Page 86 of Scandalous

“Yeah, but I was hoping I could show you around the city.” I frown.

“Maybe next time,” she says, placing her hand on my leg. “You know I have school. I’m going to be missing a few days as is.”

“Very true.” I sigh, weaving in and out of traffic. “Did you sleep much on the plane?”

“I did. I knew I wouldn’t have much time for jet lag.”

I look over and see Aurora looking out the window with rosy cheeks.

She’s so fucking beautiful when she blushes.

“That’s true,” I tease, looking back at the road. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming until you were on your way?”

“I wanted it to be a surprise.” Her hand flexes on my leg. “It was actually all thanks to Ezra. When he mentioned on our call that it was Drake’s birthday, I knew I had to get here. He extended my ticket so I could leave early.”

I shake my head. That sneaky bastard. “I’m surprised he didn’t come to pick you up himself.”

“We talked about it actually, but he decided it was best for you to get me, that way you wouldn’t hog me the rest of the weekend.” She looks over and winks at me.

I gasp in fake outrage. “I would never.”

“Oh, please.” She giggles.

I love making her laugh. The sound is music to my ears.

I clear my throat. “So what did you and Ezra plan?”

“Well, you already picked me up,” she teases.

“I did.”

“By the time we get back to your place, he should have Santi and Drake out of the house. He was going to have party supplies delivered and food ordered in. So we need to get the house decorated.”

“Ezra ordered decorations?” I ask in disbelief.

“He sent me about a million links to different things before we settled on anything. It was torture, but it will be worth it for Drake.”

I watch her smile softly out of the corner of my eye. Well, what do you know, Ezra’s putting in the work.

“You know, Drake doesn’t like celebrating his birthday,” I tell her cautiously.

“I know. Ezra mentioned it and Drake did too, when I talked to him earlier today. I don’t want to push any buttons, but it’s his birthday. It’s a special day. I want to celebrate it with him.”

I look over and shoot her a smile. “I’m sure he will tell you why. This will be different. He’s going to love it because you did this for him.”

“I hope so. When we get there, we will have to set up and I want to make a birthday cake.”

I hum, “I love cake. I could go for a good lemon one about now.”

“Maybe for your birthday, which I have no idea when it is, but when I talked to Drake earlier, he told me he wanted a chocolate cake.”

“November twenty-first.” Pulling into the driveway, I put the car in park and shut it off. “Wait, he knows you’re here?”

“No.” Aurora shakes her head. “I called him because I wanted to tell him happy birthday and gauge his mood today. I asked him what his ideal birthday would be and he mentioned chocolate cake.”

“What else did he tell you?”

Aurora shifts awkwardly in her seat. “He said to have a good dinner with all of us and then sneak away, just him and I.”

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