𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲, 𝐥𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧

𝐬𝐢𝐱: 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧

"Are you sure you don't want to do anything for your birthday?"

Aurora was in the kitchen with her aunt, cooking dinner. Tomorrow was Carla Roberts' thirty-sixth birthday, and Aurora was trying to figure out what she wanted to do to celebrate. To her surprise, Carla didn't want to do anything. This was odd to Aurora because her aunt usually wanted to at least go out for dinner. But this year, Carla just wanted to stay home.

"This year just feels different, Aurora," Carla said.

Aurora walked over to the sink to drain the pot of spaghetti. "Do you at least want to go out to dinner?" she asked. Carla's expression remained somber. Something was wrong.

"What's wrong, Carla?" Aurora asked, setting the pot down.

"I'm just not feeling my birthday this year. I don't know," Carla sighed.

Aurora studied her aunt. There was something more, something Carla wasn't telling her. But Carla never kept secrets from Aurora, so it couldn't be that. Maybe Carla just wasn't feeling her birthday this year. Everyone has at least one birthday they're not excited about.

"Okay," Aurora sighed. "I'll grab the marinara." She turned off the stove and watched as her aunt opened the jar of marinara.

"Isn't there anything you want to do?" she asked again, causing Carla to look at her, annoyed. Aurora decided to drop the subject after seeing that look.

Carla saw her niece's expression change and sighed, her own expression softening. She didn't mean to act annoyed. She knew Aurora loved her and just wanted her to have a good birthday. She walked over to Aurora and placed her hands on her shoulders.

"I'll tell you what. If I change my mind by tomorrow, you can surprise me. But if I still want to stay in, let me stay in, okay?" Carla suggested.

Aurora nodded. "Okay," she said.

The two shared a hug, but Aurora couldn't shake the feeling that Carla was keeping something from her. As they pulled away, Carla smiled and grabbed two bowls from the cabinet.

"Alright, let's finish up dinner. I'm starving."

__

"And then she said she didn't want to do anything!" Aurora exclaimed, pacing back and forth in the studio. "She's hiding something, and I know it."

It was early the next morning, and Aurora had gone to Kelsey's to vent to her and the guys.

"Did you ask her?" Luke asked.

"She'd just deny it. But why is she even hiding something from me in the first place? We tell each other everything," Aurora replied.

"Maybe you're just overthinking," Alex suggested.

Aurora shook her head. "No, I know when something's off."

"So she's not doing anything for her birthday today?" Kelsey asked.

Aurora stopped pacing and faced her friends, her hands on her hips. "I don't know. She hasn't told me what she wants to do."

"What does she normally do on her birthdays?" Reggie asked. "We usually go to this club on Sunset," Aurora replied.

"Club Nova," Alex said, causing everyone's eyes to widen. "Yeah...how'd you know?" Aurora asked.

Alex shrugged. "That club is known for Carla Roberts partying there when she was younger."

"Your obsession with Aurora's aunt is insane," Kelsey remarked.

"She's an icon," Alex replied.

"I've got it!" Luke suddenly stood up.