Kade
“What do you think, Kade?” Amelia’s tiny voice brought me back to reality.
I watched her hands carefully caressing the puffball of a bouquet of dandelions in a flower vase. The smile on her face won’t stop spreading as she glared at the dandelions like they were her babies.
I swallowed before clearing the lump stuck in my throat, “The sight grabs attention and they are beautiful” I said, watching the dandelion as they held me spellbound.
“They are beautiful, just like you, Amelia,” My hand reached her face, tucking the stray hair that dangled on her face to have an unobstructed view of it, “Very beautiful,”
A smile played on my face as the afternoon sun shone brightly on Amelia’s face, causing a beautiful glow. The gentle breeze tousled her hair in different directions, leaving it in a mess. A beautiful mess.
The smile on my face faded as it appeared when the realization hit me.
My little sister was growing up. She was growing so fucking fast that I wondered if she had been switched. Very soon, she would clock eighteen, have her first shift and meet her mate.
Mate.
The thought made me cringe. I would see to it that she got mated to a responsible man, not a jackass that will treat her like shit, else, he would have me to contend with.
I shrugged, not letting my feelings get to me. Instead of wallowing in the thought of her finding her mate, I allowed myself to enjoy her presence before she clocks eighteen as time flies rapidly these days.
I gasped when a pair of her hands slapped mine away from her face, “Stop it, silly. I was asking about your opinion if the dandelions are too much or if we need some more,” Her cheeks flushed in the shades of a tomato, “Not if they are beautiful because I know they are and I also know that I am very beautiful,”
I rolled my eyes releasing a scoff from my lips, “Don’t let that get into your head, Amy,”
“Whatever,” She blushed, pouting her lips, “So…” Her voice trailed off and her eyes watched mine, demanding an answer.
“What?” I asked, getting confused as her eyes wouldn’t leave mine.
“I asked a question before. Should I add more dandelions to this bouquet or take some away from it?”
“Oh,” I mentally scolded myself for being carried away, “I think… the bouquet needs more dandelions. It looks scanty,” I said, my eyes scrutinizing the bouquet of dandelions.
“Oh, bravo,” She clapped, giving me a tight hug, “You know I felt the same, but I wasn’t sure,”
“Now you are,” I chipped in.
“That is why I love you,” Her grip on me tightened, “You are the best big brother ever!” She screamed, filling my face with light kisses.
“Alright, let’s go get more dandelions,” She announced, pulling me to the direction where the dandelions grew.
“You are so obsessed with this thing lately,”
“They are worth being obsessed about. I could watch them all day,” Her dreamy eyes met the dandelions once more and a smile grew on her face.
“What are you planning to do with them?” I asked with my hands pointing to the bouquet.
“I will arrange them properly and keep them in the snail shell flower vase that is hanging on the wall of my room,”
“Ok,”
Silence ensued as we made our way closer to the path where the dandelions grew.
“Why are you blushing? What is making you blush?” I asked, noticing her stained cheeks.
“Oh,” She jumped in shock, “It was uhm… the flowers, the dandelions,” She stammered, hoping her explanation was enough to convince me.
The way she played with her hair. The look in her eyes. I know that look.
“The dandelions,” I repeated, “It is not the dandelions. What are you not telling me?” I halted, turning to her and throwing her a questionable look, “Do I look like a fool to you?”
“Fine,” She groaned in frustration, “It’s Kingsley. I think he likes me,” Her teeth bit her lower lip nervously, “And I like him too,” Her eyes met mine, but she looked away in embarrassment.
Wow! Some stupid boy was making my sister blush.
“That bastard!” I gritted my teeth, breathless in anger, “He doesn’t like you. He just wants to have a fling with you,”
“No. I can see it in his eyes. The way they soften when he looks at me,” She protested, hurt flashing in her eyes.
“Then I will need to pluck out the bastard’s eyes,” I spat. Anger spread like a virus inside of me.
Hurt flashed in her eyes for some seconds, “Why are you so mean? He hasn’t done anything wrong,” She folded her arms, her eyes moist in tears.
“He is no good. You can’t get attached to someone like that. He is a womanizer, a drunkard, a liar, a cheat, a chain smoker and many more if you let me go on. He is all shades of irresponsible,” I hissed, anger replacing my excitement.
“But…”
“Quiet!” I hushed her, giving her a stern look, “Do not mention that good-for-nothing son of a bitch’s name anywhere close to me. Ever,” I spat, emphasizing the ever, “You shouldn’t be caught dead with someone like that, he isn’t even your mate. The only person you are allowed to love is your mate. Do you understand?”
Her head moved, nodding slightly. Hurt still lingered in her eyes.
A pang of guilt pricked me for yelling at her, but I knew it was for her own good.
“What the hell do you know about feelings anyway?” I threw her a look, “You are fucking young to have feelings,”
“I know,” She muttered, almost choking on her tears.
My eyes softened at the sight.
Even in tears, she looked beautiful.
“Come here,” I pulled her close, unable to bear her tears and throwing my large arms around her, “I am sorry for yelling at you. You know I want the best for you. Only the best,”
Her head moved slightly and her hands made their way to her face, wiping the tears that stained her cheeks.
“Now, let’s go grab some dandelions,” I said, cheering her up to lighten the mood.
Silence filled the air as we were busy plucking dandelions like our lives depended on it. My back ached from bending to pick them and toss them in the flower vase.
A pair of hands tapped me, making me halt. Standing before me was Amelia stretching out a dandelion to me, urging me to take it.
Her hand held them with so much care as she held the fragile dandelion.
Amelia. So fragile like a dandelion.
“Why?” My brows creased in confusion and my eyes flickered from the flower in her hand to her face.
“Make a wish,” She blurted out, making me gasp in shock.
“A wish? Why?”
“You spoke about me finding my mate and you are mateless at twenty. You definitely need lots of dandelions,” A light chuckle rolled from her lips.
Mate.
Did I even need a mate?