When the Flower Falls (Fitzmael 7) - COMPLETED

09: Where Are You Going?

I WAS HAPPILY WATCHING ELIMAE'S house while sipping tea on my balcony. We talked earlier on a call. I wanted to help her, but she and Jenna insisted on handling the move by themselves, and I respected that. They started early in the morning.

At eleven, I went downstairs when my crochet supplies finally arrived. A grin spread across my face as I walked into the dining area. Joy was there, staring at me with one eyebrow raised.

"You seem unusually cheerful."

I sat down and started eating the steak she'd cooked. "You seem unusually bitter." I smirked at her.

"Huh?" She pointed at herself. "Me, bitter?" She scoffed. "Why would I be?"

I grinned wider and looked straight at her. "My friend, perhaps?"

"Ew!" She made a gagging sound.

I laughed softly. "So? Any progress between you two?" I asked before sipping my juice. "Maybe I'll ask him myself later."

"Progress?" She started eating again. "I just get angrier every time I see him."

"You really hate him, huh?"

She nodded firmly. "I do, Ren. I really do."

"You can tell me about it, Joy... only if you want to."

"I don't want to talk about him anymore," she said. "And if I ever like one of your friends, it'll be Arron." Her expression instantly shifted from irritation to a sugary smile.

"Uh-oh..." I muttered. "Isn't he off-limits?" I hadn't spoken to Arron about his love life in years. The last I'd heard, he was at his lowest.

"I think not," she replied, continuing her meal. "I'm going to switch teams for now, is that fine?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'm heading to the Men's Village. That's where he lives."

I chuckled. "That's fine. Honestly, there's only one Mendes I'm not close to there." I meant Aziel. "Hailey's family owns that village."

"Hailey? You mean Mendes? The actress Hailey Mendes?!"

I nodded. "Take care, okay?"

"I will."

I SPENT THE REST OF MY AFTERNOON trying to crochet a william flower, but it was a total failure. I'll try again tomorrow. I had just finished dinner when I heard car horns outside.

"Let's go!" Cedar called out cheerfully when I stepped outside. I frowned at him and our cousins.

"Our wives allowed us," he said with a grin.

"And where are we going exactly?" I asked.

"Not the club," Imil said, laughing as he twirled his car keys. "Amaris will kill me if I drink again. She says she doesn't want me dying young."

"Same!" Marcus added, stepping out of his house. "Can Kaz come with us? He's inside."

We all nodded. As Marcus went back in to get him, I excused myself to go tell Elimae I'd be out. I hadn't even pressed the doorbell when the gate opened.

She stepped out, and I instantly grinned.

"You look stunning!"

She chuckled. "Flirty much."

"What are you doing here?" We both said it at the same time. "Jinx!" we added together, laughing after. We really were meant to be.

"I was about to tell you," she said. "Hestia's picking me up. We're going drinking at Kuya Imil's club with Kuya Hurricane."