Wheel You Marry Me?

CHAPTER 11.

Sky... I am so sorry." I looked her straight in the eyes, my voice trembling with guilt. She tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Aurora, why are you sorry?" she asked, her tone tentative, uncertain.

I froze. I couldn't bring myself to say it aloud. But my silence said enough.

Her eyes widened, the realization crashing down like a wave. "Oh my God. You kissed Ryan? Are you serious right now?"

I took a step toward her, tears forming in my eyes. "Sky, I wanted to tell you—"

She stepped back. "You kissed Ryan and you had the audacity to judge me for hooking up with Douglas? You made me feel like crap, like I had betrayed you, when you were the one hiding things all along. Do you have any idea how humiliating this is?"

"Sky, please—"

"Save it, Aurora. I need some air." She turned sharply and stormed out of the bar.

Panic surged in my chest. I chased after her. "Sky! Sky, please wait. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just didn't know how to tell you."

She reached the curb just as a taxi slowed to a stop. With one hand on the door handle, she turned to look at me, her eyes glossy. "Were you ever going to tell me? Or were you just going to keep pretending nothing happened?"

"I was going to. I swear. I just... I was scared you'd hate me."

"And now I do," she said quietly, and got into the taxi. It sped away, leaving me breathless and broken on the sidewalk.

I stood there, hoping somehow she'd turn around, come back, tell me everything was going to be okay. But she didn't. The tears were hot on my cheeks, and I couldn't stop them.

"Hey, you'll catch a cold out here," came a voice behind me.

I turned and saw Ryan.

Of all people.

"Please," I said, wiping my face, my voice hoarse. "Just leave me alone."

He took a hesitant step forward. "What's going on between you two anyway?"

I scoffed bitterly. "Seriously? You're the reason I'm fighting with my best friend."

He blinked. "Me? What the hell did I do?"

"If you didn't shove your tongue down my throat, none of this would've happened!"

His jaw clenched. "Wow. That's how you're going to put it? As if you didn't kiss me back. As if you didn't want it."

My eyes burned with fury. "You think this is a joke? You just turned my entire world upside down."

Ryan's expression changed, softening. "It wasn't a joke to me, Aurora. I don't regret that kiss. Not one second of it. And if I got the chance again, I'd do it all over."

He turned and walked back inside, leaving me in stunned silence, my heart pounding in a million directions.

Just then, my phone rang.

Jeffrey.

I wiped my face quickly and answered. "Hey Jeff... you alright?"

But there was only silence, broken by the sound of his sniffing.

My stomach dropped. "Jeff? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

His voice was barely audible. "Y-You need to come to the hospital. It's Mum."

The call ended.

My legs gave out beneath me, and everything went black.

"Aurora! Aurora, can you hear me?" The voice felt like it came from a tunnel. I opened my eyes and saw Ryan beside me, his hand holding my hand. The sidewalk beneath me was cold.

"I—I need to go. My mum. She's in the hospital. Please, Ryan."

He didn't hesitate. He asked someone to help me up and guided me to his car, driving fast but careful.

We reached the hospital and I spotted Jeffrey pacing in the waiting room, his eyes red and swollen.

"What took you so long?" he snapped. He looked utterly broken.

Ryan stepped in before I could answer. "She had a panic attack."

"Jeff, where is Mum? Can I see her?"

He shook his head slowly, tears pouring down his face. "She... she's gone. Mum's dead, Aurora. Drug overdose. They tried to revive her, but it was too late."

"No," I whispered, stumbling backward. "No. You're lying. This can't be happening."

Jeffrey's voice cracked as he hugged me. "I wish I was."

I screamed. I screamed so loud the nurses came to check what was going on. I screamed until my voice gave out, until I collapsed into the cold hospital chair, sobbing into my brother's arms.

When I finally woke up, it was in my house—and it was filled with strangers. Everything felt surreal. I could hear the whispers, the murmurs of condolences. And then, I saw the casket.

My mother was laying in it, dressed in her favourite lavender blouse. She looked serene. Peaceful. Like she was sleeping.

But she wasn't sleeping.

She was gone.

I walked toward the casket slowly, my fingers trembling as I reached out and touched her hand. It was cold. Lifeless.

Memories flashed through my mind: her laughter in the kitchen, her warm hugs, her voice calling my name. And the last thing she said asking Skylar to take care of me.

My tears fell freely now. The grief was unbearable.

"Aurora."

I didn't turn around. I didn't want to speak to anyone.

"Aurora, I'm so sorry about your mum."

I turned and there she was. Skylar. Her makeup was smudged, eyes swollen, her hands gripping a tissue tightly.

For a moment, we just stared at each other.

Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.

And we cried.

We cried for my mother. For our broken friendship. For everything.

"I didn't know if I should come," she said through sobs. "But then I remembered what your mum said to me. That night... she told me to take care of you. And I failed."

I shook my head. "No. I'm the one who failed. I was selfish. I should've told you everything."

"We were both a mess," she said softly. "But I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere."

The funeral wasn't grand. It didn't need to be. I used the money I had been saving, and Skylar helped with the arrangements. Ryan stayed close, quietly supportive. Douglas even came, standing beside Sky without saying much.

Jeffrey barely spoke the entire time. He just stared ahead, his face pale and numb. I had to be strong for him. He was the only family I had left now.

After the burial, I sat by the window of our home, watching the world go on like nothing had happened.

"You okay?" Ryan asked gently, sitting beside me. He'd been there every single day since.

"No. But I will be. Eventually."

He reached over and took my hand. "I meant what I said, Aurora. I don't regret that kiss. And I don't regret falling for you. Even if you hate me right now."

I looked at him, my heart torn in two.

"I don't hate you, Ryan. That's the problem."

His eyes searched mine. "Then let me stay. Just for a little while."

And for once, I didn't push him away.