PROLOGUE
TROY
Seven years ago
The crowd chanted, “Kiss! Kiss!”The clinking of cutlery on glass was deafening, but my eyes weren’t on the grooms. Watching my brother and my new brother-in-law kiss in front of our whole family? No, thank you.
Tom was cool. He made my brother happy and, most of all, gave him a reason to stay home in Chester Falls.
Everyone had always said how different I was from Wren. He was the sporty one, having left us to go to San Diego to play football for the Marinos. I was the nerd. The computer geek who spent more time in my room creating code and building programs than outside.
To us, those labels didn’t matter. He was my big brother and best friend, and since he’d met Tom, he’d decided to stay home and coach football at the high school.
“He won’t disappear if you stop staring at him,” my cousin Bailey whispered in my ear.
“What?”
“The prince kid. He’s cute. Why don’t you go talk to him?”
I stared at her. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I so knew what she was talking about.
Alexi, the son of Tom’s best friend, Charlie, and Charlie’s husband, Kris, had been the object of my undivided attention since I’d arrived for the wedding with my parents this morning. Kris also happened to be a prince. A prince!
At first, I’d tried to figure out how someone who was adopted could look so much like one of his dads. Bright-red hair, green eyes, small frame. He was Charlie’s double, and from what I’d overheard, he was also as talented an artist as Charlie.
The more I looked at Alexi, the less I was able to move my eyes away. He had the prettiest lips, long lashes framing his eyes, and a perfectly straight nose.
He sat at the head table with his parents. Probably because Charlie was Tom’s best man. I suspected it was to make Alexi comfortable since he didn’t really know anyone else.
There was more clinking of glasses, and now people chanted for Charlie and Kris to kiss. Alexi rolled his eyes as his parents did what the crowd asked.
When he turned away, our eyes met. He smiled at me, holding my gaze hostage. Without breaking eye contact, he whispered something in Charlie’s ear. Charlie beamed, and then there was a conversation involving Kris. When they all looked at me, I turned to Bailey.
“Anyway, how’s your not-boyfriend boyfriend?” I asked, trying to distract myself.
“He’s so not my boyfriend.” She sighed. “Not even a friend.”
“I thought you said you’re in theater club together.”
Bailey twirled one of her long curls around her finger. “The only time we talk is when we’re acting, and it’s hard to tell what’s fake and what’s real. Like, he looks at me with this intensity,but then, as soon as the rehearsal is over, he goes home. Doesn’t even say goodbye. He’s probably just a good actor. I mean, if he’s acting and making me all hot for him, then he’s going to win an Oscar one day.”
“Ugh, being a teenager sucks. I swear I’m going to focus on school, get a scholarship, and when I’m at college, I’ll concentrate on whether I can be bothered to get a boyfriend.”
She laughed. “Are you sure about that? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re pretty focused on someone.”
“Am not.”
“You so are.” She leaned closer. “I think he likes you too.”
I snorted. “That’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said, and I’ve known you a long time. You’ve said many stupid things.”
She smacked my head, messing up my hair.
I stood to go chat with my aunts and uncles. My parents had made me promise to make sure I spoke to everyone at least once. I wasn’t one to break promises, but I also had an ulterior motive. I was working on a new program and needed a few willing participants.
When Tom and Wren opened the dancefloor, I took it as my cue to leave the large ballroom and get some fresh air. Dancing and Troy Mason were incompatible concepts.
The sun was getting lower in the sky. It hadn’t snowed yet this year, but with how cold it was, I knew it wouldn’t be long until it happened.
