Hidden Layers
Everyone looked at them as Laura mentioned Rowan staying with her because she was scared of some invisible dog. A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd, guests exchanging curious glances and hushed whispers.
“Is that Rowan Vaughn?” one of the guests whispered.
“Yes, I think so,” another replied, her voice laced with intrigue. “But why is he sitting with... Remi’s daughter?”
“And she called him ‘Uncle’? Since when did they know each other that well?” someone else added, a bit too loudly.
Rowan caught the comment, his brows drawing together as he looked at me, obviously confused. I tried to focus on Laura, ignoring the growing audience around us, but Rowan’s curious stare made that impossible.
“So…” he began, his tone casual but questioning. “Your daughter’s got quite the imagination. Invisible dogs?”
I forced a laugh, attempting to keep things light. “Yeah, she’s... got a very vivid mind.”
He smirked, but his eyes held a flicker of interest as he continued. “Seems like she’s... attached. Didn’t realize I was so popular with kids.”
Laura, picking up on his tone, reached out and tugged his sleeve with a beaming smile. “You’re my big uncle!”
Rowan looked down at her, visibly baffled. “Big... uncle?” he repeated, glancing at me for some kind of clarification. “Where did she get that idea?”
My throat tightened, and I managed a quick shrug. “She’s... imaginative.”
One of the guests leaned over to another, not even bothering to hide her curiosity. “Rowan Vaughn, with Remi’s daughter? And they’re... what, family now?”
Another guest whispered, “I thought he was engaged to that socialite, what’s-her-name... Gigi?”
“Oh, he is,” the other woman replied with a knowing look. “But I wonder if there’s something going on here. Look at the way he’s sitting with them.”
The murmuring continued, each comment digging under my skin as I struggled to keep my composure. This was exactly the sort of thing I didn’t want—especially not here, not at Claire’s wedding.
Rowan, oblivious to the whispers but clearly feeling the tension, glanced at me, an eyebrow raised. “You don’t seem too thrilled about all this attention.”
I forced a smile. “Can’t say I’m a fan.”
He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “You’re not the only one. But I’m curious... your daughter, she seems pretty convinced that I’m ‘Big Uncle.’”
I clenched my hands together under the table, trying to maintain my calm. “Kids say a lot of things. She’s just... excited, I guess.”
Rowan looked at Laura, his expression softening slightly. “She’s got spirit, I’ll give her that. And guts, calling me ‘Big Uncle’ without even knowing me.”
Laura looked up at him, smiling brightly. “But I do know you! You’re the bestest, Big Uncle!”
He blinked, completely lost, but she went on, clutching his sleeve like they were the closest of friends. “Big Uncle, will you stay with us until the doggie’s gone? Please?”
Rowan hesitated, looking slightly uncomfortable but smiling to mask it. “I... suppose so?”
The guests’ voices rose again, more curious now, the words impossible to ignore.
“Is this some kind of secret family thing?” one woman asked, leaning over to another guest.
“Maybe he’s trying to keep it under wraps. I heard his family was always good at hiding things.”
Another guest chuckled. “Who would’ve thought? Rowan Vaughn with a kid who’s calling him ‘Big Uncle.’”
Rowan glanced around, the tension finally starting to dawn on him. “Seems like everyone has questions,” he murmured, his gaze flicking back to me, puzzled. “But there’s nothing to be curious about, right?”
I forced a calm tone. “Right. We’re just... attending the same wedding. That’s all.”
Laura, not understanding the tension, tugged at his sleeve again. “Big Uncle, are you going to stay for all the dancing?”
Rowan shot her an awkward smile. “Uh... dancing?”
She nodded vigorously. “Yep! Mummy says you’re really good at it.”
Rowan looked over at me, completely taken aback. “Really?”
I managed a tight smile. “Kids love exaggerating. I’ve never said that, Laura.”
“But you said he looks like he could dance really good!” Laura insisted, her big eyes wide with sincerity.
Rowan smirked, arching an eyebrow at me. “So I look like I can dance?”
I felt my cheeks heat. “Laura, sweetie, let’s not make things up.”
