I woke up, disoriented from last night's events. The rays of the sun were blinding despite the curtain being half drawn. I tried to stretch my arms but instead, it met a warm slender body. Then I heard a feminine groan beside me, which made my head snap to the body beside me.

"Shortcake." I exhaled my endearment for her with relief. Fuck. I completely forgot about fetching her last night from that stupid frat party.

I pushed the stray hairs on her face back gently with my fingers. I smiled as her eyebrows furrowed before she turned her body to me and relaxed again.

"Good morning beautiful," I whispered to her ear before leaving the bed. I made sure to cover her with the blanket because I know she gets cold easily.

Dressed in my PJ bottoms, I made my way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for my shortcake. I pulled some flour from the cabinet and started mixing eggs and a bit of chocolate chip in the mixture.

As I was frying the slices of bacon when I sensed someone's eyes on me. I smiled to myself and continued cooking as if I didn't feel her staring at me. Once I was done frying, I put all the beacon on a plate and turned around.

There, my beautiful shortcake was standing, leaning against the wall of the entrance of the kitchen. Dressed in one of my old high school jerseys and a pair of pajamas courtesy of Artemis. Mara looks at me confused.

I know from her look, she doesn't remember what happened last night. Not an ounce of it.

"Hey shortcake. How do you feel?" I asked her softly as I walked closer to her. I stopped a few inches separating us. I tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear. "You had quite the night."

She blushed at our closeness and looked down at her two bare feet. "My head is pounding." She whispered.

I smiled, my arms snaking around her waist. I pulled her up on one of the stools on the breakfast bar. "Take these," I said to her. I handed her two tablets of Advil to ease her headache. Hopefully, it works. "And drink this. It'll help."

She smelled the concoction inside the mug and looked up at me in confusion. "It's honey water."

"Yes, it is, shortcake. Now drink up." I said, encouraging her to drink it. I smiled at her as she did.

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"For taking care of me last night. For not calling Alec?"

I shook my head at her. "Shortcake, I know this whole ordeal is a shock to you, but please. Don't ever do what you did last night again. You made me worried sick for you." I told her sternly. "And I did call Alec."

"I'm sorry Dy. I just felt so lost... Even after my talk with Alec the other night." She admits as her gray orbs filled with unshed tears. "I felt like.... like I was just an object being sold off. I don't know. I have mixed feelings about this whole thing."

Holding her face hostage between my two hands, I kiss her forehead. "Shortcake. I am sorry for how things turned out. But I am not sorry I agreed to marry you."

She looked at me, clearly confused by my words. It must be the headache or she just refuses to acknowledge what I have just said. It wasn't clear but I had hoped that she knew what I was talking about.

I smiled at her despite the disappointment I felt in my heart. I wanted to tell her everything. From the moment I signed the contract, it was the only constant thing on my mind besides her. I have been keeping my distance from her, afraid to scare her more than I already have.

Her stomach growled in hunger and she blushed in embarrassment as I howled in laughter. "Stop." She whined to me.

"Let's feed you, little monster," I said, laughter rumbling from me as I put food on her plate. She didn't need encouragement as she started shoving food down her throat. "Shortcake," I said sternly. She's going to choke herself from eating that fast.

She looked up to me and smiled sheepishly. I shook my head at her behavior and decided to ask her what she remembers from last night.

She looked lost. "I did something stupid didn't I?"

I nodded my head, feeling incredibly sorry for the embarrassment she's about to feel, yet again.

"I slept beside you." She suddenly said, It wasn't a question, it was a fact that she seems to have just realized. "What else did I do last night?"

I can hear her voice waver at her question. She's nervous but still wants to know the things she did last night.

"Well... first off, you called me a bear. A handsome bear at that." I said, watching as her face blushed. A tinge of redness was seen on her cheek and I fought against the smile threatening to spill out of my face. "Then you demanded ice cream."

At this point, Mara shoves her face into her hands as her elbows rest on the table. I could hear her groan but didn't say anything else.

"And... you almost fell on the roof of that house at the party. ."

"I did what?" She asked, surprised covering her face. If she was red before, she's as red as a tomato now. "Oh god. I am never drinking again." She grumbled under her breath.

"Don't we all just say that?" I said as I filled her glass with water. She needs to be dehydrated after all the alcohol she drank last night.

She glared at me and shoved her hair back and behind her ears. "I mean it."

"Suuuure."

"Dy!"

I chuckled at her angry tone and leaned in closer to her face. Surprised by my action, Mara stilled her movements and watched me with wide eyes. "What would you do if I kissed you right now?" I asked her, my voice barely a whisper as my eyes moved down to her pump pink inviting lips.

"I-I..."

"I'm going to vomit." A very familiar and baritone voice said.

