“But—” The harried receptionist spots someone and her whole demeanor changes, angling her face in a sweet way and smiling and fluttering her lashes. “There’s the owner. He’ll be able to help with your request.”
The owner? For a second, my family and I freeze, making panicky looks at each other.
“Hi, Jeanine, everything going okay?” a smooth, rich voice that can only be described as molten chocolate says.
“Morning, sir,” Jeanine says. “I was just telling the wedding vendors where to go.” She bats her lashes at him again.
My family turns around and introduces themselves to him, but I’m frozen to the spot. Because even without turning around, I know who it is. I hear his voice in my dreams. I can still feel his touch on me, his strong, gentle hands on my skin.
“And you must be the photographer?” he asks.
Taking a deep breath to try to steady myself, I turn around to face him. The one that got away. The one who took a huge chunk of my heart, my soul, with him.
His smile freezes on his face, and I see years of history fly through his mind as I say in a hoarse voice, “I am. Hi, Nathan. It’s been a while.”
PART 2
?
GIRL FINDS BOY
（under very awkward circumstances）
12
The years have been kind to Nathan. He’s obviously started working out; even in his button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, I can see his biceps straining against the fabric. His face has lost its teenage softness, giving way to a defined jawline that makes my teeth clench because fuck, he’s hot. So much hotter than I remember, and I remember him as the most gorgeous boy I’d ever laid eyes on in real life. My gaze skitters to his hands. No wedding band. Part of me—a very small part—squeals inwardly.
His expression is a mystery—surprised, obviously, but also a whole host of other emotions that I can’t quite read. Is he happy to see me? Horrified? Maybe both?
“Meddy—” he says, and his voice is deeper, but still achingly familiar.
I’m momentarily distracted by my family’s half-whispered discussion.
“Setan!” Second Aunt is saying. Ghost!
“Ssh,” Big Aunt scolds her.
“Itu setan! It ownernya, kan?” Second Aunt hisses.
“Is everything okay, ladies?” Nathan says.
“You the owner of this hotel?” Ma says. “Mr. Jake, is it?”
“No, Ma, this is—”
“I’m Nathan. It’s so nice to finally meet all of you.”
Shit, my family’s going to be like, “Finally? What you mean, finally?”
“We just need to go to the kitchen real quick,” I say. “Just gotta—check on the cake. It’s the centerpiece, you know. Gotta make sure it’s perfect, okay, see you, bye!”
“I’ll take you.” He touches me lightly on the back, and just that small touch is enough to send an electric current racing down all the way to my feet.
“You must have a thousand things to take care of—”
“I can spare the time.”
With my mom and aunts following behind and whispering among themselves, Nathan leads me through a side door marked “Staff,” and we walk along what seems to be an endless maze of hallways.
“How have you been?” he says, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
“Good! You?”
“It looks like your family business has really taken off. I bet you take the most amazing pictures.” He gives me an inscrutable smile.
“It sure has. Don’t leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!” I laugh weakly. My stomach is not doing great.
He bites back a grin. “Did you come up with that slogan?”
“Obviously. And you’ve done well yourself. My god, Nathan. You’re the owner of this place?”
“Well, part owner,” he says, with a dimpled smile. “There are many investors involved.”
“But you’re running it?”
“Yeah.”
Pride surges through me. This has always been a dream of his, for as long as I’ve known him. He’s always wanted to work in the hospitality industry, run his own hotel, and he’s definitely achieved that with the Ayana Lucia. “Nathan, wow—”
“Excuse, excuse,” Ma says, coming in between us. “How you two know each other? Hi, I’m Meddy’s mother. You call me Auntie Natasya, okay.”
Nathan stops walking to give Ma a firm handshake, looking her in the eye as he says, “Hi, Mrs. Chan—I mean, Auntie. I’m Nathan. I was Meddy’s—”