There hadn't been a proper communication between him and Kylie. Not that he was dying to have one with her. There are a few things he takes badly and topping that list is rejection. He had good sportsmanship, sure, but that was back when he was playing the field both in the literal and figurative sense of the word. His heart wasn't on the line like it is now, because he willingly gambled it like a smitten ten-year old.

Here's the thing though, hearing the rejection from Kylie's smart mouth would kiillll him.

In his defense, Christian is an impulsive person. He does what he wants, no questions asked. Only this time, he did without thinking straight. He could blame it on the unexpected perfection of a woman that is Kylie. He could blame it on her vibrant fashion sense. The cute ponytails. The adorable frowns when he's around. He could, really. But it doesn't help.

Or he could blame it on the reckless ways of his heart. Or the feel-good sort of hormones when he gets a snide retort from Kylie. Or the falling in love for the first time, because it felt so damn good from the very start. Or that no one bothered to tell him there was a not so good consequences in the process.

He set aside the unwanted thoughts before they could root. Even then, he swept the room with his gaze in search for a woman in a cute dress. There were a lot of guests for the triplet's welcome home party. And that meant lots of single friends from their mother Kathie, being the sociable type herself.

Pass.

The Parkinsons and Lewises has been planning the party the entire time the triplets were still in the hospital. Now that Kyle, Coby and Chloe are finally home, he should be so damn happy. His entire family is happy. But there he was, nursing his second drink (that was definitely not the tea they were serving) of the afternoon. He needs something stronger than a tea.

He regards Kathie's mother and sister Chassie, preoccupied of the triplets. There was his mother too. Cade hovered as if his children could get abducted somehow. Kathie stuck close to him. Vren and his son are in the huddle too. His other siblings, Andrei and Chandra managed the crowd, like the little afternoon party wasn't perfect enough.

Audrey and Matthew stayed in the further end of the garden, talking. Probably just small talk. Christian stayed on the same spot, lost in his thoughts.

"What are you doing here all alone?"

He flinched at the voice.

Kathie gave him one of her bright smiles that made her eyes sparkle.

It was hard not to smile back. "Just waiting for my turn with my niece and nephews."

"You'll have plenty of time. They're just a few months old," she kidded.

He laughs. His eyes caught a floral dress, his mood skyrocketed, then plummeted back to downright sour when he realized it wasn't her.

"She won't be here."

He decided to play dumb. "Who?"

"Do I have to say her name?" She teased.

He shakes his head. Screw it. "I just thought she'd be here."

"Why?"

"Because Audrey's here." Because I could use a beautiful view even just from a far.

Her lips purse. "No. Audrey said Kylie had a nasty migraine yesterday. She told her to sit this one out, but she insisted to not let the day go to waste. She's moving out of Vren's penthouse."

"Is she okay?"

Kathie's brows rose at how his voice raises with concern. "I guess."

He rubbed the back of his neck. He's torn between checking on her and helping her out with moving into her new apartment. Both required showing up all of the sudden.

"You're free to go." She grinned like she just read his mind.

Christian hesitated.

"You can always ask Audrey yourself."

"She'll never let me get near Kylie."

"Audrey is totally budgeable," she pressed on.

He nodded at Kathie, finding himself walking toward his younger brother who's now happily chatting with another throng of guest. "Matty."

He looks up, then excused himself. "What do you need?"

"Have you checked on Kylie?" He kept his tone light.

His brows creased, confused. "No. Why?"

"Have you checked on her yesterday? Kathie said she had migraine."

"Oh." Concern flitted past his face. "Is she okay now?"

He tried not to swipe his hand over his face. This is the most frustrating conversation he had with him so far. "I don't know. Shouldn't you know?"

Sensing the tense in his voice, Matthew gestured to the further end of the garden. When they were out of everyone's earshot, he began, "What's wrong? Is Kylie okay?"

"I'm trying not be mad at you right now," he sighed.

Matthew raises a brow. "You? I'm not happy with you either."

He laughed humorlessly. "How can you not be happy with me? I stayed out of the way between you and Kylie."

"What?" His brother looked genuinely clueless that Christian's burgeoning annoyance fluttered away. And then he was clueless too.

"What do you mean "what"?"

"What as in, "what are you talking about?""

"Kylie likes you." It was a bitter taste in his tongue, but he sputtered it out.

Matthew almost gaped. "Kylie?"

"You tell me. You're the one who's getting comfortable with her in the cabin." He crossed his arms over his chest. Great, now he's playing the jealous card.

He shakes his head. "She doesn't like me that way. And you've been misreading everything."

"No, I haven't. You went out on a date with her behind my back," he blurted.

Matthew flinched. He was sincerely affronted.

He clicked his tongue. Now he's angry at himself. "Sorry that came out wrong."

"Christian, I'll never do that to you. Especially knowing Kylie meant so much to you," he says gently.

He shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I know."

Matthew lets out a sigh. "The date was a setup. We didn't know until everything felt weird. Is that what you're thinking all this time?"

He traces his jaw, cursing to himself. "I messed up, didn't I?"

"Big time."

"Kylie wouldn't want to talk to me."

"Understatement. You just brandish a new fling back at the cabin."

"Shit."

"Talk to her."

Christian raked a hand over his hair. "She'll forgive me, right?" Not that it matters. She brushed him off for months, and did that ever stop him? Why would he leave her alone now?

"Ask her yourself."

"Right." He started, walking away. He stopped, looking over to his little brother. "I'm still your favorite though, right?"

"Less favorite for acting like a jerk this past few days."

Christian smiled. "Fair enough."

"Make things right with Kylie. You'll be a favorite again if you do that." He smiles back.

He resumed walking, then did another backward glance to Matthew he'd known all his life. He's never felt pride for his little brother like he does at the moment.

Here we go, lovelies. It's time to make it up to you for the heartaches I've put you through in the last few chapters. :) Tell me what you think on the comments below.

Anyways, this is probably random, but I just want to let at least one person know. Because I've been lying to myself all day. Today's my grandma's funeral. I haven't shed much tear. But her being gone tears me apart inside too much no amount of crying can make it better. I'm in great pain and I don't know how to deal with it.

Good night! I haven't slept in over 48 hours.