Page 75 of Made For You
“Aurora, talk to me,” I pleaded.
She smiled, but her eyes didn’t crinkle in the corners the way I loved. “I’m fine, Talon.” She hitched onto her tiptoes andpressed a kiss to my lips, then slipped under my arm as she moved toward the front porch.
I followed her inside and wasn’t surprised to find Draco waiting for her on the counter, since it had become his routine whenever we returned from an errand.
“She’s having a rough day, buddy,” I said as I ran my hand down his back, curling my fingers around his tail.
Draco purred as if he understood. He walked in a circle around the countertop, flicking his tail in the air until he leapt to the floor. Looking at me over his shoulder, Draco practically beckoned me forward as he pranced toward the bathroom.
“You’re right, buddy. Thank you.”
Aurora’s bathroom was small, but I knew she loved taking baths to relax. While I heard her moving around the bedroom, I ran the hot water and tossed in a scoop of the bath salts she enjoyed. As the tub filled, I walked out to find Aurora sitting in the middle of our bed with her legs crossed, her hair draped around her like a veil. I walked over to the bed, leaned on the mattress next to her, then scooped her up into my arms. As I carried her, Draco followed us. He was probably just as concerned about his human as I was.
In the bathroom, I set Aurora on the counter and used my thumb and forefinger to tip her chin up so that she met my eyes.
“Tell me what’s on your mind. Is it about the wedding? If you don’t want to go, then we won’t go. I’m on your side on this one. It’s a slimy trick that man is pulling.”
“It’s stupid.”
“What’s stupid?”
“The reason I’m upset,” she admitted, her cheeks a little pink.
“That’s doubtful. You’ll feel better once you get it off your chest.”
“I’m just jealous, I guess.”
I was shocked at her confession. Jealousy was not one of the reasons I tossed around in my mind as the reason for her change in mood. Draco was weaving himself between my feet, so I lifted him and placed him on Aurora’s lap. The cat immediately nuzzled her hand, wanting to be petted.
Eyeing the water in the tub, I turned off the faucet, then leaned on the wall across from Aurora. “What are you jealous of?”
“The fact that Jeremy is getting my dream wedding. Autumn said he’s pretty much planned it with every idea I ever mentioned to him when we dated. But like… why does he get this perfect day? I’ve technically been married twice, and neither time had anything to show for it but a piece of paper. Even though ours is only contractual, I can’t stop thinking about how we’ll never get to have an actual wedding.”
The typical lung-crushing fear I had when thinking about marriage and wedding ceremonies didn’t come. Instead, I had a flash of Aurora walking down the aisle of a church toward me while wearing a long, white gown, and I suddenly felt that same longing she must be experiencing.
“Do you think you’ll want to get married again?” I asked her.
Chuckling, Aurora replied, “Third times the charm, right?”
My nails dug into my palms as I thought about her marrying someone else one day. It was bound to happen. Aurora was both beautiful and smart. And young. She was the perfect package.
“Am I being silly?”
“No, I don’t think so. You’re entitled to your feelings. And your ex is a complete douchebag. He doesn’t deserve any of the good things that seem to come his way.”
“I almost feel bad for his fiancée. Autumn said whenever Jeremy allows her to speak, she’s really nice.”
Now that she disclosed everything, Aurora’s face softened.
“Is that for me?” she asked, her eyes flicking over to the bath.
“It is.”
She hopped down from the counter and started lifting her shirt. I stepped backward toward the door.
“Don’t you want to join me?”
“Do I? Yes. Will I? No. This is for you. I want you to relax.”
