I was almost done with the packing; I grabbed for a peach colored night gown and stuffed it in.

Nightgown- check

Toiletries- check

Extra clothes- check.

The thought of spending a night with Rowan at his house was exciting yet overwhelming. The entire week had been busy until I could prepare myself for the day, I got a call from Claire reminding me about their family dinner where I was invited according to her. I had a weird feeling about it, I mean, c'mon I didn't know these people and clearly Rowan didn't get along with them but Claire told me it was important I come along with him, if that baggage of worry wasn't enough, I had another 100 kg baggage to worry about and that was spending the night with him. I was all mixed emotions, the anxiety and the excitement almost killing me.

When I was done with dinner and a bit of the weekend homework, I got a call on my cell phone.

"Hey."

"Hi, Alana." Nina spoke softly from the other end; she would usually show up at the doorstep for even minor problems like, 'I need an extra HB pencil'. It was a wonder; she was placing a call from a floor below. "What are you doing?"

"Packing for tomorrow."

"Of course you are." She sounded pale like she was speaking with a huge rock pressing her back, "Listen, Uh—would you believe me if I told you something?"

"Is this about Chez?" that was my first guess.

"It's about Rowan." She corrected me quickly.

That had me wishing my battery was dead or the network was bad.

I ran a hand through my hair, "Shoot."

"Do you know where he is at the moment?"

My heart went thump thump thump, "No, I don't. Do you?"

"I was at a cafe with Chez just a while ago," Now Chez was hanging out with Nina? Awesome. I was the only one without an invitation card. Even though I liked Chez and Nina together, the thought of my best friend hanging out with someone else while ignoring me was eating me alive. "And we were just leaving when I saw Mr. Masters with that same woman, y'know, the one we saw that other day you were playing Nancy Drew."

I started to speak but she cut me off, "They were busy in a heated conversation and then they both left in his car."

That was like worse than a punch in the gut, "What time was it?"

"Huh? Twenty minutes ago, it's not like I'm bitching about your boyfriend or saying he is cheating on you. She might just be his old friend..."

"Ex-girlfriend." I confirmed her doubt.

"What?"

"That woman is his ex-girlfriend." Who apparently didn't have a name.

"Oh I see. I just wanted you to know about it, Alana."

"Yeah, I get it. Thanks Nina."

"Oh my God! Al? Are you crying?" I could almost imagine her tumble off the bed in exaggeration, "Listen, I know Rowan loves you okay? Don't you misunderstand; you'll have to speak with him."

"I'm not crying silly, I'm just not feeling fine." I needed to make a call urgently, "I'm going to bed."

"Should I come over?" the offer was great but I needed to pull those Nancy Drew instincts now and fast.

"No. No. Just stay." I tried to sound ultra cool, "and..."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being so understanding, Nina, it means a lot."

"Hey, I'm always here for you. That's what friends are for." Nina assured me.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay."

As soon as I hung up on Nina, I dialed Rowan's number.

First ring.

Second ring.

Rowan answered on the third.

"Hello."

"Rowan."

"Hey, are you done with the packing?" I had a wave of suspicion engulf me.

"Yeah..mostly."I mumbled, "What are you doing?"

"Just getting some fresh air."

"Is Minnie with you?"

"No. She's with Cary at home. I'm alone."

The Lie dog hissed at me, "Can I come see you right now?"

Normally, Rowan would've jumped at the suggestion, but I heard him shrug, "Alana, I'm heading home right now."

"Oh. My bad."

"I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Sure." I said, and added, "I love you."

"I love you too." Something was so Off about the way he was acting.

****

At exactly 7:00 pm, I received a call from Rowan informing me he was waiting for me at our usual place. I quickly checked my appearance in the mirror. I didn't look bad in the lemon dress; my usually messy brown hair looked glossier. I grabbed for my bag and my tote and made my way downstairs. Some of the girls in the dorms would go visit their homes in the weekends; I'd told the matron that I was visiting my uncle from Far-away Island; she seemed least interested and didn't bother to enquire who this uncle was. Good for me.

Rowan opened the car door for me, like a true gentleman. He wore a dark tee-shirt over faded denims—the sleeves of his t-shirt fit his broad biceps to perfection, the Rolex glimmered on his wrist. Minnie sat in the back seat with a doll in her hand, "Alnana."

