Amara crossed her legs as her Airpods blasted on her ears. She watched Primo's practice game with feigned interest. She was only here because Natasha had no one to accompany her.

So far, Natasha was the perfect girlfriend. She cheered enough and her soft blue eyes trailed after Primo's form. Amara did notice they linger a lot more when Primo and Elijah were talking.

"You okay?" Natasha mumbled next to her.

She yanked one of her Airpods off. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

Natasha's pale hair was in a double braid that showcased the Cartier diamonds on her ears. "I'm sorry. I just thought... you're angry?"

"Silly. I don't get angry," she smirked. "I do hate a lot though. I hate peas. I hate badly made opera cake. I hate chocolate fondue without marshmallows. And oh..."

Her lips stretched into a sly grin. "I hate liars."

"I-I see," she mumbled. Natasha blinked a few times before she turned to the game.

"Natasha, I have a food tasting tomorrow. I already told Primo. You're welcome to join him."

"Food tasting? For what?"

"My birthday, of course!"

"Is it okay? I'm not sure I could be of help though," Natasha replied.

"It's fine."

You wouldn't be there for that anyway.

✘✘

Amara had changed into a white dress as the catering team set-up in the mansion's breakfast nook. She started tasting the chocolate bonbons when Elijah strutted in.

"Hey." His brown eyes surveyed the abundance of food. "What's happening?"

"Oh, you're here! Good!" She dragged him to the breakfast table. It was situated near a patio that opened to the garden. "You remember what I told you?"

Elijah let out a sigh. "You said it doesn't matter anymore if I give in to your favor."

"Exactly."

"And what favor is that?"

Amara beamed. "We just have to make Natasha jealous."

His jaw dropped. "Amara! Come on! They seem fine now. There's no need to stir drama."

"I'm not convinced. I'm pretty sure she's a great actress." She scoffed as she tilted her chin upwards. "The least you can do is help me figure out if Natasha had moved on from you." She raised an eyebrow. "What? Do you prefer spilling out the truth then? Is that it?"

"It's not—"

"You're afraid that she doesn't like you anymore, right?"

Elijah shot her a glare. His fingers curling into fists. "Of course not! I don't care at all."

Amara smiled at his answer. "Geez. If you're still not sure, how about we bet on it?"

Elijah's eyes glinted with amusement. He brushed back his curls. "Fine. I'll bet on Primo getting jealous."

Amara's smile fell. "What? We're betting on Natasha's reaction!"

"Whatever, princess. If you're worried about Primo then I'm worried about Natasha. I want her to be happy but I know Primo as well as you do. I'm also not convinced," he argued passionately.

She clicked her tongue. Amara didn't see this coming. She had underestimated Elijah's feelings for Natasha. And here she thought she was as good as her mother.

"Alright," Amara said. She could hear Primo's voice greeting the old man Thomas. "Whoever wins will be the one who'll tell the truth."

"Deal."

Amara leaned down and kissed his cheek just as her visitors came closer. She bounced towards the newcomers, oblivious to Primo's displeasure at Elijah's presence.

"Hey! You're here!" she smiled at them.

Natasha returned her smile while Primo grunted his greetings. They made their way to the patio where the table was set.

Amara yanked Elijah to the seat next to hers while Primo and Natasha sat together. They started sampling the cold appetizers. It was a five-course meal but she didn't care for anything except dessert. That's why she had invited Primo in the first place. She trusted his taste in food.

They tasted three samples ate before Amara glanced at Primo. "Well?"

"It's either this artichoke salad or the clam toasts. I like both," he answered.

"I like the one with the spicy honey. It has a good kick," Elijah mumbled next to her. His impish stare made Amara gulp.

"What are you talking about? She doesn't like spicy food," Primo argued. His blue eyes were incensed.

"Really?" Elijah's lips quirked.

Damn it.

Amara's sweet tooth wept as she blurted her next words. "No, I like the flatbread and the spicy honey also."

Primo's jaw clenched. His indignation was palpable that Amara felt guilty. It didn't help that Elijah leaned in to taunt her further. "One point for me."

She pinched his arm under the table as they waited for the next course. Elijah ridiculed her throughout, waiting for her to break. But Amara kept her cool. She bided her time until dessert came.

She tasted everything except the one with cherries.

"What do you think of the cherries, Elijah?" she asked, drenching her words with sugar.

"Itsh good," Elijah spoke through a mouthful of the poached cherries and mascarpone cream.

"I like the cherries too," Natasha added.

Natasha had rarely spoken except for agreeing with Primo. It was the first time she had declared her vote for Elijah's pick. Amara had long noticed Elijah's taste for cherries. She didn't expect Natasha liked it too.

"Does it taste good?" Amara reached out and wiped the excess cream from Elijah's lips with her thumb. She smirked before her tongue slipped out, licking the cream off her slender fingers. "Hmm. It tastes good. I want to be sure though."

Amara leaned in as Elijah's eyes widened in shock. "Wait!"

An uncomfortable silence settled on the table. Natasha looked away, biting her lip while Primo clicked his tongue, tapping his fingers on the table.

Amara chuckled. "What? It's not like they won't make out in front of us one of these days."

A giddy squeal echoed from inside the mansion. Amara took the opportunity to whisper in Elijah's ear. "That's a hundred points, dear."

"Ama!" Arwen's gray eyes widened at them. "I can dress up for your party! Like this!" She twirled her costume and pointed at her Elvish crown. "Look at this too! Like the real Arwen!"

Amara frowned. That wasn't the theme of her party. "But—"

"What are you gonna be?" Her little sister asked, eyes twinkling with anticipation.

Now, it was too late. She couldn't break her sister's heart. Amara disregarded her rage and smiled at Arwen. "I'm gonna be a princess, of course."

She stood up. "I think this day is over so I'm gonna go get your invitations. Wait here."

Amara doubled her steps to reach her room on the second floor. She opened her drawer and grabbed the thick stack of blue and silver invitations.

She swiveled and bumped into Primo's sturdy form. "W-what are you doing here?"

And he left Elijah and Natasha together!

His cool gaze swept over her room, from the food-themed pillows in her bed, the pastel pink floor, and gray walls. Primo picked up the marshmallow plushie with googly eyes on it. "This looks like a tampon."

She gasped and threw one of the macaroon pillows from her couch. "You gave that to me!"

Primo looked aghast. "No way. My taste doesn't suck."

Amara gave up. "Let's go."

"Wait a minute." He stopped her, clutching her arm though his attention was on her shelf. "That one... I know I gave that to you."

Amara sighed as she turned to inspect his so-called gift. The shelf was filled with decorative figures she liked and it included the Matryoshka dolls he had given her.

And a snowglobe music box.

The globe had gold ornate patterns wrapped on its base with a miniature golden carousel inside. The carousel would rotate and agitate the snowflakes once the music started.

"When I gave you that, you said you wanted snow to fall on your eighteenth birthday," he said next to her. Primo turned the rod located at the bottom. The violin cover of Something Just Like This echoed in the room.

The two of them stood side by side, and let the music talk.

Primo spoke when it went quiet. "Why did you tell Arwen that?"

Amara crossed her arms, staring straight ahead. Primo wasn't here to confront her sudden affinity to spicy food. He did remember all the silly things they had shared with each other. Her heart fluttered.  "I don't wanna argue. It's fine."

"You know it's fine to demand. It's your birthday after all."

"But I—"

Her words died down when they heard a crash downstairs. Amara immediately thought of an argument between Natasha and Elijah.

Damn it.

✘✘