His Shortcake

Chapter 54

Dustyn Franco

I feel restless. I can hear my heartbeat as the clock ticks loudly. I couldn't stop myself from standing up and pacing the room. I try to wipe the sweat on my palms on my pants without thinking.

"What the hell." Her loud voice startled me, followed by a slap on my arm. I looked up to see Aurora furiously looking at me, her bright pink hair braided up into an elegant looking bun. She seemed taller than she usually is, given that she's wearing high heels. "You look like you're about to throw up."

I would have rolled my eyes if I could, but the nervousness I am feeling trumps any other thoughts in my head. "What are you doing here?" I asked as I took a seat at the nearest chair.

"You look worst than the bride." She remarked and tossed me a small box. "Mara told me to give you this."

I took the box and opened it. There was no note inside, just a pair of cufflinks of my initials in silver. It looks amazing. Neat and plain but it said a lot more than a note could ever have. I smiled to myself, knowing that Mara is probably doing better than I am. To think that she's the girl in this relationship is somehow embarrassing.

"Seriously though. Where are your stupid friends to keep you calm when you need them most?" She said, looking at the empty room.

"The fun has arrived," Eros announced as he entered the room with a bottle of wine in one hand. Behind him is Alec who looked far more bored than he is. Together with them is Apollo who looked lost as he followed around the two adults. "Oh. It's Al's girl."

Aurora's face became visibly red at Eros' words. But she doesn't seem delighted at all. "Oh here comes the devils."

Apollo perked up from his phone at the word devil and looked at Aurora like she said something completely unbelievable. "Why am I included?"

Aurora smiled at Apollo. "Not you, of course. You're, after all, Mara's friend."

Apollo sighed in relief and nodded his head before putting his attention back on his phone.

"I'm her friend too," Eros said as he finished pouring the drinks. He started handing them out, giving the last glass to Aurora who refused it.

"I'm her brother."

Aurora shrugged before heading for the door. "Don't forget to wear her gift. That's what she wanted me to tell you."

"Thanks, Rory!" I shout after her but she has already closed the door. I looked at Alec who is still looking at the door. "Someone needs to grow some balls," I said in a sing-song voice as I took the cufflinks and started replacing my current ones with them.

"Shut up, you fool," Alec said angrily as he chucks a pillow my way. "I'm fine."

"No, he's not," Apollo said, without looking up from his phone. "He's been whining about Aurora since last night."

I laughed as I watch Alec's face turned red at Apollo's words. He may be younger than us, but he is Artemis' twin with that sharp tongue of his.

"She went out with someone just a week ago. She seemed happy when she got back." Eros said, shrugging his shoulder as if he was just casually telling a story about his cousin's date. In reality, Eros has been rooting for Alec ever since they got close.

"Shut your mouth," Alec said angrily as his hands balled into fists. His efforts are going nowhere with Aurora. She seemed to have put a wall that even the good old Alec cannot climb or break. Aurora has completely distanced herself away from him.

"What? I'm just telling a story. Something to make conversation of." He said as he smiled innocently at Alec.

"He's being a pain in the ass," Apollo muttered.