After dinner, Jason invited Regina to join him for a walk, promising to bring her back before midnight, just like Cinderella. Owen clenched his fist when Raffy agreed, but since Regina had no recollection that they were in a relationship, he had to let them go. Regina took Jason’s arm, dreading the talk she knew they were about to have. “I’m sorry about my family arriving unannounced,” Regina said when they were out of earshot. “It’s okay, Raffy is concerned about you, and I am okay with that.” “Yeah, I guess. I’ve failed to call my family, so they sent him to check up on me.” “Regina, how do you know Owen?” “Well, I work for his mom, and that’s all I know.” “You don’t remember any interactions with him?” She briefly closed her eyes. When she sighed, an image of her and Owen appeared in her memories. They were locked in an embrace as they kissed each other under the Eiffel Tower. “No,” she said, with a squeak in her voice. “No?” He asked with disbelief. If Regina recalled t

Regina comes out of her bedroom, her head aching. Seeing Raffy preparing breakfast reminded her about what she had done the previous night with Jason. They got caught necking in the hallway, and she knew the conversation with her brother would not be pleasant. It had been years since she’d been scolded for being drunk, so before Raffy could say anything, Regina hugged him from behind and apologized. “Raf, I’m sorry about last night. I was just having fun. Nothing bad happened, and I promise next time Jace and I will take it somewhere private.” Regina felt him stiffen. “--Or not. Will you forgive me? Please? I promise it won’t happen again.” Raffy did not reply, so she rubbed her cheek against his back like a cat. “Raf, please forgive me already? We can’t fight like this anymore. I’m an adult and can do whatever I want.” She sneered at his back and was pulling away when he held onto her arms. “You smell good today, Raf. Is that a new cologne? Did Mags get that for you?” Regina said

“Aunt Reggie, let’s go already. What are we waiting for?” Marcus kicked the curb after asking for the 10th time in the last couple of minutes. Owen was standing a few feet away, talking to someone on the phone. “I’m sorry, there was an accident,” Jason moved to kiss Regina, but Marcus protested. “Let’s go. Stop kissing.” Jason laughed but still did it, anyway. “Aunt Reggie, why does everyone want to kiss you?” “Everyone?” Jason asked, looking at Regina. “Don’t bother with him.” She said to Jason while covering Marcus’ mouth. “He’s a kid. He says all kinds of stuff.” “Are we ready?” Owen just finished his phone call and opened the door for Marcus and Regina. “Uncle Owen, sit beside me,” Marcus requested, so Regina had to sit behind the driver before buckling Marcus in the car seat, thus forcing Jason to sit in the front. “You’re so bossy, you know that?” She said, while tickling his side. “I’m not bossy. Uncle Owen, help.” Marcus giggled as he reached out for Owen to save him.

Later that evening, after everyone had gone to bed, Regina snuck up to the rooftop garden ahead of Owen to explore. She was baffled as to why the place felt so familiar.During their initial visit to Paris, Owen showed her the rooftop garden to show off his idea of keeping the place free from noise despite being in the middle of the city.And as Regina wandered around, she could hear the cicadas singing to attract their mate.“Regina, are you here?” Owen asked aloud. The whole place felt magical, with the solar lights illuminating the paths and globe lighting scattered among the bushes, bright enough to light up some sections, but dim enough to set the mood and offer privacy.“I’m here,” she replied, pushing her body off the wall that gave her a view of France at night.Owen did not see her, as she was hidden by the shadows cast by some of the plants surrounding her.“I love how you decorated this place.” She said while walking toward Owen. “It feels very enchanting up here. Even thou

Regina listened to the sound of the shower in her bedroom as an indication that Owen was not in the living room. Now that she figured out they were lovers, and saw him naked every time she closed her eyes, there was no way she could face him. She just wanted to avoid uncomfortable interactions between them until she could school her thoughts and tone down the images popping into her head. “Breakfast?” Owen asked from the stove as she went straight for the coffeemaker, oblivious of the people around her, thinking it was just Raffy on the stove. “Ahh!” she squealed upon hearing his voice. “I thought you were in the shower. How are you here?” “Did you watch me while I took a bath?” “No, you perv. I heard the water running, so I assumed you were in there.” “Oh, so you’ve been avoiding me again?” “I kept the water running in the bathtub so you can have a soak later to relax your muscles if you wanted.” “Thanks…” Regina returned to the coffeemaker, planning her escape when she fel