Wheel You Marry Me?

CHAPTER 24.

I ran after her. "Sky! Sky, please wait!" I called, breathless. She didn't stop, didn't even glance back. The street was eerily quiet, shadows dancing under flickering street lamps as she kept running.

"Skylar Diaz, stop!" I shouted, this time with authority, and finally, finally, she came to a halt.

When I caught up to her, she stood there trembling. Her shoulders shook with every breath, and tears shimmered in her eyes. "Are you crazy?" I said between gulps of air. "It's the middle of the night. You're walking into nowhere! Let's go back to the car now!"

She didn't answer. Instead, she stepped forward and collapsed into my arms. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm just... I don't know what's wrong with me."

I hugged her tightly, silently. There was so much going on inside her pain, confusion, fear. And maybe something else I couldn't quite name. "It's okay. Let's go home."

The Uber had long since left, so we called her parents. When they arrived, they barely said a word, just looked at their daughter with silent concern. They dropped me off at my place before heading home with her.

I took a long cold shower, hoping the water would rinse away the stress. Then I wrapped myself in a hoodie, sat on my bed, and scrolled through my phone. My album was trending. The comments were pouring in praise, excitement, messages from fans I'd never met. It felt surreal. I wished my mom was here to see all of this.

That's when I heard the knock.

Three soft raps. Then silence.

I froze.

My heart pounded. Who knocks on someone's door at midnight?

A murderer would. The one who hurt Skylar.

Another knock—more urgent this time.

I grabbed my pepper spray and crept to the door. I slowly unlocked it and yanked it open, raising my arm to spray whoever it was until I saw his face.

"Ryan?" I asked, stunned.

He raised his hands in surrender. "Aurora, whoa! What are you doing with pepper spray?"

I exhaled sharply, lowering my arm. "I was... I thought you were someone else."

He gave me a small, almost sad smile. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just... I had to see you."

I nodded slowly, still recovering from the adrenaline rush. "It's okay. But next time, please call first. Come in."

He stepped inside, and suddenly the quiet night felt less suffocating.

"I couldn't make it to your album release," he said softly. "Family stuff. But I listened to it. Every track. 'I Choose You'... it's beautiful, Aurora."

My heart warmed. "Thank you. That means a lot."

He looked shy for the first time. "I, uh... I brought something for you." He pulled a small black box from his pocket and handed it to me.

I opened it and gasped. "Ryan... this is..."

"A diamond bracelet," he said quickly. "Do you like it?"

"Like it? Ryan, this is beautiful and expensive!"

He stepped closer. "Please. I want you to have it. You deserve something special."

I hesitated, then nodded. "Thank you, Ryan."

He gently took it from my hands and clasped it around my wrist. Then he leaned down and kissed my hand.

"Aurora," he said, still holding my fingers, "there's something I need to say."

He looked nervous. His eyes flicked between mine and the floor, and he started rambling.

"I... I can't stop thinking about you. I love your laugh. I love how you bite your lip when you're nervous. And when you eat something delicious and you moan without realizing it—I... I just—"

I didn't let him finish.

I kissed him.

Hard.

Like my life depended on that kiss.

When we finally pulled away, we were both breathless. He rested his forehead against mine.

"I like you, Aurora."

I blinked away tears and whispered, "I like you too."

Then he kissed me again so deep and tender it made my heart ache.

The Next Morning

I woke up to soft kisses trailing across my face. I opened my eyes and found Ryan, grinning like a kid at Christmas.

"Good morning, beautiful," he murmured before kissing my lips.

I blushed. "Good morning. I don't know if I'll ever get used to this."

"Used to what?"

"These morning kisses," I said with a grin.

He smirked. "Guess I'll just have to keep practicing."

Another knock echoed through the apartment.

I groaned. "Who is knocking again?"

"I'll get it," I said, slipping out of bed.

When I opened the door, I froze. Standing there, holding two iced caramel macchiatos, was Theodore Maximo.

"Theodore?" I blinked. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled. "Good morning to you too."

"Sorry, I just wasn't expecting you. How did you—?"

"Skylar gave me your address," he said casually, handing me one of the drinks. "Your favourite."

I took the drink awkwardly just as Ryan appeared behind me, shirtless.

"Ooh... Maximo," Ryan said, voice dripping with cool amusement. "Didn't know you were back."

Theodore's easy going smile faltered. "Ryan. Yeah. Just got back."

"Looking sharp. Military life treating you well?" Ryan said, raising an eyebrow.

The tension crackled.

Theodore chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah... Listen, Aurora, I should go. Didn't mean to intrude."

He turned and walked away before I could say anything.

I closed the door, drink still cold in my hand.

"What did he want?" Ryan asked, arms crossed.

"He just brought me coffee."

"Hmm. Be careful with him," Ryan muttered. "There's something off about that guy."