by Anders Grey
“Yay,” Rowan mumbled. “I can’t wait to get my cheeks pinched three million times.”
When we entered the dome, I was hit by warm, humid air and the smell of lush plants. It was like stepping into another world. My fingers itched to curl around my camera.
A small crowd blocked the main aisle, and since they immediately broke out in greeting when they saw us, I figured they were all Rowan’s relatives. He winced and stayed close to me, but it didn’t save him from the onslaught of older men and women coming over to kiss him and—just as he guessed—pinch his cheeks. His mutterings of being an adult and “not a kid anymore” fell on deaf ears to all the relatives who insisted he would always be a kid to them. I couldn’t help but grin. It was obvious his family cared about him, even if he was a surly little hedgehog right now.
Rowan groaned when the herd of older ladies moves on. “That was torture.”
“Oh, no. Your family was happy to see you. How dreadful,” I teased.
In a flash Rowan reached up to pinch my cheek hard.
“Ow!” I cried.
“There. See how you like it,” he said with a mischievous smirk.
I chuckled. “Asshole.”
“Language,” Rowan said, wagging a finger.
He balked as another older woman broke apart from the crowd and scurried up to us, apparently a straggler from the stampede. But he seemed to relax a bit when he recognized her.
“Hi, Aunt Rose,” Rowan said. “Alec, this is Tiffany’s mom. Rose, this is—”
Aunt Rose crushed me in a hug before Rowan could even finish introducing me.
“I know who Alec is!” Rose cried indignantly as if she’d known me my whole life. “Tiffany told me all about him this morning on the drive here.” She laughed. “If that fiancé of hers isn’t careful, she’s gonna snatch this one up instead!”
I grinned and put my arm around Rowan’s waist. “Sorry, but I’m already snatched up. I hope she also told you Rowan and I are an item.”
Rose winked. “Of course. Just teasing, dear.” She clapped Rowan gently on the cheek, an affectionate gesture. “Good catch, Rowan. Don’t let this one go!”
“I won’t,” Rowan said obediently.
I was hit by a pang of guilt about lying to these people and wondered if Rowan felt the same way. I hoped he had a good excuse ready for why our relationship was mysteriously going to dissolve after this trip.
As the group set off, we trailed close behind. I whipped out my camera and fiddled with the settings, taking a few test shots as we walked. Rowan didn’t speak much.
“Why don’t you go ahead and spend time with your family?” I suggested. “I might lag behind since I’m taking photos.”
Rowan frowned. “I don’t want to walk with the big crowd. I like it back here with you.”
I liked hearing him say that, even though it felt selfish.
“They’re your family,” I said. “I’m sure they miss you.”
Rowan grumbled like he wanted to argue but didn’t say anything. He ended up hovering in between me and the crowd like he didn’t know which group to choose.
A bright orange monarch caught my eye as it fluttered to a nearby leaf. It was a flashy, striking creature that Nature Galaxy readers always loved. I poked my tongue out in concentration and kneeled to get the shot, but my movement disturbed it. It rose up, lazily flying until it found a new perch—and the perch was Rowan.
My breath caught in my throat. He didn’t move a muscle. His eyes were shut, and his palms were open in front of him with the monarch right in the center of his hands. He looked like a statue of a Greek god—perfectly still, and hauntingly beautiful.
I tiptoed closer. With his family already bustling ahead, there was nothing to disturb the sight except me, so I took great care not to ruin this moment. I got as close as I dared—about a foot away—then lifted my camera and captured the shot.
I didn’t dare to breathe when another butterfly fluttered over to land right on Rowan’s forehead. He didn’t even flinch. Did he know? Could he feel the butterflies gathering on him?
I snapped another photo, wanting to immortalize this scene. I almost felt like a voyeur watching something so magical.
Then Rowan opened one blue eye and caught my gaze. My breath hitched. The corners of Rowan’s mouth slowly raised into a smile. I knew then that I wasn’t a voyeur at all—Rowan wanted to share this moment with me.
