Addicted to you

Prologue

Classic fairy tales do not deny the existence of heartache and sorrow, but they do deny universal defeat.

~~ Greenhaven Press ~~

December 2030

Newquay, Cornwall

UK

Family and Christmas are one of the rare combinations Francesco Walker tends to avoid at all costs.

As much he loved his family – and the other four that had been an extension to his own for as long as he could remember – he wasn't sure if he loved the attention and craziness it accompanied all the time.

And Christmas just happened to be that one holiday season where every one of them had their breaks from work and school, which, in turn, end up being the season for a mandatory get-together. Each year, they would go on a trip to most exotic places to celebrate and welcome New Year, and no two years had same destination. After all, if you're packed with the world as your canvas to do anything you like, a perfect trip is never mundane.

It also happened to be, conveniently, much to his discomfort, a season of wedding anniversaries!

First, it was Miguel Arnav Salazar and his childhood sweetheart.

Then, Nicole Salazar followed her elder brother's steps and married her bodyguard boyfriend.

That next year, it was Casey Smith and Sebastian Michelangelo's double wedding.

This year, his cousin decided to carry on that tradition.

He narrowed his eyes at the sight of the group of kids playing, a beer bottle in his hand as he leaned against the French window. The occasional cold breeze rolling down over rugged cliffs at the horizon, the gentle crashing of waves offered a romantic setting for the romantic event. The seaside cottage was comfortable, spaciously accommodating the families. His only comfort was that it was a small wedding with only family and close friends.

Who even chooses a beach for a winter wedding?

"Love knows no seasons," Esmerald had said when he grumbled about the destination, "who knows? Maybe you'll find your lucky one there?"

He was tempted to say that yes, while he was looking forward to his dearest sister's wedding, he had no plans to search for 'the one'. He was nineteen, and in no hurry to settle down, not even for a committed relationship. He was too busy, anyway, with his career soaring high, thank you very much.

But the truth was, he had already found his 'the one', though he was still not sure if what he felt would guarantee a walk down the aisle. Heck, he wasn't going to do anything about it anytime in near future.

Francesco cussed under his breath at his wayward thoughts, as his eyes sought out for the one he had been crushing, and hard, for the past couple years. There she was, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief, her auburn hair pulled into a side French braid, clad in midnight blue evening gown that highlighted her slender curves and barely there waist. The center of attention; she swept everyone off their feet with barely her presence and she was aware of the fact too well and never shies away from using it to her advantage.

Adrika Leticia Salazar!

Out in the chilling cold, she was kneeling on the snow covered sand, her cousins surrounding her as they all looked up to her in varying degrees of mixed amazement and wonder worship, while she built a snowman. She had arrested his attention the very first moment he had met her ten years ago and ever since, no other girl had managed to have at least half the affect she had on him. He was a goner right from the start and yet, she was too young for him to even entertain his crush.

Too young and too beautiful and too damn bossy!

He shouldn't have come, he realized the minute he stepped in. He should have stick to his plan and join the families a week prior the wedding, as he had already informed and convinced. His sister was reluctant at first, but agreed eventually when he explained his reasons of prior commitments. But no! Leticia had to call him late last night, demand he join them right away, and the fool that he was, booked the first available flight.

She had him wrapped around her little finger!

And the worst part, he was letting her to control him.

"Stop scowling before it permanently itches onto your face," came a brooding voice that had him reeling around, his eyes wide in embarrassment for being caught. "Leticia might not mind much but I do."

Taking a deep breath, Francesco shifted his gaze back to the playing kids. If getting caught was bad enough, he wasn't going to give the older man the satisfaction of seeing him riled up at his sudden appearance. "What do you mean?" He asked, glad his voice didn't slur though he was sweating inside.

Fancying a young girl was going to surely end his career and imprison him for a life time, he couldn't afford to be caught red-handed by the girl's favorite uncle.

The man raised a brow, his gray eyes assessing him before looking at his niece at the distance who was now helping his youngest child in making a snow ball. "She is too young," he said instead, his amused voice leaving no room for argument or denial.

Sighing and cursing for his unfortunate life, Francesco turned to face the man. "It's a harmless crush,"
he admitted. There was no use in denying anyways, he thought. He had heard stories about this man – about his uncanny ability to sense love and its synonyms from a mile away. When it came to his own family, Francesco had no chance to defend himself or fool the man by saying it was close friendship and nothing else.

He grinned, his eyes softening as he regarded the teenage boy. "Nonsense! If you like her, you like her. Nothing else matters. But give it a few years to mature and see where it takes you, okay? If you still feel the same when Leticia comes of age, then by all means, go for it."

His brow shot up in surprise as Francesco stared at the man, speechless. Surely, if someone caught a horny teenager ogling at a child, the reaction shouldn't be this friendly filled with advices? "Mr. Jha?" He cried out, and paused, unable to form a coherent response.

Shyam Jha smiled as he nudged his hand teasingly. "Come on, you know me. I'm all up for teenage love."

"So it's true then?" Francesco asked before he could regard the situation or plan for it. "You did help Mr. Salazar and Khushi to get together?"

"What?" Shyam's eyes shot out now in playful surprise. "No, of course not. Who do you take me for? I just supported their sordid, scandalous affair, is all. If they're married, that's on them."

Despite himself, Francesco let out a small chuckle, feeling at ease as he nodded thoughtfully. "And Nicole and Chace? You supported them too?"

"I support love, young man." He replied in all seriousness. "I encourage love."

Francesco glanced at the elders inside the cottage over his shoulder. They were all happy, he could see it radiating and practically reaching to him. Mr. Salazar was in deep conversation with Mr. Rodriguez; their heads bend together but their gazes... while Mr. Salazar's fixed on Khushi who was helping Esmerald finalize the last details for wedding decoration, Mr. Rodriguez's followed Nicole as she glared at one of his brothers, with Axel covering under her intense gaze.

His eldest brother was happily nodding to everything his husband was saying to the wedding planner.

Focusing his gaze back on Leticia, Francesco asked in dubious contemplation, "Tell me your stories."

"Our stories?"

Taking a deep breath, he tilted his head towards the happy couples. He had heard stories about their stories, bits and pieces of them. Now, it was time to hear it in a whole, and who better than the man instrumental in all their successful affairs could narrate it?

"Yes," he said, looking at the older man. "How you all met? How it all started? How this Christmas wedding became a tradition? I want to hear everything, Mr. Jha."

"Okay," Shyam Jha said softly.

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