CHAPTER 110: SUNDAY DAY-OUT (I)

{Elira}

~**^**~

The driver’s door opened, and out stepped a man who, for a moment, made me forget the sun was shining.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, with hair the color of dark roast coffee, neatly styled.

His smile was polite but warm, his posture straight but relaxed—someone completely at ease in his own skin.

Nari sucked in a tiny breath beside me. Cambria’s fingers froze halfway through tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Even Juniper, who was normally unshakable, tilted her head like she was trying to discreetly appraise him.

Tamryn barely blinked. "Elira," she said, nodding in my direction first, "this is my older brother, Kaelen. Kaelen, this is Elira."

He turned to me with a polite nod, his voice smooth. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," I replied, hoping my tone didn’t betray the faint rush of warmth in my cheeks.

Tamryn went on, her hand sweeping casually toward the others. "And these are my roommates—Nari, Cambria, and Juniper."

Each of them responded in turn, Nari with a bright smile, Cambria with an almost shy dip of her chin, and Juniper with a short, confident nod.

Kaelen greeted each one with the same courteous warmth, and I could practically hear Nari’s thoughts buzzing like a hive.

"Alright," Tamryn said, opening the back door of the car, "everyone in. We’ve got lunch to hunt down before shopping."

We slid into the back seats, the soft leather cool against my skin. As Kaelen started the engine and pulled away from the curb, I caught Cambria’s reflection in the window—her lips curved into a grin that said this trip was already exceeding her expectations.

---

The ride started off in silence, the low hum of the engine filling the space between us. From my seat by the window, I watched the school gates shrink in the side mirror, a little thrill running through me at the thought of leaving the grounds for the first time this week.

Kaelen drove with an ease that matched his calm presence, one hand on the wheel, the other resting loosely against the gear.

"So," he asked after a moment, glancing briefly into the rearview mirror, "how’s second month at ESA going?"

Cambria answered before anyone else could. "Busy, but... exciting. The kind of exciting you don’t want to miss." Her tone carried that extra lilt of someone trying to impress.

Nari chimed in right after, leaning forward slightly between the seats. "It’s intense, but worth it. And with people like you helping us out..." she trailed off, letting her words hang in the air like a compliment waiting to be caught.

Kaelen only chuckled politely. "I’m just giving you a lift. The real credit goes to your instructors."

Juniper smirked faintly but said nothing, her eyes flicking toward Kaelen with a sharpness that made me think she was already cataloguing everything about him, the way she did with most people she found interesting.

I sat back quietly, my fingers resting in my lap. Yes, Kaelen was handsome—objectively so. His features were neat, his posture strong, his voice calm. But my mind immediately went to Zenon, Lennon, and Rennon.

Their presence alone carried more weight than looks could measure. Their height, their sharp lines of beauty, the gravity in their eyes.

Maybe because they were mine.

Nari whispered to Juniper, not as quietly as she probably thought: "And here I thought ESA was full of impressive guys already..."

Before Kaelen could even react, Tamryn cut in flatly, her voice carrying that dry finality only she could pull off.

"Don’t even think about it. He already has a mate."

The effect was immediate. Cambria’s hopeful smile slipped, Nari’s eyes widened, and Juniper raised her brows, caught between amusement and disappointment.

Kaelen didn’t even flinch. "Tamryn," he said mildly, "you don’t have to announce my life story."

"You’re welcome," Tamryn replied without the faintest hint of apology.

I had to bite back a laugh. Trust Tamryn to end the daydream before it could start.

The car settled back into a quieter rhythm after that, though I could sense Nari and Cambria’s thoughts still buzzing in the charged silence.

As for me, I turned my gaze back to the passing streets outside, my lips curving in a small, private smile.

---

The fast-food restaurant smelled of grilled meat, fried spices, and something sweet that made my stomach growl the moment we stepped inside.

Kaelen held the glass door open for us, his quiet politeness making him seem even taller.

We moved through the line together, trays in hand. I picked something simple—chicken strips, a small bowl of vegetable stir-fry, and a sparkling lemonade.

On the other hand, the others piled their trays high like they hadn’t eaten in days, well, except for Nari who was obviously watching her calorie intake.

When we reached the cashier, Kaelen pulled out his card before any of us could even reach for our purses.

"I will take care of it," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Nari tried to protest, but he only gave her a calm smile and tapped the card against the machine. Receipt in hand, he glanced at Tamryn.

"Text me when you’re done with the mall. I will be nearby."

And just like that, he was gone—leaving behind the scent of his cologne and a room full of girls with mixed emotions.

We carried our trays to a table near the window, sliding into our seats. For a moment, no one said a word, then Cambria sighed heavily, leaning back against her chair.

"Of course, he already has a mate."

"Yeah," Nari muttered, stabbing her fork into her fries with unnecessary force. Then she turned to Tamryn, eyes narrowed. "Why didn’t you tell us sooner?"

Tamryn was the picture of nonchalance, sipping from her glass of orange juice like the world’s most patient cat.

"You didn’t ask," she said. "None of you cared to ask."

Juniper groaned, dropping her face into her palms. "If only you all knew the kind of dream I had about Kaelen last night..."