“But it’s true!” Laura said, looking up at Rowan with complete innocence. “You’re Big Uncle! You can do everything!”
The crowd’s interest was clearly piqued, a few guests chuckling as they observed the bizarre interaction. Rowan, noticing the crowd’s focus on him, chuckled, though he was clearly still confused.
“So, Remi,” he said in a low voice, leaning slightly closer. “Are you going to explain why your daughter thinks I’m her big uncle?”
I took a deep breath, searching for a way out. “She’s imaginative. That’s all there is to it.”
He didn’t look convinced, his brow furrowing. “Seems like more than just imagination.”
One of the guests nearby finally spoke up, unable to contain her curiosity. “Mr. Vaughn, I didn’t realize you had family here?”
Rowan looked at her, then back at me, clearly stumped. “Neither did I,” he said, smirking, but his eyes held an edge of genuine confusion.
Claire approached us, her expression somewhere between amused and exasperated. “Alright, everyone, let’s not crowd the newlyweds,” she called out, waving her hands to disperse the curious guests from her.
Though I had a feeling it's to stop them from talking about me continuously.
She looked down at Laura, who was still clutching Rowan’s sleeve, and gave me a small wink. “Laura, honey, why don’t we find you something fun to do? I’m sure Big Uncle needs a break.”
Laura pouted, but Rowan quickly knelt down, giving her a small pat on the head. “Go on, kiddo. Big Uncle will be right here.”
As Laura finally went with Claire, Rowan straightened, looking at me with that piercing gaze. “Are you ever going to keep on avoiding me?”
I crossed my legs as I looked around the reception hall. Claire dancing with Laura. And Larry. Where was he?
Ugh.
I turned to Rowan and said, “When you are tired, you would leave.”
He threw his head back laughing. “Why do you feel so?”
“Because I do.”
I crossed my legs, picking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. I could feel Rowan’s eyes on me as I sat there, wearing a golden dress with an open back and thin straps that skimmed my shoulders.
I could feel his gaze on me and it made me feel…warm.
I did not like it.
His gaze was heavy, lingering, and I did my best to ignore it, focusing instead on the crowd around us.
“Rowan,” I said quietly, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. “About last night… I just want to be clear. It was a mistake. I was drunk and had no idea what I was even doing.”
His eyebrow shot up, and he leaned forward, his smirk sharp. “Oh, was it now?”
“Yes,” I said firmly, feeling the blush rise to my cheeks. “A one-time mistake.”
He chuckled, taking a sip from his whiskey. “Funny, you didn’t seem so regretful last night.”
I shot him a glare. “Well, I am now.”
“Duly noted,” he replied, clearly amused.
Just then, Charles joined us, flashing an easy smile as he approached. He had a natural charm, his smile bright as he greeted everyone, but something in his demeanor made me pause. His eyes scanned the room, not settling on Claire like I expected but drifting, almost as if searching for someone else. When they landed on a man standing across the room, his gaze lingered a second too long.
I frowned, but kept it to myself as Charles turned his attention to Rowan. “Rowan! Glad you made it, man. Didn’t think you’d pull through with your schedule.”
Rowan stood to shake his hand, nodding. “For you, Charles, I’ll always make an exception.”
Charles laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. “Ah, you’re a good friend. You always were. We go back a long way, don’t we?”
“Since college,” Rowan agreed, a small smile playing on his lips.
Charles grinned, but his eyes slid again, flicking to that same man across the room—a lean, impeccably dressed guy who was chatting with a group of guests. I noticed the slight tension in Charles’s shoulders, a brief flicker of something that quickly disappeared as he turned back to us.
“Remi, this is Charles,” Rowan said, introducing him formally. “One of my oldest friends.”
Charles extended a hand to me, his smile warm but distracted. “Pleasure to finally meet you, Remi. I’ve heard… well, some interesting things.”
“Likewise,” I replied, shaking his hand, though my mind was still reeling from the peculiar dynamic. “Congratulations, by the way. You and Claire seem very happy.”
Charles laughed, though it sounded a little hollow. “Ah, yes. Thank you. Claire’s been... well, a blessing.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