Her mispronunciation always managed to crack me up.

"Hey."

Rowan quickly took over the driver's side, put the car into drive and we were on our way. When I asked him how far it was from Carmel, he told me it would only take an hour and a half. He never spoke for almost twenty minutes while I let my fingers do the snooping in the compartment, and rummaged through Rowan's CD collection. It wasn't like I was actually interested in reading CD covers or counting the trees outside, I freakin' needed to keep myself occupied somehow and this man wasn't helping. When I looked over at him, he was staring straight ahead.

No happy camper.

"Is something the matter?"

"Nothing."

"I want to ask you something, if it's okay."

"Ask away." He said, still not averting his eyes off the road.

"You met your ex-girlfriend yesterday?" I knew I was walking a fine line here being Princess Blunt.

Rowan's expressions turned catatonic, "I was out for a walk and she just met me on my way back."

"So you're telling me, it's a co-incidence?" did he think I had single brain cell? "Because co-incidences are so rare in real life."

He gave me the sting-eye, Oh God. I didn't want to be pushed out of the car, "You think I'm lying?"

"I never said that."

"You're insinuating it, Alana." The Rowan Masters Anger Show was on.

"I'm just asking if you met her." I already knew there was something else he was hiding; "Besides I know absolutely nothing about your past relationships and it didn't bother me until Nina informed me about seeing you leave in your car with that woman. Heck! I don't even know her name. I'm sounding like a jealous girlfriend, but I have a right to know if you still have feelings for her."

"I did, but now, I don't." His features shouldered, "Her name was Lauren and she was a gold-digging, ungrateful, lying bitch who cared for herself, and I was just her idea of recreation. When I chose to live away from my family, she decided I wasn't good enough for her. Lauren used me in every way she could, Alana and I was foolish enough to think it was love."

When I remained silent, he continued, "What else do you want to know?"

"Why did she leave you?"

Rowan smiled at the painful distant memory, "Because she thought I was crazy. She wanted her 'freedom', and according to her, I was stopping her from getting that freedom. I still remember her last words before she walked out the door, 'you're plain crazy, Rowan and call me when you find the woman who'd handle someone like you.'"

That bitch.

"I'm sorry, Rowan. I didn't know."

"Don't worry about it." I could still hear the torment in his voice; the old scars hadn't totally disappeared even though he kept saying he'd gotten over her. What could have she done to him? "And I would never cheat on you, Alana. You have to know this. You're nothing like her. You're almost like an angel. My own personal angel."

"My turn to ask," I smiled back at him as he continued, "tell me about your past relationships."

"Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Masters, but I never had a boyfriend before you."

He grinned over at me, obviously enjoying the discomfort, "Ms. Alana Hayes, I could never guess a pretty, wonderful woman like yourself could go unnoticed. What kind of guys went back in your previous college?"

"Creatures from Ape Land." I answered.

Rowan chuckled as I continued, "Well, I'm glad I saved myself for the best."

I think Rowan's cheeks turned crimson; it was very rare to see him become like that, "Are you trying to flatter me, Ms Hayes?"

"It's working."

"You really have a thing for older men, don't you?"

"Yeah, actually, I'm a hopeless pervert and I go by the line 'the older, the better.'"

I think we never laughed so hard since a long time, and the atmosphere had turned lighter without the either of us trying. Rowan's bad mood began subsiding when dumb phone vibrated in the mug console, I reached for it but he was quicker. The amused expression slowly dissolved as he scanned the number, and my instincts were telling me it was the same bitch. He switched off the phone and let it tumble back into the console.

"Why didn't you answer it?"

"It wasn't an important call."

I didn't press the issue any further, the Alana investigations would have to wait. An hour and a half later, a very posh looking house loomed in front of us, which was more of a mansion that had my jaw hanging for a while. It was a uniquely designed three storey modern red bricked Italianate architecture house, with a large maintained garden and separate parking spaces for each car from which four were already occupied and two of them were vacant. Rowan parked the car in one of the vacant lot.

"You ready, my lady?"

"I guess."

"Let's go."

