Page 21

The "party" it turned out was actually a family reunion—which was ironic since we were currently searching for the two missing members of our tour family.

The ballroom was packed.

Strobe lighting made it hard to see faces. A dance floor took up the center of the space with circular tables placed near the edges. Food and drinks were also being served somewhere because several guests carried cups and plates of something that smelled amazing.

The ornate banner hanging over the entrance's threshold said 17 th Singh Family Reunion.

I chewed on my lip.

"That's a lot of people," I said quietly.

"Yep," Felix said. " Looks like the Singhs have a big family tree."

I was a Kent—which meant I was no stranger to extended families . I knew what it was like to have a lot of relatives, a nd I loved mine. Taken together, we were a large, tight-knit, love-filled bunch. Still…this would give our yearly Kent gathering a run for its money.

In fact, there were so many people milling around I started to doubt we'd find London or Ryker.

Santino seemed to think so too.

He released a low whistle from between his teeth.

"I'll give London this," he said. "She couldn't have picked a better place to get lost in."

He wasn't wrong.

"I don't see her ," Elliot said. "Or Ryker."

"Me either," Hayden said. "We should split up. Go to different ends of the room and work our way back. "

"Good idea. If anyone finds them, send a text to the group."

With that plan in place, we went our separate ways.

I took a deep breath.

Okay, so this wasn't really my scene. It was crowded. That was strike one. It was also a party. Strike two. And I was already stressed—over my feelings for Felix, my friend being missing , the way everyone here seemed to be dressed up which meant I'd stick out like a sore thumb—and I knew this would test my social anxiety like no other. Strikes three, four, and five.

I should've been out.

Usually, I would have been.

The others would find them. I was sure of it.

The music and chatter inside was so loud it'd be hard to think once I got inside.

But… my friend was in there, and according to Izzy, she was upset. London might need me.

I didn't hesitate a second longer . With shoulders back, eyes forward, I walked inside, stopping at the edge of the crowd.

"Where should we start?" Felix asked.

"I'm not sure," I said.

"Are you going to be okay in all this?"

I threw him a smile. "Yeah, thanks for asking. I just want to find London and your brother and go."

"Sounds good."

We both scanned the area but came up empty.

"I can't see anything," I said with a frown. "Too many people."

"Me neither, but I have an idea."

Felix offered me his hand, and I looked up at him in question.

"We'll probably see more from the dance floor," he said.

Understanding hit me, but I shook my head. "Felix, look around. Everyone looks so nice."

I wasn't trying to be modest or exaggerating. Almost every guest was wearing some form of traditional dress , made out of bright, colorful materials. Honestly, the women, men, and children looked like royalty.

"We're already crashing. I don't want to stand out."

"But you do, princess."

His gaze met mine and held.

Unable to stand it, I sighed and placed my hand in his.

"Okay," I said, "but only because I want to find London."

"Of course," Felix said.

We made our way onto the floor through the dancing throng, gaining a few strange looks along the way.

"They are so going to throw us out," I mumbled.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure they just recognize us."

I gave him a dubious look while Felix pulled me toward him. His hands settled on my waist. Outside, I may have seemed calm, but inside, I ignited at his touch.

"I'm serious," he said, distracting me from my thoughts, nodding to the opposite side of the floor . "See those girls?"

Sure enough, I spotted two girls with their phones raised, pointing them toward us as if they were recording.

"I bet they're Ferora fans."

"Yeah, or collecting evidence to use against us."

Felix laughed, and that garnered even more attention.

"Shhh," I said.

"Sorry," he said. "You should try to be less funny."

I was about to roll my eyes, but I gasped when he suddenly spun me out in a turn and then drew me even closer.

Felix smiled at my reaction.

"Was that really necessary?" I asked.

"I think so. Just trying to blend in."

I shook my head slowly as I gazed at him. "You couldn't blend in if you tried."

Felix's smile widened. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should," I said then looked away. " This was a good plan. I really can see better out here. London and Ryker have to be somewhere."

"Come on," he said.

"What?"

"You really think that's why I suggested this?"

I nodded. "Why else?"

"Because I wanted to dance with you again," Felix said.

All the words I'd been holding inside made a bid for freedom. I clenched my teeth to prevent them from escaping. If I wasn't careful, I'd end up spilling my emotions all o ver this dance floor, and I didn't want that. I was trying to wait for the perfect moment to tell him. But he was making it really difficult.

Breaking our stare, I looked past his shoulder.

The couple who'd been swaying there moved, and I spotted Ryker leaning against the far wall.

"I see your brother," I said.

Felix glanced back and nodded. "Yeah, that's him."

"He looks broody."

"London must be close by."

