"Why the fuck are you smiling like that?"

Aurora's head snapped up at the sound of the brusque voice, her eyes narrowing on that of Evan's. He tried to peek at her phone but she quickly hid it away from his view, tucking it into the front of her overly large large. It was a pink fluffy material that she was regretting wearing since it was almost sixty degrees out here, even with the air conditioning she could still feel sweat rolling down her back.


"Your lover boy, huh?" Evan perused, grinning mischievously.

She scoffed and rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore him and facing forward. Her aunt stepped out of the dressing room then, clad in what looked like a black bottega that she was sure just came out this season,

Aunt Christy twirled left and right, the light material flowing with the motion, "What do you think? Fabulous, isn't it?"


The clerk that had followed her in nodded enthusiastically, "You look wonderful, ma'am!" she clapped, "It's almost like the dress was made for you."

While that wasn't a lie, it was also an exaggeration. Anyone would look good in a bottega gown, Aurora knew that well enough. However, she stood with a wide grin on her face, putting on a look of complete wonder,


"Aunty!" She cooed, making the older woman blush with pride, "You look amazing! Now I see why your husband was in a haste to wed you " She added in a wink at the end of the statement and Aunt Christy barked out a short laugh.

It was true though, the couple had only met three months back and he couldn't wait to put a ring on her finger only last month and now the wedding was days away. She wondered if it was really love at first sight or something else.

"Oh, don't flatter me, Rory," She winced at the childhood nickname, "You've always had a charming mouth just like Miriam when she was younger."

If there was anything Aurora hated in her life, it was being compared to her mother especially when someone pointed their similarities. She abhorred it.

Evan must have noticed the distaste in her features because he snickered softly, directing her attention to his face. She glared at him and he smirked in return,

"Were you able to pick out your own clothes?" Her aunt queried and she nodded, pointing to the rows of bags lined up at the foot of the couch she was previously sitting on.

"Good, good." Aunt Christy muttered, checking the diamond-encrusted watch on her wrist, "We have to head to Clarke's for the cake testing. She has some samples she would like us to try and-"

Aurora acted fast, placing a hand on her aunt's elbow and crumpling her face into a sad frown, "I'm sorry but I can't accompany you for the cake testing."

Her aunt's brows furrowed together, "Why is that? We agreed on this yesterday."

She nodded solemnly, forcing her lips to tremble, "I have to practice, you know I skipped my training just so I could attend your wedding and the board was only able to let me come on the condition that I train while I'm here."

"Oh!"

Aurora nodded again and her aunt sighed, patting the back of her palm, "I suppose there's nothing to be done. You go off and practice, I'll just call-"

"Evan can go with you!" She cut in excitedly, causing the boy in question to cough out the champagne he was sipping, "He has a wonderful taste bud and he's good company too."

Their heads reared in his direction, he looked like a deer caught in headlights. His eyes were wide open, jaw hanging slack and the glass flute in his hold was suspended in the air,

"See!" She added in with a mocking grin, "He can barely hold his excitement,"

Aunty Christy chuckled causing him to cough awkwardly, wiping his jaw and sitting upright,

"Aurora, what on earth are you-"

She turned to face her aunt, smiling at the dark-haired woman, "I'll leave you two to it."

Aunt Christy nodded and she took that opportunity to grab her bags, asking one of the clerks to help her with the rest. She ignored Evan's hissing and hollering, instead hurrying towards the exit.

Once outside, she hailed for a cab and placed her bags inside, thanking the girl that had helped her twitch the remaining ones before sliding into the backseat and shutting the door.

"Where to?" The young driver asked chirpily, a dashing smile on his lips.

She couldn't resist smiling back, "Silverstone hotel, please."

He nodded and the car sputtered to life, as they drove out of the curb, Aurora retrieved her phone from her front pocket and tapped on the screen.

It came to life and she quickly swiped, unlocking it and tapping on the message icon. Another smile rose on her mouth, this one dazed than the faux ones she had been giving earlier.

He had messaged her, earlier this afternoon and she couldn't stop grinning at the text. It wasn't anything serious or scandalous and yet, it brought a strange flurry to her stomach.

R; You busy?

That was all it said but she knew what it meant, he was asking to see her. He wanted to see her and after their rendezvous last night, she wanted to see him too.

Or maybe, it was more than that.

She shook that thought as quickly as it came. There was nothing to it, Ryan was just a casual fling, someone to make her forget the shitty world she existed in. That was all he was, all their relationship was.

So, she sucked in a sharp breath and typed back a quick response.

A; Dancing. The hotel music room.

A small exhale escaped her lips as she stared at the text, a few moments later, a floating bubble appeared indicating that he was typing.

His response came and her heart seized in her throat, the phone almost slipped from her fingers when the driver took a sharp turn,

"I'm sorry," He apologized loudly but she blocked him off, returning her gaze to the device,

R; Kk, will be there in thirty.

A spark of excitement ignited in her chest and she bit down on her bottom lip to prevent another smile from crawling up her lips. She had approximately twenty-five minutes to prepare and she had to make it look like she was practicing hard.

Maybe he would give her a reward for her hardwork.

The simple thought of that sent tingles down her spine and she clenched her thighs together. The driver stopped suddenly and turned to look at her over his shoulder,

"We've arrived, miss."

She nodded, swallowing down the thrill rising in her stomach and stretched her card forward.