I rolled my eyes at his voice and moved back from Mara. Watching as the shock left her body and she took in a much-needed intake of breath. "You just had to come in like that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't know you had company." He went straight to the kitchen where he poured himself a drink. "I'm Eros by the way." He said to Mara and winked at her. "Besides, you didn't answer any of my calls, and your passcode has always been the same."

Fucking Eros.

Eros Montero is the owner of the biggest flower plantation anyone can find in South America. He took business management at the same university as I did. Although he is two years older than me, we finished college at the same time.

"Shut up." I groaned in annoyance. "What are you even doing here?"

"What? I can't visit a friend?" he asked, sounding like an innocent man. It would have fooled me if not for the amused smile he's trying so hard to hide.

"You're an idiot," I replied. "Mara, this is Eros Montero. Eros, Mara."

His eyes widened in realization. He places the glass of water on the counter and practically breathes out a 'WOW'. "Mara Ramirez in the flesh. I thought you were an imagination."

"Excuse me?" Mara said, confused and not amused at Eros' attitude. Her gray orbs squinted at Eros in a scrutinizing look.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, you're practically all Dustyn talked about in uni. We all thought you were a fiction of his imagination."

Mara turned to me, surprised by Eros' words. I offered her a small smile and turned to glare at Eros. "That's enough."

"What about those gifts---"

"Don't even think about it!" I told him harshly as my hands enveloped Mara's. She looked questioningly at me. "Go wash up," I told her softly to which she nodded her head.

Did I mention he's also an... asshole?

"Nice to meet you, Eros." She said to the man, who was still raiding my fridge like he owns the whole damn place.

Once Mara was out of sight, I turned my attention to the brown-haired man. "Do you even have a filter?" I asked him, annoyed with his running mouth. The man doesn't know when to shut up.

"I was telling the truth."

"Yes. But you need to control yourself. Christ. You almost outed me out to shortcake." I said, stacking up the used and empty plates and bringing them to the dishwasher.

"Sorry, man. Still, aren't you guys about to get married?"

"Where do you hear these things?" I asked him. Eros is not fond of social media. The only applications he has on his phone is for emails. He's a man who thinks social media is a waste of time.

He shrugs his shoulders. "Television. You and your shortcake are all they talk about." He picks up a leftover piece of bacon and eats it. "It's getting kinda annoying."

I rolled my eyes at him. "No one said you had to watch."

"What was I supposed to do?! Gauge my eyes out?"

"Yes!"

"But you love me."

"You're disgusting," I told him.

"Are you guys done with the bromance?"

I turn my head to Mara's voice. Surprise envelopes my face in her attire. She was only wearing my bathrobe and her hair wrapped up in a towel. Due to my size, the robe fell on her body like a blanket and the low v outlined her cleavage.

A whistle made me turn back to the man behind me. "Pretty lady." He said to which I delivered a punch to his stomach. Damn asshole.

"Dy!"

"Fuck."

"Turn around, right now," I growled at his ear. He followed my order right away, still in pain from the punch I delivered. I walked to Mara with large steps and soon enough, I was blocking her view of Eros and vice versa. "Why are you not wearing any clothes?"

"You didn't have to punch him." She said angrily and tried her best to check on Eros which caused me to hold her shoulder in place. She doesn't have to check on him. He can die in pain for all I care. I'm not letting my shortcake near that asshole again.

"Yes, I did. Now, answer me."

"I couldn't find any other clothes besides those I wore last night." She said with a sigh.

I guided Mara back to my room and gave her one of my old hoodies before giving her a pair of jeans which Artemis left on the bedside table for her to wear.

****

Alec sat comfortably on my couch as his gaze traveled over to Eros and back to Mara. His eyes hid his emotion but his body was tense. He barely gave Mara a glance when he saw Eros coming into my living room.

I almost forgot how much he hates Eros. Since the day I introduced them, there has been an unexplainable strain between the two of them. The tension goes off the roof with the two of them.

Some things just don't change.

"What exactly is happening here?" He finally asked, filling the room with his baritone voice. "Was he here the whole night?" He asked, venom lacing his voice as he pointed at Eros who was casually leaning against the far left wall of the room.

"No. He just got here." I answered him right away. The smug look on Eros' face was not helping both of our cases. He's still a pain in my ass no matter how close we are. "He didn't know Mara was here."

"If I did, I would've barged in last night," Eros said, his voice teasing, and a smirk visible on his damn annoying face. "Maybe crash on the same bed."

"Shut up." I growled at him. "I swear, Alec, he just got here."

Alec squints his eyes at me before looking over at Mara properly. "And what do you have to say for yourself?" Although Alec was laughing at Mara's state last night, it didn't surprise me to see him scolding her. Afterall, he could have called the police to find his sister only to find out that she's in some party.

I could tell Mara was nervous. Despite that, her relaxed posture as she sat cross-legged on the chair right across from where Alec sat. "I needed some fun."

