Freedom, Flowers, Books, and the Moon

Chapter 6

Aurie sat on the island, legs dangling, watching the three men cook. Well, Cielo and King cooked, and Beau pulled out the things they needed. The country man stepped back and stood beside the girl for a minute.

"I take it you don't cook much?" She turned and looked at Beau.

"I know how to, but they're just so bossy when it comes to the kitchen that I couldn't handle it anymore."

Aurie giggled at his statement, and Cielo turned around with an exaggerated look of disbelief on his face, bringing his hand wielding a wooden spoon to his chest.

"How dare you, Stormie, I thought we were friends."

"I can't believe you brought that up already," Beau groaned as he closed his eyes.

"Stormie?" Aurie looked at Beau for answers.

"Ciel, seriously?" Beau was beginning to turn a bright red, clearly embarrassed.

"Why did he call you Stormie?" Aurie asked again.

"It's what my niece calls me,"

"Aww, that's adorable!"

"It is when she does it, not when the Italian idiot does,"

"Italian idiot?" Cielo turned back around, glaring at Beau playfully.

"De Luca, if you let Beau be the reason that sauce burns," King vowed.

Cielo turned around quickly and began stirring again as Aurie dissolved into giggles.

"Are they always like this?" Aurie asked no one in particular.

King answered without turning around, "A bunch of idiots? Yes."

"Is he always this grumpy?" Cielo began talking again, "Yes."

King didn't bother giving an actual answer; he just muttered, "Children," under his breath.

"You are slightly grumpy," Aurie pointed out, and King turned around to look at her. "But it is kinda endearing."

King smirked at her before turning back around.

"Don't tell him that," Cielo groaned. "He's already conceded as is."

King glared at the Italian and moved to hit him over the head before seeing Aurelia out of the corner of his eye watching them. He dropped his arm and went back to the food in front of him. Aurie smiled at the two men slowly letting their guards down in front of her; she felt as though they had been closed off to begin with. She felt herself becoming more comfortable with the men as they became more comfortable with her.

"Beau, can you get out some plates?" King asked.

The man in question slid off the island and opened the cabinet above the sink. As he reached for the stack, a long ringtone sounded.

"Crap, that's Gabby; I have to get this," Beau said as he strided down the hallway with his phone in hand.

Aurie watched his figure recede down the hall before turning and jumping off the island herself. She looked up at where the plates resided; they were far out of her reach, but she was determined to help. Aurie climbed onto the counter and stood.

"What are you doing?" King hissed, and the girl turned to see him staring at her.

"I'm getting the plates," she said sheepishly.

"Bambola, get down. You're going to hurt yourself."

"No, I'm not. I'm being helpful." She grabbed the plates they needed.