“Row-Row! There you are!” Tiffany gasped. “Oh no!”
At the sound of Tiffany’s voice, the butterflies scattered, taking to the air like chunks of confetti in a breeze. Tiffany looked mortified.
“Oh, Rowan, I’m sorry,” she said, sounding genuinely distraught. “I didn’t mean to ruin your Disney princess moment.”
But Rowan didn’t look upset at all. He seemed serene as he smiled at his cousin. “It’s okay. I think Alec got the shots he wanted. Right?”
He was doing all that for my sake? I thought, my chest clenching.
I nodded.
“Is something wrong?” Rowan asked Tiffany.
She sighed, looking like she wished she had another martini. “No. I mean, I can’t find my fiancé, but what else is new?” Her forced laugh sounded tired.
Rowan blinked. “He’s not with you?”
“Nope. Maybe he got lost in the ferns or something. So, I came to hang out with you guys. Oh, wait.” She paused. “Unless you’re having, like, a couple’s moment and don’t want me intruding or something.”
“I don’t mind at all,” I said.
“Me neither,” Rowan added. “Come on, we can walk together.”
Tiffany smiled, beaming with gratitude. “Thanks, Row.”
“Finally got tired of the big crowd, huh?” he asked. “Welcome to my life.”
Tiffany groaned in sympathy. “I get you. I mean, I love them, but all they do is gossip and talk about how I’ve gained a few pounds since the last time they saw me. Like, yeah, thanks, I know! And during my wedding getaway, no less… Is there a drink bar around here?”
“Afraid not. Unless you’re into flower nectar,” I teased.
“At this point, I’d settle,” Tiffany grumbled. “Maybe if I spiked it, it wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Not sure if the conservatory staff would appreciate that, Tiff,” Rowan said.
“I’d be using my own, duh. I’m not wasting good vodka on butterflies.”
Tiffany’s comments were meant to be jokes, but Rowan and I both exchanged glances behind her back. I didn’t know her as well as he did, but I could tell something was bothering her.
“Tiffany, would you excuse us a moment?” I asked with a smile. “I’d like to ask Rowan’s opinion about this flower we just passed.”
She waved us off, still looking deep in thought about her flower nectar vodka idea. “Sure.”
We huddled behind a large arching fern and lowered our voices.
“I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but is she always like this?” I asked softly.
“If you mean dramatic, then yes,” Rowan said, a slight frown on his lips. “But something’s up. She parties, sure, but she doesn’t drink in the middle of the day. Something’s bothering her.”
“Where’s her fiancé? Shouldn’t he be here, too? Why is she all alone?”
“I don’t know,” Rowan mumbled. “I barely know the guy and he’s already getting on my nerves.”
We glanced back over to Tiffany, who was sighing and scrolling listlessly through her phone. The sight made me sad for her. She should have been enjoying this experience with her fiancé, just like I’d enjoyed it with Rowan, not standing there alone.
“Maybe we should try to find him or something,” I suggested. “What does he look like?”
Rowan shrugged. “I don’t know.” He seemed a bit irritated at himself. “I never paid attention when she talked about him because I assumed he was a fling, just like most of her boyfriends. I don’t even know his name, and it’s too embarrassing to ask now.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you have a fake boyfriend who’s new to the family, isn’t it?” I said, grinning.
Rowan’s eyes lit up when he realized my plan. “Oh, you’re so smart. Why didn’t I think of that?” He shoved me away. “Go on, go ask her.”
“All right, I’m going, I’m going.”
I ducked under the fern and approached Tiffany. She beamed at my reappearance and pocketed her phone.
“Back from looking at flowers?” she asked.
“Ah, we might’ve gotten distracted and started kissing behind the bushes,” I said with a wink. Tiffany mock-gasped then giggled, which made me smile. “But that reminds me, your fiancé hasn’t arrived yet, has he?”
At the mention of him, Tiffany’s smile soured. “I dunno. He said he’d be here. He does always show up, even if he is late.”
What kind of dick shows up this late to meet his fiancée when she’s standing here alone and sad?
