His Snowdrop?

POV: First Person.

The delicate nickname falling from his sculpted lips no longer brought me the flutter of teenage butterflies. Instead, it summoned only the burning, agonizing reminder of a tragedy he unknowingly caused.

"I didn't think my Snowdrop could stay mad at me for that long," Evander drawled. His voice was a slow, lazy rumble over the thumping bass of the party. He kept me cornered on the dance floor, his large frame blocking any route of escape. His stormy grey eyes roamed my face, searching for an answer I refused to give.

My Snowdrop?

My stomach twisted into a tight knot. Whatever you see on my face, Evander Vanguard, you will not find the fifteen-year-old sister of your best friend. She died that night. And the cruel irony was that he didn't even know. He remained oblivious to the destruction he had set into motion.

"Don't call me that!" My voice snapped out, sharp and trembling with a rage I had spent years trying to bury.

He didn't flinch. He merely raised a dark brow, his gaze dropping to my lips before lifting back to my eyes. I forced myself to take a steady breath, trying to cool my frayed nerves. I could not show him the depths of my anger. It was a defense mechanism I had perfected over the years in New York.

"I have a name," I stated, keeping my chin high. "And I prefer to be called by it. I don't like it when someone calls me by nicknames."

The corner of his mouth curved into a dark, knowing smirk. "I know your name. But you will always be Snowdrop for me."

He leaned in. The movement was smooth, dangerous, and predatory. His broad chest brushed against mine, the heat of his body radiating through my thin evening dress. His breath, smelling faintly of mint and expensive bourbon, fanned the sensitive shell of my ear. The deep rumble of his chest vibrated against my own.

"Though this Snowdrop of mine now bloomed into a beautiful flower," he whispered.

The specific, deliberate words hit me like a devastating physical blow to the stomach. The air vanished from my lungs. I felt the floor tilt beneath my heels, sending my mind spiraling back to a time when I looked at him like he hung the stars in the sky.

*Really?* The ghost of my younger self echoed in my mind, brightening up like a Christmas tree. *That means you will marry me?*

He had bitten his lip back then, his eyes lit with amusement. *I'm sorry, Snowdrop! But I can't.*

*Why not?* I had pouted.

*Because it's not the right time. You're still so young.*

*Then when will be the right time?* I had gazed up at him with endless hope.

*When you turn into a blooming rose from a rose bud.*

A shaky breath left my parted lips. A squeezing pain shot through my chest, sharp and acidic. He remembered. He flawlessly remembered his careless childhood promise. The words he had used to let down a naive nine-year-old girl without breaking her fragile heart. The same words that had set me up for a lifetime of foolish hope, culminating in the tragedy that shattered my world.

My throat tightened. My fists balled at my sides. I gulped against the rising acid in my stomach. I was suffocating under the crushing weight of those memories and the pain I had carried in secret for seven long years. I needed air.

I pushed my hands against his steel-like arms. I shoved him with all the force I could muster. Surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by a shadow of concern as he stumbled back half a step. I didn't stick around to decipher his expression. I turned and fled.

I weaved through the throngs of dancing bodies, ignoring the pulsing music and the laughter ringing in the ballroom.

"Snowdrop!" his voice called out over the noise, closer than I expected.

I heard the heavy thud of his footsteps following me. From my peripheral vision, I saw my brother Rowan step toward Evander, perhaps trying to intercept him.

"Syl? Where are you going?" Declan's confused voice called out from the edge of the room.

I ignored Declan's question. I kept running until I burst through the heavy glass doors and stepped out into the quiet, chilly serenity of the outdoor balcony.

The cold stone of the balcony railing bit into my palms, grounding me in reality. The music from the ballroom was a muffled, distant thumping, drowned out by the erratic, deafening pounding of my own heart. I breathed in the crisp night air, desperate to clear the suffocating scent of mint and bourbon from my memory. Above me hung the half-curved moon, surrounded by countless twinkling stars. They winked at me, almost mocking my pathetic feelings, a cruel reminder of the night my entire world had been torn apart. I stared out over the sprawling, manicured lawns of the estate, bathed in silver moonlight. I wanted to disappear into those shadows.

