The sleek, matte black of Jayden's brand-new BMW, the latest model with its low profile and aggressive lines, purred smoothly as he pulled up to the arrivals terminal at JFK.
He cut the engine, the sudden silence amplifying the distant roar of jet engines and the chatter of travelers. He scanned the crowd, a familiar surge of affection mixed with amusement bubbling up as he spotted her.
Even behind oversized designer sunglasses, Lily managed to exude an air of self-importance that belied her fourteen years.
A vibrant assortment of suitcases, each a different pastel hue and bearing the logos of exclusive brands, were stacked beside her, a testament to her year abroad and her privileged life.
She stood with one hand perched dramatically on a hip, the picture of a worldly teenager trying to project an image of grown-up sophistication.
He knew, though, that beneath the carefully constructed facade was still his little sister, the mischievous kid who used to hide his favorite video games.
As Jayden stepped out of the BMW, a bright, unrestrained shriek pierced the air. Lily abandoned her cool demeanor in an instant, launching herself at him with surprising force. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, and she peppered his cheek with enthusiastic kisses.
"Jay! I missed you so, so much!" Her British accent, thicker than he remembered, filled his ears.
Jayden chuckled, ruffling her perfectly styled hair. "Look at you, squirt. All grown up." He stepped back, taking her in. "Wow, you actually do look different than all those choppy video calls."
Lily's smug expression returned in a flash. "Well, of course. I am practically a big girl now."
Just then, another car, a discreetly elegant black sedan that had been trailing Jayden since he left his Tribeca villa, pulled up a short distance away.
Two men in impeccably tailored black suits emerged and efficiently began loading Lily's colorful luggage into the trunk. They were unmistakably from the Walton estate.
"Alright, drama queen," Jayden said, a smile tugging at his lips. "C'mon, let's get out of this madhouse. Have you even eaten?"
Lily's face crumpled dramatically. "Starving! I survived on airplane food for eight hours. It was tragic."
As they both settled into the luxurious interior of the BMW, the supple leather seats enveloping them, the car smoothly pulled away from the terminal.
"So," Lily began, her curiosity already piqued, "tell me about Louisa."
Jayden, who hadn't seen Louisa since his return from Barcelona, their connection existing solely in late-night texts and brief calls, nodded slowly.
"She's… fine. I think. Haven't actually seen her since I got back. Why do you ask?"
Lily pulled her most endearing, babyish face, the one he could never resist.
"Let's go see her, Jay! Right now! I want to meet her. Then we can all go and have a proper lunch, somewhere super fancy. My treat," she added with a wink that hinted at her grandmother's generous allowance.
Jayden smiled. He knew Louisa would likely be at the diner, probably in the middle of her lunch shift. A surprise visit… he couldn't deny Lily anything when she looked at him like that.
"Alright, you little menace," he conceded, a plan forming in his mind. "Let's go surprise my girl."
The sleek BMW navigated the bustling New York City streets, Lily chattering excitedly about her year in Scotland – boarding school dramas, weekend trips to Edinburgh, and the surprisingly strict rules imposed by their paternal grandmother.
Jayden listened with half an ear, his thoughts already turning to Louisa. He imagined her now, likely wiping down tables or taking orders, her usual quiet diligence on full display.
A pang of longing, sharper than he expected, hit him. It had been too long.
As they approached the familiar neighborhood of the diner, Lily's enthusiasm grew. "Is it a super fancy place? Does she wear a tiara?"
Jayden chuckled. "Not exactly, squirt. It's a diner. A normal, everyday diner." He glanced at her, a hint of challenge in his eyes. "Think you can handle that?"
Lily scoffed. "Please. I've slummed it in hostels in the Highlands. A diner will be a walk in the park."
He pulled the BMW to a smooth stop a block away from The Gilded Spoon. "Alright, agent Lily," he said, cutting the engine. "Operation: Surprise Louisa is a go. Try not to scare her."
They walked the short distance, the aroma of frying food and strong coffee wafting out as they approached the diner.
Jayden paused outside, taking a deep breath. He hadn't realized how much he had missed this.
He pushed open the door, the familiar bell above jingling cheerfully. The lunchtime rush was in full swing.
Louisa, her dark hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, was expertly balancing a tray laden with plates, her focus entirely on her task.
Lily gasped softly beside him, her eyes wide as she took in the bustling scene. Jayden watched Louisa, a wave of affection washing over him.
He was about to call out her name when Lily, ever the impulsive one, beat him to it.
"Jay! Is that her? The one with the amazing hair?" Lily's voice, still carrying a hint of her British accent, was just loud enough to cut through the diner's chatter.
