Chapter 26
Nathan's POV
We walked together, but the moment we got closer to the crowd, I slowly slipped my hand away from Zane's.
He noticed. I knew he did.
But he said nothing.
We stopped in front of the elegant couple.
"Your Grace," Zane said with a slight bow.
I froze for half a second before quickly copying him.
The man beside her nodded calmly.
"Zane. How are you doing?"
"I'm quite fine,"
But the woman immediately smiled brightly and hooked her arm around Zane's.
"And how is my baby brother doing?" she asked dramatically as she pulled him closer.
I stood awkwardly behind them.
Then suddenly—
her eyes landed on me.
"You must be Nathan."
I blinked in surprise.
"You look even better than in the pictures," she said warmly.
Pictures?
I looked at Zane immediately.
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
My ears burned slightly.
Before I could react, she suddenly took my hand.
"I've been dying to meet the person who stole this little rascal's heart," she whispered conspiratorially with a smile.
This was getting painfully awkward.
"That's enough, Zhanaya," Zane muttered.
She laughed softly.
Then her attention shifted past me.
Her entire face lit up instantly.
"Oh, my baby!"
I turned around.
Kieran was walking toward us.
And—
he was smiling?
Not the faint mocking smirk he usually wore.
A real smile.
Before I could process it properly, he stepped directly into her arms.
They hugged tightly.
I stared.
I had never seen him like this with anyone before.
"How are you, my love?" she asked, touching his face affectionately after pulling away.
"Not bad," he replied with a small smile.
Gosh. He looked so different like this.
Softer. More Human.
She cupped his cheek gently.
"I've missed you."
Kieran smiled again.
"I missed you too."
She laughed happily.
"Is Zane doing his job well?"
Kieran glanced toward Zane lazily.
"Well… he's a little shitty at it. But it's Zane. We all know he's shitty."
"Hey!" Zane protested immediately. "Y'all are talking about me like I'm not standing right here."
They all laughed.
The three of them together looked perfect.
Comfortable. Like a reunited sibling.
Kieran was still smiling slightly.
I couldn't stop staring.
I had never seen him this relaxed before.
He looked… better this way.
His teeth were straight and white, his expression lighter, his eyes less cold.
Then suddenly— he looked up.
Our eyes met.
And I quickly looked away.
A few moments later, Zane's parents approached and Zhanaya immediately hugged them warmly.
It was family thing, I needed to get out of here.
I exhaled quietly.
Then slowly stepped away from the group.
No one noticed anyway.
I walked back toward the racing field, the cheers and noise blending together around me.
But then—
"Nathan!"
I looked up.
Melissa stood a short distance away waving at me brightly.
I slowly waved back.
We hadn't spoken since the bowling alley.
She smiled and started walking toward me.
----
Kieran's POV
I had genuinely been happy to see Zhanaya.
It had been almost a year since she left Breezeridge after getting married.
She wasn't really my sister by blood.
But growing up, she had been the closest thing I ever had to an older sister.
I had missed her.
So when she threw her arms around me, I hugged her back tightly without thinking twice.
For a moment, it felt like we were younger again.
Like nothing had changed.
"How are you, my love?" she asked after pulling away, her hands immediately going to my face.
"Not bad," I answered with a smile.
"I missed you," she said softly.
"I missed you too."
She laughed lightly before teasing me about Zane, and I replied joking about how shitty Zane was, making everyone laugh.
But in the middle of it—
I felt it.
That feeling of being watched.
I looked up instinctively.
Nathan quickly looked away.
He stood slightly behind the others, quiet as usual.
I hadn't even noticed him there before.
My eyes stayed on him a little longer than necessary.
He looked uncomfortable. Out of place.
Zhanaya grabbed my hand suddenly, pulling my attention back to her.
Then Uncle Patrick and Aunt Erica arrived, aunt Erica hugged her daughter.
The atmosphere grew louder again.
Everyone was talking over each other. Laughing.
But when I looked up again—
Nathan was gone.
I spotted him walking away from the group quietly.
No one noticed him.
His figure looked strangely… Lonely.
"Kieran?"
Zhanaya tapped my arm.
I looked back at her.
She was saying something, smiling, while the others laughed around us.
But I barely heard any of it.
----
Nathan's POV
"Hey," Melissa said with a smile. "How've you been?"
"Fine… and you?" I replied.
"Not bad actually."
There was a brief silence before she spoke again.
"So…"
I looked at her.
"I'm sorry about the last time."
I stared at her for a moment before looking away.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," I said quietly. "If anything, I should be the one apologizing for how I reacted."
She smiled softly.
Then she stretched out her hand toward me.
"Friends?"
I couldn't help smiling a little.
"Friends."
I shook her hand.
"There you are."
I looked up immediately.
Zane walked toward us.
"You left," he said.
"I'm sorry. I just needed… air."
"Hm." He studied me briefly before finally noticing Melissa properly. "Hey—Melissa, right?"
She smiled brightly.
"Nice to meet you again, Zane Grey."
They shook hands politely.
Then suddenly—
I saw her eyes lift slightly.
I didn't even need to turn around.
I already knew.
I could smell the faint scent of his cologne before he even reached us.
"Hi," Melissa said immediately, smiling at Kieran. "Remember me?"
Kieran looked at her for a second.
"I'm sorry," he said flatly. "I'm not good with remembering faces."
Melissa still smiled gracefully.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to show myself more often so you can remember mine." She stretched out her hand slightly. "I'm Melissa."
"Hm."
That was all he said. Not taking her hand.
He didn't look interested.
Then he touched Zane's shoulder lightly.
"I'll be with the others."
And just like that, he walked away.
Melissa stared after him as he was leaving.
"Sorry about that," Zane said with a laugh. "Pardon him. He can be a little stiff when it comes to.... some things."
His eyes followed Kieran's retreating figure briefly.
"But I guess that's what makes girls even crazier about him."
"Right…" Melissa replied softly.
Then she looked back at us and smiled again.
"Okay, I should get going. I hope I see you two again sometime."
"I'd love that," Zane replied easily.
She waved at me.
I waved back.
Then she left.
I watched her go.
"She and Kieran would actually make a good couple," Zane said casually.
I looked at him.
Then smiled faintly.
"Maybe."