RAINBOW

I couldn’t believe what I had just done, just like that I had asked him out on a date. Vivi was overly excited, I could hear his happy purs in the back of my mind as we walked to the Collingwood Manor. But was it really a date? We didn’t really discuss a time or place to meet, just the idea of going out. I got a bit overexcited about his interest in my work, no one outside of my close friends had shown interest in it and most people never got to see my private studio, and to think my fated mate had asked me to show it to him made me feel happy and warmth filled my chest. 

The fact that he was my neighbor also made me realize the God/dess was at my side, finding a fated mate was a big challenge because there are no hints as to where they are. It’s like playing a lottery, you never know when you’ll get the winning number. But for me to have him move in next door was a sign that she actually was vouching for my happiness even after all the horrible experiences I’ve had in the past. I was grateful but also scared, he showed interest in me but…Did Kang Dae know who I was? Does he have the idea that we are fated mates? I knew schools always taught about this kind of topic and according to all my acquaintances, when they met their fated mates they knew right away and talked about it with each other. Is that why he wants to go on a date with me? Not only to know more about me but also to talk about the fact that we are fated mates? 

Overthinking and lost in my thoughts I hadn’t realized I was already at my destination. The voice of the beta guards greeting me startled me, I greeted them back blushing; a little embarrassed. I was about to knock on the front door, but the doors opened and a cheerful Henry showed up, a big smile on his face, he looked at me.

“Rainbow, sweetie. Welcome! It’s so good to see you.” He hugged me and I felt comfortable against him, I loved hugs and King Henry always knew how to give the best ones, he broke the hug and our eyes met again. 

“Hello your majesty, it’s good to see you again.” I showed him my best smile while fixing the bag strap on my shoulder. “Where should I go today?”

“Julien and Byron are waiting for you at the greenhouse.” I nodded and did a soft bow at him before walking to the greenhouse.

I already knew my way around the manor, Julien and Mikaela had both become my best friends and we usually met for tea time whenever we had the chance. As I walked inside the greenhouse I found the cutest scene, Byron was sitting on a chair with Julien on his lap, he was caressing his still-flat belly while leaving soft kisses all over the merman’s face. I envied their love, they looked so happy together. The image of Kang Dae came across my mind and I wondered if someday I would be that way with him, I shook my head leaving the silly thoughts behind, and carefully not to be noticed I took out my camera from my bag, not making a single noise that could break the beautiful moment they were having. 

Camera out and ready to snatch a photo I picked the perfect angle, natural lightning was great and when the frame was to my liking I pressed the shutter button, a soft click breaking the silence. I looked at the result, it was indeed beautiful, maybe a touch-up on the lightning and it was the perfect frame for a wall

“Well hello, Rainy.” Byron’s deep voice startled me from my thoughts, I looked up and saw them looking at me, both of them with smiles on their faces. 

“Hi, Rainy,” Julien said standing from Byron’s lap, the wolf just pouted when his mate stood to say hi to me with a hug. 

“Hi Juli, Byron.” I smiled at both and corresponded to my friend’s hug. “You looked so cute together I had to take a picture, look at it.”

“Omg! It’s perfect. I love it.” Julien said smiling looking at the photo displayed on my camera’s screen.

“So are you ready for the shoot?” I asked and the couple nodded.

I picked out a great spot in the greenhouse for the shoot and once it was of my liking I told Julien and Byron to stand there.

“I want you to pose as natural as you can, just as lovey-dovey as you were before.” I walked up to Julien and leaned in being over, being at the height of his belly. “Hello little one, from today I’ll come every month to take pictures of you with your Papas so you better strike a great pose too, and don’t give your Papa too much trouble.”

As I got back up, I saw the couple smiling at me and I smiled back at them. The shoot started, I took photos of them together and then some individual shots with Julien posing with his flat belly and some props I had brought with me; a little board indicating the size of the baby at the moment and some flowers. And after an hour and a half once we were happy with the results the shoot came to an end, I gave them their wedding album and they loved it.