****

Rowan had probably picked on my nervousness since he held my hand in his as we made our way into the foyer and crossed the hallway entering the living area which was equally impressive with expensive looking carpets, droopy curtains and matching decor. Claire seemed settled in a leather couch with a tall good-good looking Asian guy. She strode over to me as she saw me approach, "Alana."

"It's so good to see you." She caught me in a tight awkward embrace.

"You too." I patted her back.

"You're looking gorgeous." She complimented, her eyes doing the once-over. The Asian guy stood up at once and quickly closed the distance, standing beside Claire.

"Alana, this is my friend and co-worker, Kyo Tachibana and Kyo-kun she's mybrother's girl."

"Hajimemaste!" The handsome Asian guy bowed at me, I followed suit.

"He says nice meeting you," Claire poked at Kyo's ribs, "Trust me, he speaks better English than me, but likes to flaunt with his Japanese."

"Claire-chan!"

"And then he goes back to Japan and flaunts with his English. That's his pattern."

I doubled over with laughter.

"Well, I tagged along with Alana too." Rowan poked his head between us.

Claire punched him in the stomach, "You guys are late for dinner."

****

Claire led us towards the Dining area where I noticed a few heads turning in our direction like those scary dolls with a key. As we neared the table, the three of them stood up to greet us. The middle aged woman in a long sober looking gown smiled warmly at me, her golden brown hair tied in loose bun, "You must be, Alana."

"Mrs. Masters." she pulled me in a hug, seeming genuinely pleased to see me.

"I've heard a lot about you from Claire, thank you for joining us for dinner."

"Thank you for inviting me, ma'am." There was something about this woman that I liked.

Next in line for short intros was a man in white shirt and slacks. The older and mature version of Rowan, with the same mocha colored eyes and the similar hair, only this guy had gone all the way and even styled his hair. Whoa, talk about feeling under dressed, "Gary Masters," he took my hand in his and kissed my knuckles. Now I knew where those gentlemanly genes came from. I could totally melt away if I stared more into those intense eyes, "It's a pleasure."

Charming to say the least.

"The pleasures all mine, sir"

"Just Gary for you, my dear." I might as well remind this man, he was doing some flat-out flirting right in front of his wife. If he managed to have this effect on me now, I'm sure a bunch of girls would have swooned back at his time.

Rowan leaned to whisper something in my ear, "Don't mind my dad, he still thinks he is twenty-one and single."

"Rowan."

"Kidding, mom." Rowan raised his palms in an 'I surrender' gesture.

I was glad he wasn't sulking or complaining about coming here anymore and enjoying the time with his family. Gary pulled Rowan into a manly father-son reunion hug; though I noticed Rowan did not hug him back.

"So someone needs to make fast introductions with me too." Another brown head summoned close to me, a little too close for my liking. Rowan put a possessive arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him, "My older brother, Dwight."

Well this guy was another SHOCKER, I wondered ifMrs. Masters had a freakin' photocopy machine while giving birth. Dwight's hair was darker in comparison to Rowan, almost like black, he wore a polo t-shirt over skinny denims moving around with the same easy grace.

It was like getting drunk and watching Rowan multiply.

"Alana." Dwight offered me a handshake, "Pleased to be of your acquaintance."

I just nodded in response, overwhelmed by his family and then he turned to Claire and asked, "Where's the sushi guy?"

"His name is Kyo and I suggest you stick to that one." Claire threw daggers at him.

"Where's Minnie?" Rowan suddenly became aware of his absent niece, come to think of it; even I hadn't seen her after she'd hopped off the car.

"She's upstairs playing with Mary-Ann." Claire told him.

Rowan let out a sigh of relief.

We all settled down on the large table, the aroma entered my nostrils which caused more stomach pangs. Rowan pulled the chair out for me, and he settled between me and Kyo, Claire took over the seat opposite mine, while Dwight settled next to her. Rowan's parents were seated in the head chairs.

Mrs. Masters stood up at once and started serving the mouth watering food, she beamed at me as she served me a large piece of fried fish. "I hope you like sea food."

"I love it." I began digging in.

Dwight's eyes kept darting from me to Rowan and back. Rowan seemed oblivious to his brothers burning stares or there was a likely possibility he was ignoring him on purpose. I had to be ready to pull out my guns if this guy was cooking up some shit.