Page 77 of Worship

“You said you know enough…tell me. We’ll start easy. What’s her favorite color?”

Oh no, I hate everything about what’s unraveling in front of me. This can only end badly. Luca is looking for an excuse to pop Michael in the jaw, and if he digs and prods hard enough, he’ll find a justification.

Michael takes his arm off from my shoulder and joins his hands on the table. “I don’t know.” His tone is brittle.

“It’s red,” Luca counters.He’s right.

“This is stupid,” I interject, but I’m ignored by both men, who are now leaning forward over the table, staring each other down.

Jesus Christ. Are they fucking kidding?

“What’s her favorite movie?” Luca throws out.

Michael crosses his arms.

“I don’t know. We tend to stop watching after the first few minutes.”

Wait, what? I’ve never even watched a movie with him. I start to open my mouth, but Luca doesn’t give me the chance.

“Sixteen Candles, because she’s in love with that pussy Jake Ryan.”

“Hold on. Wait a minute…” I say, irritated, and Blair looks at me with saucers for eyes.

Luca ignores me and starts a rapid fire.

“Favorite food? Favorite season? Why does she hate tube socks? Do you know her conspiracy theory about Valentine’s Day, Mikey? Huh? What do you know…?”

“Apparently not as much as you, but since she never fucking spoke of you, I didn’t think you were very important,” Michael shoots back, seemingly pleased with himself.

I throw my hands up, my patience hitting its limit. Dante laughs in the background, enjoying the show as he eats his pasta.

I look at Dom.

“You going to say something?”

He just smiles, leans back in his chair, and holds his hands up in retreat. Asshole. They all are.

Each of the guys seems more amused than worried, but none of them would stop Luca. They would help him bury the body though, and that’s what I’m worried about.

Luca winks at me and looks back to Michael, his voice taking on a sinister tone.

“Here’s one… Which is your personal favorite, Mikey? The sound she makes when she eats something delicious or the soft purr she makes when she’s being—”

“Enough!” I smack my hands down on the table and stand, pushing my chair back. “Have you both lost your minds? This ends now.” All eyes at the table are on me.

Michael looks defensive, lips thinned and eyes narrowed. He places his napkin on the table and rests back in his chair. He has every right to be angry; he just doesn’t know how angry.

I don’t love Michael, and before tonight, I didn’t know how long I wanted to keep dating him. But the emptiness was too much to bear, so I filled it with the first available body. I should feel worse about it, but I don’t, because the alternative was terrifying.

Luca looks entertained. I know exactly what he’s doing and why. If I won’t give in, he’ll find a way to make me. He knows I would never roll over for him, but he’s damned sure he’ll make Michael exist on his back, like a submissive puppy, because that guarantees I’ll never touch the guy again. He’s right and so fucking sneaky.

But he underestimates me because neither one is my favorite person right now.

“I’ve got one for both of you. Do you know the one thing I hate the most?” I snap at both of them. The whole table is still watching me.

“Guys named Michael?” Luca answers, his eyes fixed on Michael.

“Wannabe tough guys?” Michael answers, and Luca stills, his drink halfway to his mouth.