Alec glared at her reasoning. "And you have to turn off your phone? Leave the fucking bracelet I gave you? Sneak out of our home?!"

"You would have stopped me." She answered solemnly. "I just want to forget about everything."

"We're going home. Get your things."

But Mara stayed rooted in her seat. Shaking her head, she meets Alec's stormy gray eyes with her own. "I'm not leaving. Dustyn promised to take me... " she trailed off, her eyes finding mine. Pleading with me to help her.

"I'm taking her to a designer. I wanted to make sure she has a dress for the Charity Gala." I said, amending Mara's lie with a bit of truth.

"I am taking her home," Alec said harshly.

"Alec. I'll make sure to drop her off at your house."

Alec turned his glare at me. His lips are in a thin line, displaying his annoyance at my interruption. His lecture for Mara would have to wait and the overprotective big brother in him is not happy. "Fine. You bring her straight home."

With that, Alec stomped out of my apartment but not without sending a glare to Eros who was amused by the drama displayed right in front of him.

"Go put some shoes on, shortcake," I advised Mara who nodded at me and disappeared to my bedroom again. I turned my attention to Eros. "You, get out and go home."

"Oh. So you were half lying. All right. I'll leave."

"Where are we?" Mara asked as she glanced outside of the window, only to see a dress shop in front of her. "Why here?"

"I told you, I'm buying you a dress." I reminded her. She can't show up empty-handed when I drop her off. I will never hear the end of it from Alec.

Without waiting for a response, I got out of the car and walked to her door. I opened it for her as she carefully stepped out of the vehicle. With a hand on her lower back, I start to guide her to the dress shop which is owned by the one designer Mara loves. As the door closes after us, the bob of silver hair greets us.

"Rory!" Mara all but shouted at the small but feisty woman who stood at the counter talking to a black-haired lady.

Before I could prepare myself, a sight of silver hair dashes from across the shop and into Mara with full force. Her thin arms wound up around my shortcake in a tight embrace. They sure missed each other.

A smile graces my lip as I watch them fondly. I could only imagine the happiness Mara is feeling right now as she hugs the one person she considers as her older sister.

Aurora Kaligaris is an up and coming fashion designer. Slowly, she is climbing up the ladder of success. Despite her family name, Aurora refuses to accept any help from the great house of Kaligaris of Greece. She is also the only woman Alec could never move on from. This is probably why he would not be happy if he found out I brought Mara to see her and that I allowed Rory to be her designer.

"Oh my. You're all grown up now." Aurora said, disentangling herself from Mara. She examines my shortcake like a mother to a child before her eyes flitted to me for the first time. No shock of surprise crossed her face. "Are you guys dating now?"

I smile at the woman in front of us. "Soon to be engaged." I said proudly.

She squeals in delight and clutches Mara's hand in hers. "That's great! I've been waiting for this day for yeaaaars! Years!"

Mara laughs at Aurora's ecstatic reaction. Her gray orbs shine with appreciation as she looks at my brown orbs. She mouths 'thank you' to me before a breathtaking smile takes over her beautiful face.

My heart skips a beat and I pull my gaze away from her. A smile from her and my heart goes wild? I am too in love with this fine young woman.

"I wish you and Alec got married, Rory."

Solemnly, Aurora places a hand on Mara's arm. "It would have been a disaster. Alec... he's a wonderful brother but his heart has never been mine, Tams."

Looking down, Mara nods her head. "I understand." Shaking her head, she produces a small smile for Aurora. "So, about my wedding dress..."

"I have tons of ideas for you! Gosh. You look wonderful. So beautiful!" Aurora said, smiling widely at Mara. She looks the same with her wild hair color choices and her bubbly attitude.

I followed the girls to the back of the shop where Aurora's office and the studio were located. She immediately handed Mara a few of her sketches before pulling her to sit on a bright red couch she had. She waved me over to sit beside Mara.

"Before that, Mara needs a gown for Friday," I told Aurora.

She looked at me with a smile. "Big party for the engagement party?" She asked, raising her brows up and down.

I laughed at her and nodded my head. "It's also a Charity Ball. December is right around the corner and I thought we all should give back to the less fortunate."

"That's wonderful, Dy," Mara said, her hand finding its way to my arm as she touched me. Her gray eyes shining in happiness. "I should ask Dad to get his colleagues to come."

I nodded my head at her. "That's a great idea. I'll have invitations sent to them." Without thinking, I dropped a kiss on her forehead. "You love charity."

"Ehem. Big sister here." Rory said, but her eyes were glinting with happiness and mischievousness.

I narrowed my eyes on her. "Nothing that shows too much skin!" I reprimanded her.

"Yes sir!"

Now that I have hooked up Mara with a dress. I only have to find the perfect ring for her. Something simple but something with meaning.

I know just the right person to go to.