Hexed

Venesa is surprised by Enzo’s fear of heights as they ride the Ferris wheel. To take his mind off his panic, she insists that he look at her instead of the ground. With their faces almost touching, she thinks, “I can tell he wants to kiss me. And I want him to, which is crazy because I’ve never kissed anyone. It’s too close. Too personal. And I’m afraid I’ll be bad at it” (214).

On the morning of August 18, which is Venesa’s 25th birthday, Enzo takes a walk down the beach. He fears that he’s being monitored, and he makes a private call to Gio, his second-in-command, in New York. They discuss Enzo’s aversion to marrying Aria, and Gio suggests that the only way out is for Enzo to kill his father and take control of the crime family. So far, Gio hasn’t been able to turn up any information on Aria’s Uncle Frankie in New Jersey. Back in his room, Enzo wants Aria to ask Venesa to be her bridesmaid. Privately, he thinks that this might set a “boundary” that will prevent him and Venesa from acting on their attraction to one another. Wanting to please her fiancé, Aria agrees.