“Maybe he’s already here and he just got lost,” I suggested. “This is a pretty big conservatory. Why don’t Rowan and I look for him?”
Tiffany nodded, mild hope blooming in her expression. “Yeah, I mean, if you’re not busy or anything.”
“Not at all,” I promised. “Could you just give me a quick description of him so I know what to look for?”
“Well, he’s a little taller than you. Blond, too, but more of a pale-yellow blond? Blue eyes. Light blue, not dark like Rowan’s. Um… And he usually wears some kind of solid polo.”
The description was a little vague, but I could work with it. “Thanks, Tiff. We’ll come straight back when we find him.”
Tiffany gave a weak laugh of relief. “Thanks, you guys. And sorry for making you run around and play search and rescue while you’re supposed to be on vacation.”
I wanted to say I’m sorry your fiancé abandoned you, but I held my tongue.
“No worries,” I said. “Be right back.”
I found Rowan still huddled under the fern, watching me return expectantly like a baby deer waiting for its mother. God, he really was cute.
“Did you find out his name?” Rowan asked with a grimace.
“No, but I got a visual. Sounds like a generic white guy.”
Rowan snorted. “Great. Not too many of those around here.”
I gave him a hand and lifted him to his feet. “The biggest clue I got was solid polos, so we can keep our eyes peeled for those.”
“And hopefully he’ll at least look like he’s searching for his fiancée.”
We ducked into a side-aisle and stalked through it, both of us searching high and low for polo-wearing white men. We were completely in sync as we dodged butterfly-observers and people walking around too slowly. Twenty minutes later, we’d crossed about half of the conservatory, but there was no sign of the guy—or at least anyone who matched Tiffany’s description.
“Maybe we should split up,” I suggested.
Rowan didn’t look thrilled at the idea, and part of me regretted asking. I knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t be comfortable alone in such a crowded place. But apparently his concern for his cousin won over his anxiety because he nodded and said, “Okay. Just don’t get lost. I don’t wanna have to comb this place for you, too.”
“Worried I’m gonna dip out on our deal and leave you without a fake boyfriend?” I teased.
Rowan blinked at me. “No, I know you won’t leave. I trust you.”
His words took me off-guard. For a moment I was too shaken by his honesty and vulnerability to reply.
“I’ll meet you back at the fountain in the middle,” Rowan said.
“Okay.”
Strangely but pleasantly buzzed from his comment, I went back to searching. My eyes raked over everyone, but no one stood out to me. Where the hell was this guy? Was he even here?
I bit my lip, wondering how we might have to break the news to Tiffany that her fiancé didn’t even show up, until a flash of bright pink caught my eye.
A man in a salmon polo skulked out from behind a wall of hedges. He reached up to hurriedly flatten his mussed-up blond hair. He kept checking over his shoulder—not like he was looking for someone, but like he was afraid of being followed.
But when he briefly angled his face so I could see it, sick familiarity wrenched me in the gut. My heart nearly stopped.
No. Fucking. Way.
11
Rowan
There was no sign of Mr. Polo anywhere, and even with all the ducking and dodging around the bushes, I was getting sick of the crowd. I wanted to return to Alec’s side, so I gave up and sat on the edge of the fountain where we promised to meet up.
I thought about Alec’s expression when I told him I trusted him. He seemed happy and that made my chest feel warm.
It doesn’t matter, I reminded myself bluntly. After this is over, he’s going to leave anyway.
Even knowing that, it still felt nice to share a connection with him. I let myself have this moment before my doubts could steal it away.
I sat up straighter when I saw Alec round a hedge and storm towards me. Some of my enthusiasm dimmed when I saw the dark look on his face.
“Alec?”
At the sound of my voice, he stopped sharply in front of me. He seemed distracted, not quite able to make eye contact with me. He wasn’t acting like himself.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, getting a bit worried.
“I think we have a problem,” he muttered.
I furrowed my brow. “What?”
Alec glanced over his shoulder, scowling. He didn’t respond.
