Chapter 9
Zane's POV
I tried to follow Nathan, but my dad stopped me, insisting on introducing me to someone. By the time I turned back, he was gone.
The bouquet I had given him sat abandoned on a table.
I stared at it for a moment before walking away… then stopping.
I went back and picked it up.
Now I sat at the far corner of the hall, the noise fading into the background as I turned the flowers slowly in my hand. I had thought he felt the same way I did.
So why had he rushed off like that?
I lifted the bouquet slightly, inhaling the soft scent.
"Wow… you already got flowers from admirers."
I hadn't even noticed Kieran.
I looked at him. "No. I was trying to give it to someone."
He sat beside me like he owned the space, picked up the drink in front of me, and took a slow sip.
"The someone I'm talking about is Nathan," I said, watching his face carefully.
Kieran glanced at me, uninterested. "Hmm."
"Just say it," I pushed. "I know you're not happy about this."
"Really? What gave it away?" he said dryly.
I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Look, I know you don't like him. Or his mother. But I like him. Like… a lot."
He didn't respond.
I leaned back, staring ahead. "You're my best friend, Kieran. I don't want that to change. I just… I want you to be okay with this."
Silence.
We'd known each other since we were kids.
We were brothers.
"So you didn't get to give it to him?" he asked casually.
"I did," I said. "But then I found it on the table. Guess he... dropped it."
Kieran looked at me for a moment before scoffing softly. "Come on. You're Zane Grey. You don't get stuck on people."
"That's because no one's ever been like this," I replied quietly.
He stood up suddenly, taking the bouquet from my hand. "You know what you need? A good distraction."
"No, I don't—"
But he was already walking away.
I watched as he approached a girl in a beige dress, handed her the flowers, and pointed back at me. She smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear.
I shook my head. "Unbelievable."
A few seconds later, he returned with her.
I stood up, ready to leave, but he grabbed my wrist.
"Her name's Lillie," he said.
"Hi," she said sweetly.
I shot Kieran a look. He just smirked and walked off.
"Hi," I replied awkwardly.
"Can I sit?" she asked.
"Yeah… sure."
She sat beside me. "Your friend told me you wanted to speak to me."
Kieran, I swear—
But before I could answer, my eyes caught something across the room.
Nathan.
He was back.
Standing beside his mother, smiling softly.
God… he looked beautiful.
Everything else faded. I couldn't even hear what Lillie was saying anymore. The way his hair fell across his face, the way he carried himself—he looked like something out of a painting.
I stood up.
"Where—" Lillie called, but I was already walking away.
Then I stopped.
Turned back.
"Can I have the flowers back?" I asked.
She blinked. "What?"
"I'm sorry. There was a misunderstanding. They weren't meant for you."
Her expression hardened. "Are you serious?"
"I'm really sorry," I said again.
She scoffed and tossed the bouquet at me before walking off.
I caught it, exhaling.
Then I made my way back to Nathan.
He looked surprised when he saw me.
I held out the flowers. "I think you dropped this earlier."
"I'm sorry," he said softly.
"There's no need to be."
He took them, his fingers brushing mine.
"Thank you."
"Do you remember our date?" I asked, then quickly corrected, "I mean… outing."
He smiled. "I remember."
"And the part where you promised to paint me?"
He raised a brow. "I never promised that."
"Yeah, you didn't," I admitted with a small laugh. "But I'd like to volunteer. If you ever need a model."
He smiled again. "I'll keep that in mind."
I hesitated, then said it anyway. "Have I told you how good you look tonight?"
He blinked, clearly caught off guard, then laughed softly. A faint pink spread across his ears.
Beautiful.
"Nathan," his mother called.
"I have to go," he said.
Then he looked at the flowers in his hand. "I won't lose them this time."
And he walked away.
I stood there, watching him go… smiling like an idiot.
---
Kieran's POV
I watched them from across the hall.
Zane stood in front of Nathan, holding out the flowers.
Nathan took them.
He smiled.
And then he blushed.
A slow smirk pulled at my lips.
He has different sides to him after all.
Nathan moved back to his mother's side, slipping into place like he belonged there. Like none of this touched him.
My gaze shifted to Zane.
He was still standing there, watching Nathan like nothing else existed.
That look.
I knew it.
Zane had always been important to me. After my mother died, he was the only one who stayed. The only one who didn't treat me differently.
He didn't leave.
Not even when I wanted everyone else to.
We weren't just friends.
We were brothers.
My jaw tightened as I followed his line of sight again.
Nathan.
Standing under the lights, smiling like he didn't have a single thing to worry about.
Anyone would fall for that.
There was something about him. Something that pulled people in without them even realizing it.
My eyes drifted to his mother.
Her hand wrapped around my father's arm like she had always belonged there.
Like mother, like son.
I exhaled sharply.
I needed a smoke.
I stepped outside, the noise of the hall fading behind me. The night air hit my face, cooler, quieter.
"Hey, handsome."
Jasmine's voice came first. She leaned in, kissing my cheek.
"Hey," I muttered.
"Where's Zane?" Vicky asked, arms crossed. "We haven't seen him since we arrived."
"You came together?" I asked.
"Yeah," Jasmine scoffed. "Had to pick her sorry ass up."
"Hey," Vicky snapped, but she was already distracted. "So where is he?"
I tilted my head slightly toward the hall.
"He's busy."
"With what?" Jasmine asked.
I let out a quiet breath, eyes flicking back inside.
"Being in love."
"Oh," Jasmine hummed.
Vicky followed my gaze—and then she saw him.
Nathan.
"Wow…" she said under her breath. "Isn't he dreamy?"
I looked at her, my expression flat.
Jasmine rolled her eyes immediately. "Delete that thought from your head."
"Why?" Vicky shot back.
"He's Zane's."
The words landed wrong.
Something in my chest tightened—sharp and quick.
I didn't like the sound of that.
At all.
My gaze snapped back to Nathan.
He was still smiling.
Too much.
Too easily.
Like nothing was wrong.
Like he wasn't hiding anything.
I clicked my tongue, irritation building under my skin.
"What's he so happy about…" I muttered.
"I need a smoke."
I didn't wait for them.
I walked past.
"Wait for me!" Vicky called out.
"Ugh, fine—I'm coming too," Jasmine added.
I didn't slow down.
My mind was already elsewhere.
On him.