Ryker was staring hard at something on the other side of the room, and as I followed his gaze, I discovered what—or rather who—had caught his attention. Felix must've seen her too because he paused. London was seated at a table by herself , wearing a gorgeous mint green saree, picking at a piece of cake. As the song drew to a close and another began, the two of us started walking that way. London's head came up as we drew near, and she let out a happy squeal.

Felix held out his arms, but she ran right past him, wrapping me up in a hug so tight I could barely breath.

"Aurora!" she said. "You're here!"

"Yeah," I wheezed, "just got back."

London released me with a laugh. "Sorry, I'm just so happy to see you."

"That's okay. I'm willing to sacrifice a few ribs for this friendship."

She laughed again.

Felix stepped forward and said, "Where's my hug?"

But London only spared him a brief glance.

"Sorry, Fe"—she sniffed—"I'm not speaking to any Cordovas right now."

Felix backed away with his hands up. " Message received. I'll get lost so you two can talk." He gave me a nod. "Call if you need me."

After he walked off, London smiled at me, and we each took a seat.

"So, what's happened since I left?" I asked.

" Nothing," she said. "I've been so bored without you."

I glanced at the party surrounding us then sent her a pointed look. "Is that how you ended up here?"

"Aurora, I think we should talk about you."

" My dad's fine—thank goodness—Felix came to get me, and I'm back. Nothing more to tell ."

"But Fe and the jet? Come on, I know your heart had to be melting."

"It so was…but stop trying to distract me. London, what are you doing at this family reunion, and where did you get those beautiful clothes?"

London stared me down, but I wouldn't relent. She was going through something. She obviously needed to get several things off her chest. I wanted her to know I had her back.

Finally, she sighed. "I ended up here completely by chance . Fatima Singh, who runs this every year, let me borrow the clothes—we met as I was walking in, and she's the loveliest. Basically, I decided to take a page out of your book."

I tilted my head. "How's that?"

"I needed a break. I missed my friend . Without you there, I had no one to talk to, and Ryker asked me again when I was leaving. You know, being his usual charming self. So, I thought, why don't I? There was nothing stopping me, so I left."

"Did you tell anyone beforehand?"

"Nope."

"I think Elliot would've appreciated a note or something."

London winced at that. "You're right. I should've told my brother—but I didn't want anyone to worry or come after me."

I smiled sadly. " Too late. Elliot was pretty freaked out."

"He was?"

"Yeah, he got everyone to search for you."

She cursed under her breath. "I blame Ryker for this. He's always pushing me."

"I'm sorry he was a jerk again."

London shrugged. " Same song, different verse."

Looking back over my shoulder, I saw Ryker still standing exactly where he had been.

"You know he's here right?"

"Yeah, glaring at me, condemning me with his eyes," she said. "What else is new?"

"I don't think it's that ," I replied. "I think he's brooding. I think he followed to make sure you were okay."

She scoffed.

"He's watching over you like a grumpy guardian angel."

London stared at him for a moment before turning away. "More like a villain plotting my demise."

"Hey." A man stepped up to our table. His eyes and smile were directed at London. " Are we related? Because if not, I really wanted to ask you to dance."

London smiled at him but shook her head. "No, I don't think so."

"To the first or second question?"

Before she could answer, a shadow fell over us.

Ryker stood behind the man with his arms crossed. The drummer's lips were turned down in displeasure. His eyes were cold as ice. And I didn't think he'd blinked for the past ten seconds.

He said nothing.

Just stood there, looming.

That was enough for the man to get the message. He beat a hasty retreat, and then it was just the three of us. London decided to pretend Ryker wasn't even there—which was something considering how tall, broad, and gorgeous he looked as he stared down at her.

"So," she said, ignoring him completely, "how is everything at home, Aurora ? Did you—"

"We need to talk," Ryker said.

London lifted a brow in his direction . "Oh? Why?"

"I'm sorry for what I said."

Her eyes widened slightly, but she played it cool. "Are you going to apologize for scaring that guy off too?"

"No."

Ryker said it so bluntly I wanted to laugh.

A moment went by, then he sighed.

"I didn't mean to make you leave. That wasn't my intention." He cleared his throat and ran a hand over the back of his neck. "I want to make it up to you."

"How are you going to do that?" she asked.

He shrugged. "You tell me."

"Okay." London stood and turned to face him. "Dance."

"Excuse me?"

"I want to dance. And since you made my last potential dance partner disappear, you can take his place."

Ryker frowned.

"You said you want to make it up to me."

"I don't dance, London."

She sighed. "Okay, then I'll go find someone else."

As she tried to walk past him, he caught her hand in his.

"Fine," he said gruffly. "But if I crush your feet, that's on you."

London sent me a wink.