A lone tear escaped my eye as the cool breeze touched my flushed face. I wiped it away, but more followed. Hot, humiliating tears I thought I had buried deeply during my time in New York. I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling the exact same phantom pain I felt that night. It was as if someone had taken a knife and sliced the old wounds right open.

I bit my lip hard, tasting a hint of metallic blood, attempting to force the tears back down. Seven years. Seven freaking years! And here I was, still mourning over the heartache I got as a punishment for my foolishness. It still pained me physically to remember the loss.

I had been so afraid of meeting him again. I was still a coward. That was the real reason I had tagged Declan along tonight. I needed a human shield. I knew I would have to face Evander eventually during these two weeks at home, but I had hoped to keep my distance. I had avoided him like a plague before moving to high school in another city. Even when our paths crossed back then, I refused to look at his face. I knew if I made the mistake of looking up, he would see everything. He would see how pathetic I was for clinging to words he said to a child.

I thought moving to a different city would help me forget him. I thought dating other men would erase his memory. I thought toughening myself up would wipe him from my system.

But no. One glance. One sentence. He threw me right back to where I started. All my attempts failed.

"Why?" I whispered to the empty night, my voice quivering.

Why can't I just move on? After all these years, why does it still hurt?

Fuck you, Evander Vanguard. Fuck you for ruining my life.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand when I felt a looming presence behind me. I thought it was Declan coming to check on me, perhaps bringing a glass of orange juice.

"Just give me a moment, Declan," I said without turning around. "I will be inside in a while."

"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not your boyfriend."

I snapped my head around. Evander stood there, towering over my trembling frame. He had followed me.

His stormy grey eyes were dark with possessive malice. His jaw was clenched so tight a muscle ticked feather-light near his ear. He stepped into the moonlight, clad impeccably in a dark charcoal suit. Even after all these years, my five-foot-four frame barely reached his broad shoulders.

The way he pronounced the word 'boyfriend' dripped with pure venom, a dark growl that vibrated in the quiet night air. I did not miss the sheer disdain in his tone, nor the possessive jealousy rolling off him in waves.

"Why are you here?" I took a step back, pressing my hips against the stone railing. His intense proximity suffocated me, trapping me in a web of undeniable physical magnetism and rising panic.

He closed the distance I had just created between us. "Came to see if you're okay."

*You didn't come to see me all these years.* The thought burned my tongue, but I swallowed it down.

"You don't need to be concerned about my well-being." I rubbed my bare arms as the chilling air kissed my skin, causing me to shiver.

Without a single word, he smoothly shrugged off his expensive suit jacket. The fine tailoring caught the moonlight as he stepped closer, entering my personal space, and wrapped the warm fabric securely around my shivering shoulders. The heavy weight of the jacket settled over me, carrying the heat of his body. I tried to pull away from his overwhelming aura, but he kept his strong arms wrapped securely around my waist, holding me in place against his solid chest. His intoxicating, musky scent instantly invaded my heightened senses. It was a potent blend of cedarwood, expensive spice, and the distinct, raw masculinity that belonged only to him. It trapped me right there, paralyzing my ability to flee.

"I will always be concerned for your well-being, Sylvia," he murmured, his gaze dropping to my lips. "I can't stop doing it even if I want to. And I won't."

"Why?" I looked up into his intense grey eyes. I hated that I wasn't pushing him away.

"Because I care for you."

*As a little sister?* A sourness rose up the back of my throat.

"And why do you care for me now?" I asked, my tone defensive and bitter. "After years of silence?"

He ignored my venom. Instead, he leaned down and snuggled his cold nose deep into my hair. He breathed me in, his chest expanding as if I were his lifeline. A fresh shiver ran down my spine, this one having nothing to do with the cold night air.

Then he pulled away just enough to peer straight down into my naked soul.

"Let's keep the answer for another day," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "Let the time unfold the inevitable of its own."

He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his knuckles grazing my cheek. I refused to be pulled back into his destructive gravity. I pulled away, stepping to the side, and ripped his jacket off my shoulders.

I marched toward the glass doors. A startled waiter happened to be passing by with a tray of empty champagne flutes. I shoved the warm jacket directly into his hands.

