Page 118 of Scandalous

Step by step, we work our way through the recipe. I listen to her word for word.

Aurora holds the pan up to the camera and I do the same.

“Now how awesome is it that even though we live an ocean away from each other, they look almost the same?” She laughs. “Now let’s put these in the oven for forty-five minutes.”

We both step out of frame and put them in the oven and set our timers.

“Does anyone have any questions before we move onto lemosas?”

Stepping back into frame, I see the chat is going wild. Questions come in so fast that you have to place your finger on the feed to read anything.

“Sometimes I put a glaze on top of the coffee cake, Annette, but most of the time, I do not.”

“‘When is the next time you will see the guys?’” she reads off. “I probably won’t see them until I’m done with school for the year.”

“Eh.” I shrug. “You never know. We might have to go visit her before then.”

Aurora rolls her eyes with a smile on her face as people go crazy.

I glance down at the comments and frown.

BitterSally: Why does she get all four of them? She’s not even pretty. I can fuck you better The.Boricua.

“Let’s be nice, yeah? I hate women who thrive on negativity,” I bite out. “Can you mods please keep an eye on BitterSally?”

Aurora pushes off her counter and slides a bottle of champagne in front of her. “Let’s get those drinks, yeah?”

I nod, grabbing my own bottle. “What next?”

Aurora smiles beautifully at me. “Next we make a toast.”

“How about to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, Aurora Blake?” I tease.

She blushes. “That can be your toast. Mine is this. To good friends and sharing your life with the people you love. Negativity will always find a way, but as long as we are working together to fight it, positivity will win.”

I clear my throat at her using theLword.

“I like that. To positivity. Fuck the negative.”

She giggles, making me smile.

It’s then, with the light highlighting her face, that I realize theLword was right.

I’m in love with this girl and she doesn’t even know it.

* * *

“Are you sure you want to do this? It’s safe?” Sophia asks for the tenth time.

I hadn’t told the guys yet, but I asked for the summer off to spend with them. Holland was right. I need to stop dwelling on the thoughts of others and live my life.

“I’ll be safe. I promise. The guys take very good care of me. They spoil me.”

Sophia laughs. “Yes, a good man should spoil his queen. At least tell me they treat you like a freak in the sheets?”

Her eyes are lit up. I laugh, shaking my head.

“I’m not telling you shit. You are such a gossip.”

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