24 My Boyfriend

Antoine double-checked his pockets for the key card before walking out of the suite. Initially, he thought he was going to stay over at Lyra's house for the break, but her roommate was insistent he lived in some place more luxurious, saying that there wasn't enough room for three in their little apartment above the flower shop.

Without even asking for his opinion, Rose already made arrangements for the visitor to stay at one of the suites at WE Hotel on the top floors. He thought he heard wrong when she dropped the name and card, but after seeing the room he would be staying in, he didn't dare doubt her ever again.

There was almost guilt, to live in such a spacious room with a priceless view of the entire city all by himself. Though Antoine was extremely appreciative of Rose's exceptional hospitality despite being a visitor of the country herself, he would have liked it more had Lyra got to stay with him.

But Rose seemed to have expected Lyra to be living back at home with her. He recalled the previous evening when they were picked up from the airport and Rose instructed her driver to first drop him off at WE Hotel to check-in. He originally wanted to visit the flower shop that Lyra grew up with, but the host insisted that he could visit next morning as it was late.

After showing him the VIP room, the Aussie bid farewell and took Lyra away. Seeing how excited his girlfriend was to reunite with her friend, Antoine decided to just go along with whatever their host had planned. It was only at night when Lyra called to check up on him did he learn the address of the shop.

Shutting the door behind him, the tourist glanced over the time on his phone and hurried over to catch the elevator. He would've been able to leave the room sooner if not for the understandable delay caused by the comfort of the non-standard double-king size bed and should be too-good-to-be-true in-room jacuzzi.

He was ticking by the minute and didn't want to miss the elevator as the wait time is slightly longer for those who lived on the highest floors. Luckily, a fellow floor neighbor who just got on held the door open for him.

When they exchanged morning greetings, Antoine thought the man looked familiar. Perhaps he was a celebrity, which was a logical conclusion, judging from his well put together facial features and outstanding stature. The fact that he was staying on the most expensive suite on the floor only increased the probability.

The attractive gentleman was polite, but didn't seem too talkative as he went back on his phone.

"Starting route to Cades Florist," a voice stated in max volume, disturbing the tranquility of the morning elevator music. The owner of the smartphone apologized out of courtesy, but his acquaintance didn't seem to mind. In fact, that opened up an even better conversation starter.

"You looking for Cades' flower shop?" the stranger asked, removing his shades and revealing a pair of emerald green eyes.

"Oui," Antoine answered out of habit.

"J'y vais aussi," the fellow elevator companion responded with a smile.

"Êtes-vous Français?"

"Non," the stranger replied, shaking his head humbly.

"Your French is really good," Antoine complimented.

The good-looking man's lips curved up into a smile that even Antoine found undeniably charming. "Hardly. Only picked up a few words from one of my exes back in Paris."

"She taught you well then!" the French native complimented before the two newly acquainted walked out of the grand lobby and crossed the street.

The shop was literally right across the street that Antoine felt a little embarrassed for enlisting the help of his phone navigation.

Upon entering the shop, the guests were greeted with the loveliest scent of fresh flowers and a beautiful display of mixed colors. Everything was in order, not the slightest trace of dust or dirt anywhere. There was also a perfect touch of sophistication in the overall layout of the boutique.

"We're not open yet-" a sweet voice called from the back room before Lyra came walking out with a flower pot in hand.

The florist stopped mid-track when she recognized who just walked in the door. It took her a few extra seconds to regain composure before producing a smile and walking towards the two men.

Her boyfriend leaned in for a kiss which certainly did surprise his new friend who also had his eyes glued on her.

"Lyra?" Kurtis wasn't questioning which twin she was. He was just finding it hard to believe his eyes.

"Hello Mr. Wellington," the girl greeted amiably after detaching from her boyfriend's embrace. "What are you doing here?" she asked, placing the pot down on the floor and casually filling it with some flowers.

"I could ask you the same," he responded, in a much more serious tone compared to her teasing one. "When did you get back?"

"We arrived yesterday," she answered.

After filling the empty vase with a mixture of roses, Lyra stood back up.

"Do I need to introduce you two?" she asked Antoine who took the pot of flowers out of her hands. Seeing the slightly confused look on his face, Lyra let out a jubilant laugh.

"This is Kurtis, my famous brother-in-law."

Mr. Wellington didn't quite appreciate the attack on his philosophy to maintain a low-profile, but still extended his hand.

The girl then turned to her in-law and with a radiant smile introduced, "Antoine, my boyfriend."

"So what are you doing here?" Lyra asked in a light manner after directing her boyfriend on where to bring the pot.

There was something in the way she repeated the question that made Kurtis feel obligated to answer.

"Came to visit Rose and get a bouquet," he said, standing in the same spot.

Lyra looked up at her brother-in-law who was just as gorgeous as the last time she saw him. "I told Rose to sleep in a little longer today. You won't mind if I sub in?"

Kurtis shook his head, but remained where he was.

"Who's the lucky girl this time?" Lyra asked while tying her hair back a ponytail. It was longer now and got in the way easier.

"Angie."

"Hmmm…" the younger sister contemplated before picking out some lilies and roses. "Let's see what else…" she ran her hand over a few types but didn't find one fitting for her twin. When she got up to head over to the section she was looking for, he beat her to it.

"How about these?" Kurtis lifted the carnations in his hands to give to the florist who didn't take nor refused them.

He straightened his arm further, obviously expecting her to take them, but Lyra only found herself staring at the shades of pink and red.

"My heart-aches for you. I'll never forget you," Rose sang as she appeared from nowhere and threw her arm around her favorite cousin's neck. "You have an eye for flowers, mate."

Kurtis didn't tear his eyes away from Lyra who met him with an equally stern pair.

Sensing the lack of response from both parties, the jubilant girl grabbed the carnations and shoved it in the pile of flowers in Lyra's arms.

"Take it. They fit the occasion and the colors blend well with the flowers you already selected," she said with a yawn before trekking up the stairs.

As if switching places, Antoine came back from the storage room just in time to receive an invitation for dinner with Kurtis and his wife, in which he found no reason to decline.

"I'll have someone pick you up at six," Kurtis confirmed before anyone from the other party had time to change their mind. With his lavish mixed bouquet of flowers, he walked out.

Lyra didn't say a word before tending to her flowers again. Of course she knew they were going to meet again some time this trip, but today at the flower shop was a little too soon.

It wasn't that she wasn't ready, but more that she didn't want to see him.

"Ly, everything alright?" Antoine's soothing voice called her back from her daze.

His tired-looking girlfriend nodded. "Jet lag and haven't caught up on the sleep I sacrificed for my finals," she said with a pout.

"Can't wait for our double date tonight," the loving boyfriend said and planted a kiss on her forehead.

Lyra had butterflies in her stomach just thinking about it. Meeting Angela after a whole year and a half without contact would definitely not be the best mood. As if Kurtis wasn't already intimidating enough, already exerting his brother-in-law status concern!

How she wanted to call for a raincheck, but seeing Antoine's excitement, she couldn't bring herself to.

He was meeting her family for the first time. This was important to him. And that mattered to Lyra.

"Me too," Lyra said, slipping her hand into his.