"Would you please return this to Mr. Vanguard? He forgot it with me," I instructed the waiter.

The poor man looked at my tight expression, then glanced past me at Evander. All the color drained from the waiter's face. He fumbled in place with the tray and the jacket, too terrified to object. I didn't wait for a response. I thanked him and walked away.

The more distance I kept from Evander Vanguard, the better it would be for my sanity.

I sauntered back inside the ballroom, plastering a flawless, fake smile on my face.

"Syl? Where were you? Are you okay?" Declan fired off the questions as soon as he spotted me. My brother stood right beside him, eyeing me with deep concern. "I was about to go find you, but Rowan said to give you some time alone. Did something happen?"

I forced my smile wider. "Nothing happened. Everything is fine. Don't worry! I just needed some fresh air."

Declan didn't look convinced, but he nodded his head anyway. That was what I genuinely liked about him. He never forced me to talk about things I wanted to keep hidden.

I stayed until my parents cut the cake and made their announcement, ignoring the scorching, heavy gaze I felt burning into my back the entire time. I knew who it belonged to, and I refused to turn around. Once the formalities were over, I escaped the suffocating party with Declan.

***

The blaring noise of my phone alarm shattered the fragile peace of my bedroom the very next morning. The soft beams of sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, painting patterns on the floorboards, causing me to squint. I let out a groan and sat up against the tufted headboard, rubbing the heels of my hands against my tired eyes.

My sheets were tangled at the foot of the bed, evidence of a restless night spent tossing and turning. My mind had refused to shut down, replaying the exact weight of his suit jacket on my shoulders, the heat of his breath against my ear, and the terrifying, magnetic pull he still held over me. I dragged myself out from under the covers, my bare feet hitting the cold hardwood floor, seeking some sort of anchor. My head felt heavy with exhaustion. Sleep had not come easily. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those stormy grey eyes staring me down, stripping away my defenses. I heard the deep, gravelly rumble of a childhood promise echoing in the darkness of my room.

A sudden buzz from my phone caught my attention. I reached over to the nightstand, assuming it was a text from one of the girls.

Instead, an unknown number glowed on the screen.

*Good morning, my Snowdrop! Hope you'd a good night's sleep. E.*

My heart skipped a painful beat. E? Evander?

My fingers curled tight around the metal casing of the phone. What did he want now? Was my hostility last night not enough to clarify that I wanted absolutely nothing to do with him? He didn't know the real reason behind my hatred, but it didn't matter. I was unwilling to let him carve a path back into my life.

I typed out a furious text telling him to back off, but my thumb hovered over the send button. Responding would give him exactly what he wanted: my attention. I erased the draft. Then, I deleted the message itself. I threw the phone onto the mattress and marched into the bathroom to wash the memory of him away.

Later that afternoon, the sunlit living room was filled with the sound of crunching snacks. My best friends Penny and Gwen lounged comfortably on the large leather couches. My parents had gone shopping for my sister Cami's upcoming engagement party right after breakfast, and Declan had happily tagged along with them. It left the house empty, providing the perfect opportunity to vent to my girls without the fear of eavesdropping.

"So? What are you going to do now?" Penny asked, raising a perfectly arched brow.

Gwen munched loudly on a handful of chocolate chips she had brought over. She paused her chewing to listen.

"I don't know," I said, pacing a small line behind the coffee table. "And it doesn't matter, you know? He is just being polite to me as a family friend. That is all." I desperately tried to rationalize his sudden, overwhelming attention.

"And how do you know that?" Gwen asked, her words slightly muffled around the chocolate.

I threw my hands up in exasperation. "Why else is he being so nice all of a sudden? Before I moved to New York, he was never around. And even when he was, he never said a single word to me. I was grateful for that silence! But now, after all these years, he is suddenly paying attention. Calling me Snowdrop like nothing ever happened."

Penny hummed, tapping her chin in thought. "It's confusing. Maybe you're right. But then you said he remembered exactly what he promised on your ninth birthday?"

I dropped onto the armchair with a heavy sigh. "He did say those words. But I don't know if it was just a coincidence. Maybe he didn't even know what he was saying?"