I smiled as they walked away and began swaying to a slow song that seemed to fit them perfectly. They moved awkwardly at first. Ryker was stiff as a statue, and there was about a football field's length of space between their bodies. But slowly, the two moved closer . Her arms went around his shoulders, his circled her waist more firmly, and the gap between them lessened until London could rest her head against Ryker's chest—which she did. Even in the dim light, I saw his face soften. Her eyes closed, but his never left her.

"I don't think I've ever seen my brother look so content," Felix said.

He sat in the seat next to me.

"Did you do that?"

I shook my head. "No, they did that all on their own."

" About time," he said. "Took years to get to this point. I wonder if they'll ever admit what's really going on between them."

Although his statement was about London and Ryker, it reminded me I still had something to confess.

Probably best to ease my way into it.

"Do you know what your future plans are?" I asked.

"Yeah, kind of ," he said. "I got offered a spot on a European tour."

"Felix, that's amazing."

"Still thinking if I want to take it."

"Why wouldn't you?"

"The people I care about are here. Plus, there's the flying."

"You can do it," I said. "If you want to go, I know you can."

"Thanks, princess. What are your plans?"

I gave a small shrug. " Show up the first day of senior year with my violin in hand. Fly under the radar until graduation, and go to college, I guess. Whatever happens, music will definitely be a part of my life."

Felix nodded. "I get that."

"I'll miss this though."

"You mean the tour?"

"Yeah," I said and swallowed. "That and other things."

"What other things?" Felix said.

He sounded like he really cared about the answer. I looked into his eyes and knew then that there would never be a perfect moment to tell him. There were no perfect words. I was young, inexperienced, and introverted, but I knew it took courage to speak your heart. Drawing on all of my reserves, I tried to do just that.

"I have a confession to make," I said.

"Sounds serious."

"But I don't want you to feel any kind of pressure."

"I won't."

I paused.

"Come on, princess. Tell me," he said.

"You were my first slow dance."

Felix's lips tipped up.

"My first kiss too, though you know that already."

"Why is that again?" he said.

"No one was interested," I said.

Felix shook his head. "Trust me, princess. They were."

"No, they—"

"They were," he said in a voice that brooked no argument.

"Anyway, I used to think guys—and people in general—freaked me out, but recently, I realized it's actually being close to someone, letting them in, because that's a risk. I'm grateful for this experience because I learned so much about myself."

I took a deep breath, knowing this would be the hard part.

"I want to tell you something."

"Go for it, princess."

"I love you," I said. "You don't have to say it back . I just wanted you to know."

At first, I thought maybe I'd said it too quietly or too rushed, but the surprised look on Felix's face said he'd heard me loud and clear.

"Did you just…?"

I nodded. "I know we haven't known each other long. And love is big word. But I've always thought you should tell people when you love them. I'm not sure when it happened. I don't expect anything from you, Felix. I just love you."

"I didn't expect that, princess."

"Like I said, I just thought you should know."

"I…don't know what to say."

"That's okay," I said and meant it.

"You beat me again," Felix murmured.

"What?"

He took my hand and stared intently into my eyes . "I want to say it. I do . I feel it , princess . At least, I think I do."

My eyes watered, seeing the pain in his, knowing the cause.

"I've never felt like this, been trying to tell you for a while. But the words won't come."

He laced his fingers with mine.

"I…" Felix grimaced and shook his head. "I feel the same, but I don't deserve you."

I knew he thought that because his dad made him doubt himself. But it wasn't true.

"Felix." I waited until he met my eyes then sent him a soft smile. "You don't have to say it."

"But—"

"I know you love me."

"You do?"

I nodded, realizing with a sudden clarity, that it was true.

He hadn't told me.

But he had shown me in so many ways.

"I have a question," I said. " Did your dad ever hold your mom's hair back when she was sick?"

"I don't think so," he said. "He always left when one of us was sick."

"When she was nervous, did he check on her to make sure she was okay?"

He shook his head.

"Would he punch a creep in a bar for touching her?"

Felix stayed silent . His eyes filled with understanding .

"Would he get on a plane and fly—even if it made him physically ill—just to see her again?"

"Princess…" he said.

"You showed me in so many ways," I said as a tear fell from my cheek, my feelings bubbling over because he loved me. It was there in his eyes. It was in every move he'd made until this point . "I know, Felix. You don't have to tell me."

Felix brushed the next tear away with his thumb, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"I'll say it eventually," he said. "And when I do, it's going to be amazing."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, you should prepare yourself."

"Will I cry?"

"Probably."

"Okay, I'll have the tissues ready."

"You do that."

He smiled at me in wonder.

"I love you," I repeated.

"Okay, now you're just showing off."

"I—"

Before I could finish, Felix stole my breath with a kiss that I felt down to my bones. It turned out there was more than one way to say I love you. Even if Felix never found the words, it was enough to know that he felt it. He wanted to say it.

My heart took flight as we kissed.

I loved him, and he loved me.

And it was more than enough.