Louisa froze mid-step, her head snapping up, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Jayden standing by the entrance.
And beside him, a vibrant, smiling girl she had never seen before. The tray in her hands wobbled slightly, a coffee cup rattling precariously.
The surprise on her face was quickly replaced by a hesitant smile as her eyes met Jayden's, a silent question passing between them.
"Jayden," she said, her voice a little breathless, setting the tray down carefully on a nearby empty table. She started to move towards him, a natural pull drawing her closer.
Lily, however, wasn't one to be a silent observer. She stepped forward, her hand outstretched, a bright, infectious smile directed at Louisa.
"You must be Louisa! Jay has told me so much about you! I'm Lily, his amazing little sister!"
Her British accent was even more pronounced up close, adding a touch of unexpected charm to her enthusiastic greeting.
Louisa, caught off guard by Lily's directness, blinked for a moment before a warm smile spread across her own face. She took Lily's hand, her grip firm.
"It's so nice to finally meet you, Lily. Jayden hasn't stopped talking about his 'amazing little sister' either." She glanced at Jayden, a playful glint in her eyes.
Jayden chuckled, stepping closer to Louisa and gently placing a hand on the small of her back. The casual touch sent a familiar shiver of warmth through her.
"See, squirt? I told you she was great." He looked at Louisa, his eyes conveying a silent apology for the unexpected interruption and a clear happiness at seeing her. "Wren, this whirlwind of energy is my sister, Lily. Wren, this is the incredible Louisa."
The diner, which had momentarily stilled at Lily's initial exclamation, had resumed its usual lunchtime buzz.
Ellie, who had been refilling coffee cups nearby, caught sight of Jayden and the unfamiliar girl.
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, and she exchanged a curious glance with Scarlett, who was wiping down the counter.
Lily, oblivious to the subtle dynamics of the diner, was already launching into a rapid-fire series of questions for Louisa.
"So, Jay says you work here? This is so cool! Do you get free food? What's the best thing on the menu? Jay is being super boring about where we should have lunch, but I am absolutely starving!"
Louisa laughed, the sound light and genuine. The initial surprise of Jayden's arrival, coupled with Lily's immediate and enthusiastic welcome, had created a surprisingly comfortable atmosphere.
"It's great to finally put a face to the name, Lily. And yes, I do get free food. You absolutely have to try the blueberry pancakes. They're legendary."
She glanced at Jayden, a silent invitation in her eyes. "Speaking of lunch… you two just got here. Are you hungry?"
Jayden's gaze softened as he looked at Louisa, a genuine warmth spreading through his eyes.
"Actually, Lily here is the one with the rumbling stomach. I was thinking we could grab something… wherever Madam Demands," he said, with a playful bow towards his sister.
Lily clapped her hands together, her earlier jet lag seemingly forgotten. "Ooh, yes! Somewhere fabulous! With proper tablecloths and everything!"
She turned to Louisa, her enthusiasm undimmed. "You have to come with us, Louisa! It'll be so much more fun!"
Louisa hesitated for a fraction of a second. Her shift wasn't quite over, and the idea of suddenly abandoning her responsibilities felt a little strange.
But the genuine excitement radiating from Lily, coupled with the hopeful look in Jayden's eyes, was hard to resist.
"Well," she began, glancing towards Ellie, who was now openly staring with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "I still have a bit of my shift left…"
Before she could finish, Lily grabbed her hand again, her grip surprisingly strong. "Nonsense! Jay can explain to your boss! It's a family emergency! We're famished!" She started to tug Louisa gently towards the entrance.
Jayden chuckled, shaking his head at his sister's whirlwind energy. He caught Ellie's eye and mouthed, "I'll explain," along with a sheepish grin.
He then turned back to Louisa, his expression softening. "Come on, Wren. Lily's right. Let's have lunch. My treat, of course."
The pull of spending time with Jayden, and the unexpected charm of his enthusiastic sister, won over Louisa's sense of duty.
"Okay," she relented, a smile spreading across her face. "Just let me tell Ellie I'm stepping out for a bit."
As Louisa quickly explained the impromptu lunch plans to a still-bemused Ellie, Lily was already chattering away to Jayden about potential restaurants, her British accent weaving through the diner's lunchtime hum.
Jayden watched Louisa, a sense of warmth and contentment settling over him. Bringing Lily here, surprising Louisa – it felt right. A small, unexpected step towards merging his two worlds.
As they walked towards the sleek, imposing BMW X7, Louisa's steps faltered, her eyes widening in surprise. She had subconsciously expected Jayden to arrive in his usual opulent Maybach or the elegant Bentley Flying Spur. This powerful SUV was… different.
