Chapter 16

SEBASTIAN

When I say that Audrey's family knows good beds I don't lie or exaggerate, the bed I slept on was like sleeping on a cloud, the amount of comfort my body felt was monumental. As I woke up the morning before Christmas eve I was well-rested and ready to face the day.

I got up and began to get ready, throwing on a thick shirt, a pair of jeans and a woven jumper to top it off. I made my way to the living room to see Audrey on the sofa with a cup of tea and a book.

"Good morning, how did you sleep?" I asked, slipping into the couch behind her, wrapping my arms around her.

She sighed and leaned into me. "Amazing, I totally forgot how amazing the beds here were, like sleeping on a cloud."

"That's what I was just thinking." I laughed, looking over her shoulder at her book.

"So what do you want to have for breakfast?" She asked, closing the book and putting it on the table before leaning into me once again.

Before I could answer, Alex walked through the door. "Good morning guys, have yous had breakfast?"

"Not yet, I was going to make something if no one was awake," Audrey replied, looking up at him.

"I'll fix yous up something. Anything in mind?" He asked, putting his hands in his back pockets.

"May I ask for pancakes?" Audrey asked shyly.

"You may, and you young man?" He grinned, seeing me holding Audrey in my arms.

"May I also ask for pancakes?" I smiled, tightening my hold on Audrey.

"No...Just kidding, of course, I'll call you in when I'm done." He walked away through the door.

"Your heart is beating so fast, I guess Alex got you huh?"

"...Whatever."

She laughed before rummaging around the sofa, letting out a squeal of victory when she pulls out a remote and switches on the TV. We sat watching the TV before being joined by Alex then later on my brother and Margo. We ate in silence, sometimes breaking the silence with laughs or comments on the show.

All of a sudden Margo perked up. "Hey, do y'all wanna go on a field trip today?"

"You from the country now or something?" Jackson mocked, pretending to tip his hat to her with a wink.

"What? No, shut up. How about we go shopping?" She suggested, looking like she was up to something.

"Are you planning something Margo?" Upon her reaction alone, yeah she's definitely up to something.

AUDREY

She gasped so loud and dramatically it would put theatre kids to shame.

"I would never, how could you accuse me of something like that?" Did she take drama? I can't remember, wait, was there an extra-curricular for drama? If there was they did not do a good job, holy smokes.

"I only asked if you were planning something, I never accused you of anything," Sebastian whined, his cheeks blushing.

"Well..." She trailed off, staring into space.

Jackson stared inquisitively before turning to me, "scheming face?"

"Yup." I nodded, collecting the empty cups on the tray and returning them to the kitchen before rejoining them.

"If you could be so kind as to share with the group, that would be great," I urged, leaning back into the sofa.

"Well, you know how cousin Emma has been going out a lot recently? I followed her one day and she went to the town nearby and into this cute bookshop with a small cafe in it and she sat there for almost three hours." Margo looked excited, her eyes were sparkling more than the face of a kid who just discovered a rock and claimed it to be a fossil.

I shrugged and leaned into Sebastian. "So? I sit in cafes for hours all the time, what's so special about this situation?"

"Yeah but you read, she does not, well most of the time anyway. She's usually on her phone and sh-that's not the point, she has a crush on a guy who works there. She's always staring at him, she gets flustered when she orders and avoids making eye contact with him and better still, he likes her back."

"Oh, do tell my dear, is this a juicy opportunity for match-making?" My mother joined us, looking just as eager as Margo; like mother like daughter.

"I think it is mum, I'm so excited." She squealed.

"What are we doing?" My uncle Matthew came in through the kitchen door, a slice of half-eaten toast in his hand.

"We're going to set up Emma with the guy she has a crush on," Margo replied.

"Oh cool, I'm in."

"Woah! How do we even know if he's the right match for her?" I interjected.

"Well, when I followed her I went back a day later when Emma was busy and I observed him from afar, talked to him a little, you know, the usual. Anyway, here's what I found." She pulled her phone out and read her research to us with fascinating detail that was honestly a little worrying.

"He sounds like a great guy for Emma, and he's planning on moving soon so we need to work quickly before he decides on a place." My mother nodded, looking to Matthew who nodded alongside her.

"I say we go for it, is everyone in?" He asked, my mother nodded, Margo nodded, even Jackson and Sebastian nodded, all there was left was me.

After a moment of hesitation, I gave in. "Fine."

"Yes! Four generations of cupids working together, this is awesome." Margo was buzzing now and it seemed everyone else was beginning to get excited too.

"Okay, now we need to come up with a plan." At this, we all nodded and began to get to work.