Page 51 of Poison Touch (Monarch Vipers #1)

KINSLEY

“Birthday time!” Luca bursts into the kitchen holding a bouquet of at least twenty balloons, a cookie cake, and a small, wrapped gift.

“I see you counting. There are twenty-one, to be exact. Nineteen, for obvious reasons, plus one for good luck. And the giant birthday one because it was a must-have.” He hands the balloons to me as he sets the cookie cake on the island.

“Luca, you’re making me look bad,” my uncle says when he enters the kitchen, eyes wide. “My gourmet breakfast of an omelet, bacon, and toast is flying right out the window.”

I tie the balloons around the dining room chair. Then I hug my uncle around the waist. “Breakfast was amazing!” My eyes shift to Luca. “As for you, this is way overdoing it.”

“What, a guy can’t spoil his best friend?”

“Of course you can.” I hug him. “Thank you!”

He hands me the wrapped present. “Here, open it.”

“This can’t be better than what Uncle Trey gave me,” I challenge.

Luca’s face falls as if it were a real competition. “What did he give you?”

“A free lifetime membership to the Serpent’s Spear Dojo,” my uncle says proudly.

I bump his shoulder. “That and a trip to Venice Beach. Well, a hotel room for the weekend whenever I want to use it,” I add.

Luca looks at my uncle. “Nice one, sensei.”

“Now, let’s see what’s in here.” I pull the ribbon off the small package.

My fingers slide under the purple foil paper, exposing a black jewelry box.

Usually, I’d be nervous to open a present like this.

You never know if you’re going to like it or not.

All the while, the person who gave it to you thought it would be the best gift on the planet for you.

But I must admit, I never feel that way when Luca gives me something.

He knows me too well. Plus, he usually has better taste than I do.

I slide off the lid. A silver chain with a lotus flower pendant lies on the soft velvet pillow. “Luca, it’s beautiful.” I take out the delicate piece of jewelry and hold it up to the light.

“Want me to put it on?” he asks.

I hand it to him. Turning around, I move my hair over my shoulder.

“There,” he says.

I walk into the den to look at the mirror and smile as a grateful tear runs down my cheek. He comes to stand behind me.

“I love it,” I say to his reflection.

“I knew you would. As full of badassery as you are, you’re still my fragile and beautiful flower,” he says. I turn and hug him fiercely. He pulls back. “Okay, enough with all the sappiness, let’s go have some fun.”

“Yeah.” I look at the mirror one more time. The pendant is cool as I touch the flower. “It’s perfect.”

Luca kisses the side of my head. “Like you, my little mud flower.”

“Hey!” I slap his shoulder. “That’s not nice.”

“Actually, it is. Lotus flowers grow in mud.” He takes my hand. “Also, we have to grow through the mud to reach the sun. And I think you’re almost touching that golden light. I know you’re going through a lot right now. Just know that I got you. We’ll get through it all together.”

Tears fill my eyes. “I hope you’re right.”

He nudges my arm. “Did you forget that I’m always right?”

I laugh and push him back. “Yeah. Yeah.” We head back to the kitchen. “Uncle Trey, you want to go play Putt-Putt?”

“I wish I could, kiddo, but my women’s class is at eight.”

“Don’t they have anything better to do than learn to fight on a Friday night?” I ask.

“I think this is something they look forward to,” Luca says as he winks.

“Ugh!” I mock a gag, putting my finger in my mouth. I kiss my uncle on the cheek. “I won’t be too late.”

“Have fun!” he calls after us.

On our way to the car, Luca says, “I have another surprise for you. I invited a couple of your friends, so don’t be mad.”

My heart jumps in my chest. Edge pops into my head. The image of him playing something as simple as Putt-Putt makes me laugh. Even though his declaration that I’m his scared the shit out of me, my excitement grows all the same. “Who?”

“Eden and Bryce. They’re meeting us there.”

The disappointment in my chest weighs heavier than I imagined it would. But fuck, did I really expect Luca to invite the king of Venom to play Putt-Putt? “Great,” I say, trying to sound thrilled—which I am. Bryce and Eden are good people.

“Yeah, I thought you’d have more fun than if it was just us.”

I get into his car and slam the door shut.

“Luca, that is the biggest freaking lie you have yet to tell me. Because first off, we have a wicked good time all on our own, no matter what we’re doing.

And second, you hate when I beat you at Putt-Putt, so I know you wouldn’t want an audience.

Finally, the real reason you invited my friends is more for your sake than mine—maybe your and Bryce’s sake, to be exact. ”

He holds his hand over his heart. “Kins, you wound me with your words.” Starting the car, he says under his breath, “But you might be right, even though I will forever plead the fifth and say you have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I roll my eyes. “This has everything to do with you being sweet on Bryce, and this is the perfect opportunity for you to see him again. So, shut up, and let’s go so I can kick your ass in front of your boyfriend.

” He goes to protest, but I hold up my hand before he can say anything.

“But I think it’ll be a blast, and I’m glad you thought to invite them. ”

He smacks his lips. “Damn, girl! Fine, I admit it! You’re right. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Yep, that’ll do.” I flash him a wide smile for the win.

He backs out of the driveway. It’s probably better that he didn’t invite Edge. God knows what would have happened. I don’t need any of my friends forced to witness our make-out sessions.

Although I can visualize in detail what would happen in the cave, behind the waterfall, on the way to the ninth hole…

Shame on me.