Prologue

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.

I grabbed my jacket from the coat room and went through the kitchen to the garden. I'd been in the manor a few times to celebrate various family events, so it was strange to see a bunch of people in white shirts carrying drink trays. The kitchen was usually the housekeeper, Mary's, domain.

It was a lot colder outside than I thought it would be, so I zipped my coat up. The water in the pond was still, though not yet frozen.

I stared at it awhile, trying to see the fish under the surface.

"Hey."

I jumped at the voice.

"Sorry." He chuckled. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't. I was just…surprised."

"Sure you were."

I smiled.

Close up, Alexi was even prettier. His cheeks were red from the cold, and his eyes were shiny like the crystal chandeliers at my grandma's house.

"I'm Alexi. And you're…Troy?" he asked, scrunching his face like he hoped he'd gotten my name right.

"Yeah, I'm Troy. Nice to meet you, Alexi."

"Nice to meet you too."

"What are you doing out here? It's freezing," I said.

He tightened his pretty lips. "I don't like dancing, and the cold doesn't bother me. It's been snowing in Lydovia for weeks already."

"I don't like dancing either."

"What do you like?" he asked. He kicked a small stone with his foot.

"I like computers. Building programs, code, that kind of stuff. How about you?"

"I like drawing."

We stood in silence as darkness fell around us.

"Do you want to see my drawings?" he asked, releasing a breath like he'd been building up to ask the question.

That was unexpected.

"Sure."

I followed him to the path leading back to the house.

He stopped by the door. "I don't usually like showing my drawings."

"I won't make fun of them. I can only draw stick figures, so anyone is better than me."

He smiled. "I made something for Uncle Tom and Uncle Wren. I need to know it's not total crap."

A heavy stone fell to the bottom of my stomach. Alexi referring to my brother as his uncle was weird. Did that make him my cousin? Nephew? Ew, no way.

The feeling in my belly refused to go away. I didn't like it.

Why did I care if Alexi saw us as family? It was a good thing, right?

I'd probably eaten too much dessert. That's what it was.

"I don't believe that. Come on, show me your art, Lexi," I said, encouraging him back into the warm building.

"Lexi?"

I shrugged. "Sorry, that just came out."

"I don't mind." He turned to the door again but then stopped. Without looking back, he said, "I like it."