I tried again. “Okay… Did you find him?”
His eyes snapped towards me now, unfocused and wild. “Yeah, unfortunately, I think I did.”
Why the hell is he acting all weird? And why did he say ‘unfortunately’?
“There you are,” Tiffany said, appearing from behind a flower arch. She sighed and leaned on the fountain. “No luck?”
Alec grimaced. “I—”
A man in a pink shirt stepped into the clearing and Tiffany gasped loudly. “Babe! You’re here!”
I watched Tiffany throw herself on the man, whom I assumed was the fiancé. He was blond and wearing a solid pink polo, but otherwise looked unremarkable. He wasn’t my type. My type was more like—
Don’t say Alec.
I pushed the thought aside. Tiffany giggled and pressed her lips against her man’s mouth, and he gave her a peck back. If any other overbearing straight couple kissed in front of me, I might’ve rolled my eyes, but this was Tiffany, so I tried to be happy for her.
But the non-enthusiastic look on the guy’s face was making it difficult to be joyous. I held back the glare I wanted to shoot at him.
I haven’t even given him a chance yet, I thought. At least do it for Tiff.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who noticed because Alec had gone stiff next to me. For the first time since I’d met him, he seemed to have lost his cool, easygoing nature. He ripped his gaze away from the couple and stared at the bubbling water in the fountain with a deep frown. I wanted to ask if he was okay—even though he clearly wasn’t—but Tiffany interrupted me.
“You guys found him!” she exclaimed, rubbing her cheek against his like an affectionate cat. “Finally! It took you long enough to show up, babe!”
“Sorry, baby,” Polo Guy said, running a hand through his hair. “Did you miss me?”
Tiffany pouted. “I always miss you when you’re gone. What took you so long to get here?”
“I’m here now and that’s what matters, right?” He grinned, but it wasn’t a charming or easygoing one like the one Alec had. This one reminded me of a used car salesman putting on a front to sell a broken-down piece of crap.
“Yeah, but don’t be late again, okay?” Tiffany scolded him, poking a finger in his chest. “I had to hang out with my cousin while you were gone!”
I wasn’t even offended by her comment because, hell, her fiancé stood her u
p. As much as we loved each other, I’d be pissed if I was forced to hang out with my cousin in that situation, too.
“I’ll make it up to you,” Polo said. The hand he had around her waist scooted dangerously low.
Nope. Love you, Tiff, and I’m glad you reunited with your man, but I’m not gonna stick around to watch this.
I loudly cleared my throat and hopped off the fountain. “Well, now that you two found each other, Alec and I are gonna go look at some more butterflies. See you.”
Polo suddenly paused. He turned towards us with narrowed eyes and a frown, apparently noticing us for the first time. “Alec?”
But Alec had already grabbed my wrist and strode out into the next section. He pulled me harder than necessary, and when we were behind a blooming rose bush, I yanked my arm out of his grip.
“Alec, what the hell?” I said. “Can you stop acting like a caveman and tell me what’s wrong?”
Clarity flashed across his eyes. At once he deflated, returning to normal. He breathed out through his teeth and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Your hand?”
I nodded. The wound had healed enough overnight that I didn’t even need the bandage anymore.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Just tell me what you’re so freaked about.”
Alec shot a suspicious glance over his shoulder, like he was being watched. Now my mind was coming up with convoluted fantasies, like Alec was secretly a spy working for the government or something.
“That man,” Alec said darkly. “Tiffany’s fiancé is Mark Dickson. He’s my ex.”
My eyes widened. “No way. Are you serious?”
“I wish I wasn’t.”
I’d never seen him so upset. The breakup must have been bad for it to still affect him like this.
“That sucks,” I said softly. “I’m sorry.”
He didn’t reply, still staring into the middle distance. After a moment he said, “Maybe we should go back to the hotel.”
“Oh.”
I didn’t hate the idea, since I was sated with crowds and activities for the time being. I got the feeling it was more about Alec escaping from his ex than anything else. If it bothered him that badly, I didn’t mind heading back early.