8. Aurora #2
Not in the mood for any arguments tonight, I choose the high ground. “You look great, Ever,” I smile tightly, reaching up to straighten his crooked bowtie, and for just a second we are lost in this moment, in one another, but then a second later, it’s gone.
Everest steps away from me sharply, as if snapping himself out of the moment, before clearing his throat roughly. “Roger’s outside, let’s go,” he demands, turning his back on me and storming out of the door.
I sigh with no choice but to follow him, and he’s right, Roger is waiting, but my surprise comes when we both get in the car and find Griffin and Harden already there too.
They both smile in Everest’s direction, but their eyes widen in surprise when I climb in after him, snapping back to look at their leader in confusion.
Everest doesn’t say anything, just grunts toward the champagne bottle already half-empty in Griffin’s hand.
“My parents are coming tonight,” Griff explains, taking another sip before offering it to Ever, who snatches it from his hand and downs three huge mouthfuls.
“Nice dress sweetheart,” Griffin adds, leaning forward as he turns his attention to me, and any other time I would probably preen under his gaze, but as he grabs the bottle back from Ever, his bruised hand flexes in the light.
“Nice knuckle decorations, dick,” I clap back, and his smirk turns into a frown as he falls back into his seat, and when I flick my eyes across to Harden, he quickly shoves his hands into his pockets.
Of course they were all involved.
I huff a laugh and lean forward, snatching the bottle from Griffin and downing the rest of the champagne, tuning all of them out for the rest of the drive.
Archer and Daemon’s engagement party is taking place in one of Daemon’s favorite galleries in the city, and I’m in awe when we arrive and are shown inside.
The whole place is already beautiful, but my mom has had it transformed with lights, candles, and artful shots of my brother and his new fiancé everywhere, and it looks insane.
There are staff circling relentlessly with trays of drinks and canapés, and the guests of honor are sitting at the head of a long table that’s been placed down one side of the gallery, surrounded by all their old teammates.
I spy Alexander Reign with Aubree by his side, Nova Darkmore with his girlfriend, Madeline Peters.
Her brother, Josh Peters, with his wife, Hallie, and Jake Harper and his new wife, Evie.
It’s been a couple of months since they were all last together, and I can tell they are all happy to see one another.
Except maybe Josh and Nova, I don’t think he will ever quite get over his teammate locking it down with his sister.
Heading straight in their direction, I abandon the guys in favor of Archer and his friends, grabbing myself a drink on the way.
Archer lights up as soon as he sees me, pushing out of his chair and embracing me in a hug. “There’s my little RoRo,” he gleams, pulling back and ruffling my hair, and I can tell he is already drunk.
“Don’t start that shit, Arch,” I complain, and he smiles wickedly.
“Why not, it’s my special night,” he replies, holding his arms out wide to gesture to all the people who are here to celebrate him.
“I’m pretty sure it’s Daemon’s special night for putting up with all your bullshit,” I toss back, stepping forward to greet the man in question, and a smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth.
“Someone has to, right?” Daemon replies, clinking his glass against mine, as he stands to pull me in for a hug, which I accept with a surprised smile. My brother-in law-to-be hates to be touched, but there are very few exceptions, including my brother, and me now I guess.
“Looking good, RoRo,” Alexander cuts in, holding his glass in the air toward me, and I roll my eyes, knowing he’s only smug about the fact he technically bought this dress.
“Piss off, you wanker,” I toss back, and Aubree giggles at his side, as she cuts in, “Ignore him, Aurora, you look gorgeous as always,” she praises, and I try my best not to fidget as everyone agrees.
Archer gives me his chair so he can move around and mingle, so I stay and drink and chat with his friends for a while, laughing at all their tales from college.
We drink, we eat, and spend a couple of hours enjoying all the party has to offer.
Then Daemon nudges me, silently gesturing towards the gallery behind us, and I nod with a smile, grabbing another drink and moving to go and check out the art with him.
We survey the art mostly in silence, only offering the odd comment or shared thought here and there, and it’s the most fun I’ve had in months.
“This place is beautiful, I can see why you love it so much,” I sigh, after we’ve rounded the whole place and stop to grab another drink. “How did Arch even book this place? Or was it my mom?” I ask, catching Everest’s eye from across the room, before he snaps it away instantly.
“Worse,” Daemon replies, nodding toward my brother’s chaotic, British best friend.
I follow his stare to Alexander and shake my head with a laugh. “Of course he did,” I mutter, knowing there isn’t anything that man can’t do, or buy.
My stare then flicks to where Everest is, trying to grab Griffin to make him sit down, but the latter pushes him off and storms to grab another drink, as Harden silently watches them both.
“Everest still ignoring you?” Daemon questions, following my stare, and I snap my head toward him.
“What, no, he’s not ignoring me,” I quickly lie, but Daemon just raises his eyebrows, as I sigh, “How did you know?” I mean it’s not like it isn’t obvious if you pay attention, but no one seems to be paying attention, yet Daemon remains silent.
“It’s complicated,” I tell him truthfully and that pulls a grunted laugh from him.
“Yeah, it seems both your brothers have that in common.” His eyes flick to Archer now, and though darkened with the ghosts of his past, I see nothing but love for my brother, and all of his chaos and complications.
“How did you handle it?” I ask. “How did you go from nothing, to everything?” I gesture to the closest photo of the two of them, and Daemon follows, smiling at the picture of them from Christmas Day last year.
“I didn’t,” he shrugs. “I fought against it, pushed him away, ignored him,” he laughs, sipping his drink. “But Archer Gray isn’t good with the word no.”
That makes me laugh, as I sip my own drink, letting my gaze snap back to Everest and Harden, before finally finding Griffin, who is surprisingly staring right back at me, with a look I can’t quite place. “And what made you finally give in?” I ask, focusing back on Daemon, and he shrugs again.
“Jealousy, obsession, his incessant need to ignore everything I said to him and still pursue me anyway,” he replies with a sigh.
“He didn’t give up on me, no matter what I said to him, or what I did, or how hard I pushed him away.
The next day he would be right back in my face fighting for more, and well, there’s only so long you can say no to that. ”
His words are said with nothing but pure love, adoration and appreciation, I can see clear as day that he’s not just head over heels in love with my brother, but grateful to him, too.
My eyes travel back to the guys, Everest’s stare snaps away, as if he was just watching me again, Harden assesses the two of us, and Griffin looks pissed off, as he grabs another drink and turns to walk away.
“Maybe I should put that to the test,” I muse, downing the rest of my champagne and offering Daemon a quick smile. “I’ll catch you later,” I add, and he nods with a smirk, as if he can read my mind, and I hope he can’t, because even I know this is crazy.
But it’s now or never.