punished me for anything. Not really. There were no repercussions for my actions. To destroying his hot tub, the kitchen, and hurting Antonio. Enzo has let me express my anger how I needed to. Which is why I felt I could. I never felt unsafe over it.

“Which I appreciate.” He smiles at Enzo, who winks at me.

What the hell is going on with these two?

Enzo decided we’d talk after we ate. Kat has just finished cleaning up all the dishes from the table. Enzo is opening another bottle of wine and filling Rafael’s and I’s glasses.

“Everyone needs to be honest here. Honest and open and not afraid to hurt someone’s feelings. On the other end, we need to be accepting and non-judgmental of what someone has to say. The only way this will ever work out is if we do that,” he explains.

“Agreed,” Rafael says.

“I agree,” I add in a small voice.

“Good. I’ll start.” He shoves the wine stopper into the bottle. “Ideally, I’d like to keep the contract with Rafael, though change a few things to include Jordan and whatever stipulations she comes up with. I think the night we spent together at the club says a lot, and I don’t see why we couldn’t enjoy one another like that whenever we wanted to.” He sips his wine. “Rafael?”

Thank you for going to him next. It seems he knows me better than I think he does.