Jayden, noticing her sudden stillness, leaned close and whispered in her ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down her spine, "What's wrong, Wren?" snapping her back to reality.
"Is this your new ride?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Jayden rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he opened the passenger door for her. "It was a New Year's present. Get in, Wren."
Lily bounced into the back seat, immediately launching into playful jabs at her brother.
"Don't let him fool you, Louisa. He acts all tough, but he's a total softie. And just so you know, I'm on your side, always, in case he screws up."
As Jayden smoothly navigated the city traffic, Lily's non-stop chatter filled the car.
Louisa found herself smiling and easily drawn into Lily's infectious energy. She was already charmed by this whirlwind of a younger sister.
Jayden, in the rearview mirror, stole frequent glances at Louisa, a soft smile playing on his lips as he watched her interact with Lily.
The BMW glided to a stop in front of a luxurious Spanish restaurant, the kind with crisp white tablecloths and hushed, elegant ambiance.
Louisa self-consciously murmured, feeling out of place in her simple diner apron amidst the sophisticated clientele.
Without a word, Jayden reached behind her and untied the apron. He then shrugged off his expensive designer jacket, a dark, tailored piece, and gently placed it around her shoulders.
He was left in a designer t-shirt and jeans, looking effortlessly cool.
As he settled the jacket around her, his lips brushed against her ear. "You look stunning in whatever you wear, Wren," he whispered, his voice a low rumble.
From the back seat, Lily chirped, "Ooh! Shopping next! Please, please, please! I am dying to hit the stores!" She squealed with excitement.
After a delicious lunch, they drove to the upscale shopping district and entered the hallowed doors of Dior.
Jayden settled onto a plush velvet couch, looking perfectly at ease amidst the high fashion, while Lily and Louisa disappeared into a whirlwind of trying on clothes.
Lily was in her element, twirling in front of mirrors and exclaiming over every new outfit.
Louisa, surprisingly, found a sense of peaceful escape in the luxurious fabrics and the break from the relentless pace of the diner.
Jayden paid for the armfuls of designer clothes they accumulated, and they emerged from the store laden with elegant white bags bearing the iconic 'Dior' lo
"Quick stop first," Jayden announced as they got back into the car. "You two wait here." He didn't elaborate, leaving Lily and Louisa whispering and giggling in the back seat.
He pulled up outside an Apple store, keeping the engine running. With a swift motion, he grabbed his phone and a sleek black card and disappeared inside.
Back in the car, Lily, ever the curious one, asked Louisa if she could call her "big sis." Louisa smiled warmly and readily agreed. As Lily chatted away in her rapid-fire British English, Louisa confided in her, "He's so different out here, isn't he? Not all brooding and King-like."
Lily giggled. "Oh, he's a total baby underneath all that 'King' act. Trust me."
Their laughter filled the car.
He returned a few minutes later, a small, rectangular box tucked discreetly into one of Louisa's shopping bags, a quick maneuver that neither of the girls noticed.
He had finally gotten her the new iPhone, the latest model, a silent apology for her water-damaged phone.
As the BMW X7 glided to a stop in front of The Gilded Spoon, Louisa sighed, a bittersweet feeling washing over her. Reality was calling.
Lily leaned forward from the back seat, giving Louisa a tight hug from behind. "I'll miss you, Lou! We have to do this again soon!"
Louisa smiled, patting Lily's hand. "I'm not going anywhere."
She turned to Jayden, a genuine warmth in her eyes. "Thank you for today, Jayden. I really had fun."
Jayden was gathering her shopping bags. "You're not welcome, Wren. You should be thanking me properly." He winked.
Lily made a gagging noise from the back, "Eew!" making Louisa laugh.
Jayden told Lily to wait in the car. "I need to have a quick word with Louisa's boss." Lily readily agreed.
As they walked towards the diner doors, Jayden handed her the heavy Dior bags.
Louisa didn't hear the specifics of his conversation with Mrs. Albright, her manager, but whatever Jayden said, it seemed to work.
Leaving the bags in the care of a surprised but amused Ellie, Louisa walked Jayden back to his car.
"I would have kissed you, but…" Louisa began, a playful smile on her lips, when Jayden closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a hungry, passionate kiss.
"I missed you," he whispered, his breath warm against her mouth after the lingering kiss. He looked at her slightly swollen lips, then back into her eyes. "God, I missed you, Wren."
As Jayden drove off, Lily leaned out the window, waving enthusiastically and shouting her final goodbyes to Louisa.
Louisa simply raised a hand in return, still slightly stunned by the unexpected kiss. Her face was flushed, and her breath came in shaky gasps.
It had been too long. Far too long since their lips had met with such fervent longing.