The cool night air greeted them like a soft sigh as the grand doors of the Bellwether Hotel closed behind them. The gala had ended, but the buzz of music, conversation, and flashing lights still echoed in Aurora's mind.
Beside her walked two of the most important people in her life her best friend and artistic soulmate, Sophia James, and her younger sister, Chloe Thompson.
Sophia stretched her arms above her head, letting out a dramatic yawn. "Ugh, I don't know how you wear heels that long and still float around like a goddess. I swear, my toes are screaming."
Aurora laughed, brushing a curl behind her ear. "Years of practice walking barefoot through paint have trained me well."
"You did amazing, by the way," Chloe chimed in, bumping her shoulder lightly against her sister's. At 18, Chloe had the kind of fresh-faced glow that needed no makeup and the attitude of someone who could cut a grown man with a stare alone.
She had only moved in with Aurora a few months ago after getting accepted into UCLA, where she was now studying Digital media and design. Her dorm still felt like a hotel room, so she spent more time in Aurora's apartment than her own. Her sharp, expressive eyes and quick wit made her seem older than she was though Aurora always made sure to remind her she was still the baby.
Sophia, on the other hand, was the cool fire to Aurora's quiet flame. With caramel-toned skin, full lips, and shoulder-length chestnut curls she often wore in a half-bun, Sophia exuded a sultry, bohemian energy. She sang several nights a week at The Velvet Room, Jeremy's upscale jazz nightclub, where her husky voice melted hearts and her bold confidence turned heads.
Both women had known each other since college sisters by choice, not blood. They painted together, sang in the kitchen, swapped secrets, and shared everything from heartbreak to birthdays. If Aurora was ever seen alone, it usually meant Sophia was about five steps behind.
As the trio stepped down the hotel stairs, a sleek black car pulled up to the valet circle. A sharply dressed chauffeur stepped out and opened the rear door.
Jalen.
He exited the hotel with the same grace he entered it shoulders squared, jaw sharp, suit impeccable. His steps were confident, measured. As he reached the car, his eyes lifted, locking onto Aurora's.
Just for a second.
A single glance. A smirk. And then he slid into the back seat like a scene straight out of a movie.
The car rolled away, leaving silence in its wake.
Sophia's eyebrows shot up. "Wait was that Jalen Harris?"
Aurora blinked. "Yeah."
Sophia squinted, half in disbelief. "I know him. That man practically lives at Jeremy's club. The guy's a walking magazine ad for 'money meets mischief.' What's he doing anywhere near you?"
Chloe nodded, arms crossed. "Did he say anything to you? He gave you a look."
Aurora sighed. "He did more than that. We… talked. At the exhibit."
Both girls turned to her like hawks.
"Oh, this should be good," Sophia said, linking arms with her as they began walking down the street. "Spill."
Aurora told them everything how he noticed her artwork, how his presence felt… different. And how for one surreal moment, she thought there was something genuine in the way he looked at her.
But then she shared the final part.
"And then…" Aurora hesitated, her voice dipping. "That woman, Mrs. Charlotte O'Brienbwalks up. She clearly knew him well. Told him I was lovely and that he should ask me out. And he said…"
Sophia's gaze narrowed. "He said what?"
"He said I'm not his kind of woman."
The silence that followed was thick.
Chloe looked down the street, her voice tight. "Wow. That's... charming."
Sophia's lips pressed into a thin line. "You want me to slap him next time I sing at the club? I'll hit a high note and knock his ego clean off."
Aurora chuckled, even though it hurt a little more than she let on. "Nah, it's fine. Honestly, it's probably true. I'm not polished or... whatever 'his kind' is."
"Well," Chloe said, adjusting the strap on her crossbody bag, "if 'his kind' means boring, fake, and forgettable, then no. You're definitely not his type."
They all laughed gently, but with a sting still hanging in the air.
"Coffee?" Sophia asked, nudging them both.
"Always," Aurora replied.
Together, the trio walked into the cool night, heading to their favorite corner coffee shop where secrets were often spilled, dreams were scribbled on napkins, and for a moment, the world outside never dared to interrupt their sisterhood.
The trio ducked into their favorite late-night spot Brew & Bloom, a cozy, artsy coffee shop tucked between two brick buildings in Silver Lake. The walls were covered in local art, poetry scrawled across chalkboards, and mismatched couches that hugged you like old friends. Jazz hummed through the speakers, soft and slow.
Aurora ordered her usual lavender oat milk latte. Sophia got a double espresso with cinnamon. Chloe, always unpredictable, surprised them both by choosing an iced matcha with honey.
They settled into their regular booth near the back, plush with hand-stitched pillows and worn-in charm. The warm scent of roasted beans and vanilla wafted around them like a comforting hug.
"So," Sophia said after the first sip of her espresso, leaning forward. "Now that we've all collectively recovered from Mr. Too-Slick-For-His-Own-Good Jalen Harris… what's going on in your world, Chloe? You've been humming since we left the gala."
Chloe's face flushed a little, her fingers wrapping around her drink. "Okay, maybe... I've been talking to someone."
Both Aurora and Sophia immediately perked up.
"Talking to someone?" Aurora grinned. "Like, talking talking?"
Chloe gave a little shrug. "Maybe."
Sophia leaned in dramatically. "Name. Age. Height. Major. Vibe. Now."
Chloe laughed. "His name's Emery. Emery Stone."
Sophia and Aurora exchanged glances.
"Okay, that's already dangerously attractive," Sophia said.
"I met him in one of my intro design courses," Chloe continued, her voice softer now, like she was replaying the moment in her head. "He sat next to me the first week. He's really quiet... but thoughtful. Funny when he speaks. He helped me carry a model back to the dorms one night."
"Oh, that's straight out of a rom-com," Aurora teased. "He didn't vanish the next day, did he?"
"Nope. He texts me memes," Chloe said proudly. "But like, design memes. Nerdy, dry, but smart."
Sophia sipped her espresso and raised an eyebrow. "Has he asked you out?"
Chloe hesitated. "Not yet. But I think he wants to. I kinda... hope he does."
Aurora reached across the table and gave her sister's hand a gentle squeeze. "You deserve someone who sees you for all that you are, Chlo."
"I'm not trying to get all fairy tale about it," Chloe added, biting her straw. "I just... I haven't felt this kind of connection with anyone. It's like he listens to what I don't say."
Sophia smiled. "That's rare. Hold onto it. See where it goes."
Neither Chloe nor the girls knew just yet but Emery Stone wasn't just a talented design student. He came from money a lot of it. His family owned a luxury architecture firm based in San Francisco, and though he was quiet about it, his upbringing was built on art, travel, and understated wealth. He dressed simply, spoke humbly, but there was something polished about him that hinted at something more.
But for Chloe, all that mattered was how he made her feel: seen. Heard. Comfortable.
And that, for now, was more than enough.
As the trio laughed, sipped, and shared stories well into the night, the world outside kept spinning but in that little booth, surrounded by warm light and open hearts, everything felt like it might just fall into place.