"He even said he cares for you, and his behavior on the balcony was strange," Gwen pointed out, swallowing her mouthful. Her eyes suddenly lit up with romantic realization. "Maybe he saw you last night and lost his heart to you? You know, love at first sight?"

I rolled my eyes so hard they ached.

"Shut up, Gwen," Penny scoffed. "Evander Vanguard isn't a man who falls in love at first glance. Think about it. Over all these years, have you ever seen him with a single girl? Some people even think he might be a closeted gay."

Not a single girl?

My mind spun. If he wasn't with Cami, then there had to be another woman in his life. The thought sparked a sudden, sharp burn in my chest. I forcefully ignored the feeling. A man looking like a Greek god with a billion-dollar empire must have someone.

"He isn't gay, and I can guarantee you that," Gwen retorted, waving a hand. "Did you forget the trail of girls he used to drag around back in high school?"

Penny flipped her a middle finger and slumped back against the throw pillows. "We don't know everything. Maybe he changed his preferences after he went to England for two years, right after Syl moved to NY?"

I remembered hearing about his time in England. He had gone to pursue a specialized degree, and for two straight years, he hadn't returned home once.

"Whatever," Gwen stated, fixing her gaze on me. "You said you moved on, right? You like Declan. Then why do you even care what Evander Vanguard does or doesn't do?"

I bristled, my defensive walls shooting right back up. "I have fully moved on! And I genuinely like Declan." I raised my chin, speaking loudly to convince myself as much as them. "He is safe. He is kind. He doesn't look at me like he wants to devour me whole, and he doesn't bring a storm of painful memories every time he walks into a room. With Declan, my heart beats at a normal, steady pace. I don't feel like I am standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for the wind to push me over. I couldn't care less about the great Evander Vanguard and his sudden interest. I was just sharing a weird encounter that happened last night."

Both of my friends gave me a flat, mocking look. They remained utterly unconvinced by my breathless denials. I broke eye contact first and shifted my stare to the muted television screen.

The sharp ring of the doorbell interrupted the tense silence. I let out a literal sigh of relief as both girls turned their heads toward the entryway.

Penny hopped up. "I'll get it."

She disappeared into the foyer. A minute later, she walked back into the living room, her arms straining, barely holding onto a massive, breathtakingly expensive bouquet. The sheer size of the arrangement eclipsed her torso, the vibrant green stems wrapped in thick, elegant silk ribbon. It was a stunning cascade of pristine white roses, perfectly bloomed and immaculate. But what stole the breath from my lungs were the flowers intricately interlaced between the white petals. Dozens of rare, delicate snowdrops. The sweet, fresh fragrance of the blooms instantly overpowered the smell of chocolate chips, filling the entire room with his relentless presence.

"Well, I think this is a considerable matter for you to care about," Penny commented, resting the heavy vase on the center of the coffee table.

Gwen scrambled to her feet, her eyes wide. "Who is that for?"

Penny's gaze locked directly onto mine. "Guess who?"

My hands shook as I reached across the table. I snatched the hidden, elegant note tucked between the soft petals. I flipped the thick cardstock open.

*A beautiful day should start with those beautiful flowers. Hope you like them. E.*

My pulse hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

"Who sent them? And who is E?" Gwen frowned, stepping closer to inspect the blooms.

Penny rolled her eyes at Gwen's density. "If you can't figure it out from the letter, then you should understand by seeing the dozens of snowdrops hidden between those roses."

Realization dawned on Gwen's face. "So he sent flowers for you." Her tone dropped its teasing edge, replaced by genuine shock. "I didn't know people sent their family friends good morning messages and extravagant flowers without a reason. But why white roses?"

I stared down at the extravagant arrangement in pure, frozen shock. The delicate snowdrops stared back at me, a relentless pursuit wrapped in floral paper.

Penny crossed her arms over her chest. A knowing smirk played on her lips. "White roses symbolize peace." She paused, letting the silence stretch before delivering the final blow. "And a fresh, untainted start."

She took a step toward me, her expression turning dead serious.

"So you better start caring, Sylvia Sterling," Penny warned me, her voice ringing clear in the quiet room. "Because I think Evander Vanguard wants a fresh start with you. And as far as we all know, he always gets what he wants."

And my heart stopped in my chest.