“I have to leave for a meeting now, we can check the rest of the album later. Bye, my love.” Said Byron to his mate, leaving a soft kiss on his lips, he then looked at me with a smile. “Bye Rainy, thank you again for coming.”

“Bye, Byron. Good luck with that meeting and tell my brother I said hi and that I miss him so so much.” I said jokingly with a smile as if I hadn’t seen Mason a few days ago when he came to deliver some food Papa Jamie had prepared for me.

“I sure will.” He nodded and then disappeared through the doors of the greenhouse.

“Do you want to stay for some tea, Rainy?” Julien offered and I couldn’t say no to tea and cookies with him; it was the perfect time to gossip with my best friend.

Taking a seat on the chairs of the tea table, a maid brought us some freshly boiled Earl Grey tea and chocolate cookies made by Julien’s Nana. Calm I brought the cup to my lips, carefully blowing the steam off, and took a soft sip. ‘Good as always.’

“Rainy, are you okay?” Julien broke the silence, taking a cookie from the plate and eating it.

“Yes, why do you ask?” I took another sip looking away from his eyes, he took me by surprise with that question.

“You seem different today, you are not as cheerful as usual and you got distracted while we were shooting.” He pointed out and he was right, I wasn’t my usual self today and I knew the reason. “Did something happen?”

“Juli, I found him…” I sighed, telling him the truth.

“Found who?” He asked, confused, taking a sip of his tea.

“My fated mate…” I bit my lip after saying those words.

“Wait…You did?!” Julien’s eyes opened wide in shock as he looked at me, putting his teacup back on the table.

“Yes, he’s my next-door neighbor,” I confessed.

“Rainy, that's amazing!” He took my hands in his, squeezing them. 

“Yeah…”

“Wait, you are not excited about it? Why? Don’t tell me he’s married or something like that.” He let go of my hands and flinched his eyes at me.

“No, it’s not like that.” I brushed my hair and sighed.

“Then why are you not excited?” His eyes were full of confusion but also curiosity and I knew I couldn’t hide anything from him.

“I am, believe me. Vivi is overjoyed, but…” I started saying.

“But what?” He interrupted me, raising his right eyebrow. I squeezed my lips together and gathered the courage to tell him.

“I’m scared.” 

“Of what?” He took one of my hands and caressed it, comforting me. ‘He is such a great friend.’

“What if he rejects me? Or if he’s like the other guys I’ve dated.” I told him my worries and my fears, I could feel my eyes starting to water but I held back, I didn’t want to cry.

“Victor, bestie. I’m sure he won’t reject you and he’s probably a good guy too.” Julien comforted me, caressing my cheek with his free hand.

“Well, he’s actually a cop.” I said and my friend’s lips turned into an ‘o’.

“That’s a good sign, if you want I can tell Byron to do a search on his background.” He started saying with a soft smile on his lips. “I’m sure Khalid will tell us about his new subordinate too.” 

“No, it’s okay. We don’t need to do that. I don’t think he’s a bad guy, he gave sweet rice cakes to everyone in the apartment complex.” I said with a soft smile, thinking about those rice cakes he gave me and how good they were. “And they were homemade.”

“Oh wow, were they good?” I nodded. “Well, there you have it. You should get to know him better and see if he’s good, but I’m sure the God/dess would never send you a bad fated mate.” He ended up saying, convincing me.

“Yeah, you are right.” I smiled a little more. “He’s so handsome too. We kind of flirted before I came here, we even talked about having a date.” 

“Really? That’s great, Rainy. I’m hoping everything turns out great for you two.” Julien gave me a short hug and then took his teacup again, sipping his tea.

“Promise me you won’t tell Byron about it,” I asked him, if Byron found out he would tell Mason and then it would get to Papa Jamie and Daddy Layton, questions would be asked; mostly from Papa Jamie and I didn’t want to deal with that so soon.

“I promise, he’ll have to wait until you tell him, and also we have to tell Mika about it or he’s going to kill us.” I laughed and nodded, Mika was a drama queen and not telling him would mean having to put up with his tantrums.

“Yes, of course, I’ll tell him later.”