Wheel You Marry Me?

CHAPTER 14.

"I... I don't know what to say," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Hello? Aurora, are you still there?" Sandy Barton asked on the other end of the line.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Uh... the day after tomorrow. I'll come see you then."

"Perfect! I'm looking forward to it," she said cheerfully before hanging up.

The moment the call ended, the tears fell, hot and confusing. I wasn't sure if they were from joy, fear, or guilt. Maybe all three. I curled up on the couch, hugging a cushion close to my chest, and stared out the window as the light dimmed into early evening. A sudden chill made me realize the windows were still open. I got up sluggishly and shut them, locking out the cool breeze. It was nearly 7 PM.

How did I sleep this long?

Dragging myself to my room, I took a quick shower, then headed to the kitchen to fix dinner. I made a simple pasta dish—creamy, cheesy, and comforting. Just as I was plating it, the front door creaked open. Jeffrey walked in, looking tired but composed.

"Jeff! Jeff... I'm so sorry about earlier. Please forgive me," I said, voice cracking.

He paused, looked at me for a second without saying a word, then silently walked past me to his room.

Oh God. He's not talking to me. I've really messed this up.

I ate my pasta in silence, the taste barely registering. After cleaning up, I sat down and tried to distract myself with Trinkets on Netflix. It didn't help.

A while later, Jeffrey returned to the kitchen. His voice broke the silence.

"I got into Elite. I'll be leaving tomorrow."

I blinked. Elite? That was the most prestigious college in the region. The kind of school people only dreamed of attending. You needed top grades, glowing recommendations... everything.

"Elite?" I repeated in awe, standing up. "Jeff, that's amazing! I'm so proud of you!"

He grabbed a plate, scooped up some pasta, and sat across from me. I smiled, watching him take his first bite.

"Wow, Jeffrey, seriously. Congratulations. That's a big deal."

He just nodded quietly.

"You can use the savings I put aside for you, okay?"

"I got a full scholarship," he said without looking at me.

I stared at him, stunned. "A full scholarship? Jeff... that's incredible. I'm really proud of you."

Still no smile. Just silence.

Trying to lighten the mood, I offered, "Sandy Barton from MetroMix called me today. She wants to talk business."

"Oh... great," he said flatly.

"Really, Jeff? That's all I get? I thought you'd be jumping up and down with me," I said, trying to laugh it off but feeling the sting in my heart.

He stood up from the couch, expression unreadable.

"Jeff, I'm really sorry for slapping you. It—"

"Please, Aurora. Just stop. I don't want to talk about it right now," he said quietly before disappearing into the kitchen.

I wanted to push, to make him see how sorry I was. But I knew he needed space. So I let him go and sat back, finishing another episode as sleep gradually took over.

The next morning, despite the tension, I insisted on taking Jeffrey to college. He didn't say much during the drive. His eyes were distant, his tone polite but cold.