When the Flower Falls (Fitzmael 7) - COMPLETED

22: Kiss Me Downstairs

THE NEXT MORNING, MY COUSINS picked me up early. Lilac had no plans of coming. Catmint was pregnant, so Archer didn't want them going anywhere, and Cedar had work to do and wanted to spend the rest of the night with his wife and children.

"Where's Serene?" I asked Franco.

She was the only one missing.

"She said she has something to do," Franco answered shortly.

I nodded. "Okay..." When I finished brushing my hair, I looked at all of them. "Let's go." I went out first and headed to my car.

"My love," Franco said sweetly to his wife, Adorn.

"Yes?"

"I miss Ven," he pouted.

"Me too. After the coronation, we'll go home right away."

"Where's Hunter?" I asked her, curious.

"I don't know," she sighed.

I nodded before entering the car.

I hoped Hunter was doing well wherever he was.

I let Imil drive because I didn't know where the coronation night was being held. It took us almost two hours to get there. It was pretty far from Bloom Village. There were a lot of cars going to the venue, which caused traffic.

After parking, I opened my phone to call Jealrain. I saw a text from Lilac, so I read it first.

Lilac:
If you're uncomfortable,
leave.

I chuckled a little. I typed a reply, then called Rain. It rang several times before she picked up.

"Rain..." I called softly.

"Are you there already?"

"Yes." I sighed. "I want to see you."

There was a long silence before she replied. "Call me after you've talked and say that to me again."

"I will." I turned to Franco since they were calling me. I kept talking to her as I walked. "Have you eaten?"

"I should be the one asking you that," she replied. "You're the only one between us who doesn't eat."

"I eat regularly now."

"Really?"

"When you see me, you might fall even harder," I whispered with a smile. "I think I'm finally starting to look healthy."

A cough rattled through the speaker, sharp enough to make my stomach twist.

"Hey—shit! Are you alright?" I asked. "I'll come over."
I turned toward the parking lot, but her voice caught me mid-step.

"I'm fine." She coughed again. "I just choked." Then she burst out laughing.

"Are you sure you're okay? Because I will really go to you."

"I'm okay, Ren. I promise. I'm just... not used to you being like this," she said. "We used to fight and shout at each other, and now you're suddenly like this."

"I'm so sorry, Rain... I'm sorry you had to witness the worst version of me."

"No," she replied immediately. "You don't need to apologize. That didn't make you any less of a person."

I let out a deep breath. "I want to hug you..."

"You should go, Ren. The event is probably starting."

"Okay..."

After ending the call, I kept following my cousins. We entered the event hall and immediately saw Jenna, who was waiving at Adorn.