Chapter 82
1651words
"I wish we could have more nights like this," Matt confessed, a relaxed expression shining in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around Louisa, pulling her closer into him.
Her father nodded in agreement, "Me too."
Louisa stalked forward, taking her palms and smiling, "I know you're leaving tomorrow and I might not get the chance to see you off but I wish you all the best," She wrapped her arm around Aurora in a comforting hug and she reciprocated the gesture.
Matt hugged her after that, reminding her that she would always have a place in their hearts and bade her goodbye too.
Their cars soon came and they waited for each one of them to go in and drive off, waving them goodnight.
"Don't stay out long!" Her father had yelled much to her embarrassment as he drove off and Ryan chuckled beside her.
"Here you go, sir," The young valet who'd earlier opened the door for her handed him their keys and Ryan thanked him before turning to face her.
He tugged her coat closer as if that would shield her from the cold, "What do you say about a late night stroll?"
She cocked a brow, "Depends."
"On what?"
"If you're willing to buy me ice cream."
He blinked and then guffawed so loudly it would've startled her if she wasn't already used to it. Aurora smiled warmly and when he nodded, her smile widened,
"Alright, you've got yourself a deal, miss sweet tooth."
Ryan opened the door for her and she slid into the passenger seat, watching as he turned around to take his own space beside her. They sped out of the pavement and drove for a while until he parked at a small lot where other cars were too.
"Hold on," He muttered when he killed the engine, taking off the seatbelt and walking around to pull open the door.
Aurora chuckled, taking his hand as she climbed down from the car, "Why, thank you," She gently closed the door behind her, smiling as he linked their fingers together, "You make an excellent driver, you know."
Ryan grinned, showing off his pearly whites, "I still prefer the motorcycle and I wouldn't have driven this if you hadn't bribed me."
Her cheeks heated up at the conniving look on his face. He was right, when she'd told him about the dinner invitation he was adamant on riding his bike here but she told him that it wouldn't look good for a first impression. After much debating, she resorted to taking off her clothes and the rest was history.
"The air is pretty nice," He commented, inhaling deeply and she nodded, repeating the gesture, "I saw an ice cream shop around the corner, let's go."
They rounded the corner and sure enough, a large ice cream shop was sitting in the middle. Luckily, it was still open although there were less than three customers inside. Aurora ordered a vanilla and strawberry mix with grated nuts while Ryan went for a simple chocolate scoop.
The server came back with their orders and they both grabbed their cups before walking out. Aurora was surprised to see that the street was still alive by this time and she took the opportunity to soak up the lively feeling.
They stopped at so many places and she forced him to take pictures too. For the first time in her life, Aurora tried street food and they tasted amazing. Ryan teased her the entire time about how she'd been missing out on the goodness of life. They even watched a group perform on the streets while people gathered around, one of the guitarist gave her a red rose, singing about how it matched the color of her hair.
Ryan wasn't too pleased with that.
After they had toured round the entire avenue, they returned back to the spot where the car was parked. Ryan has wanted them to continue but her feet was already sore from all the walking, the platform boots she'd worn pinching her toes.
"I don't think I've ever walked this long," She groaned, pulling the boots away from her feet and massaging the spot.
Ryan chuckled, coming to kneel in front of her and taking her legs in his hand, massing the back of her foot. Aurora blushed, shifting on her position when warm heat zinged through her entire body at his touch.
She cleared her throat, pretending to be unaffected by his skills and chose to stare into the sky instead.
"I'm kind of apprehensive, " She muttered.
"Why?"
Her eyes fell on his and she sighed, shrugging weakly, "I have doubts and I fear that I'm making the wrong choice."
He took the other leg, repeating the same massage and she smiled gratefully.
"Because you're leaving?"
She nodded, "My dad offered me a position at his office but I declined it," Aurora shook her head, laughing softly, "What if going away doesn't solve anything? What if my mother is right and I come back even worse?"
He stopped and she frowned slightly when he slowly rose to his feet, sitting on the concrete beside her and taking her palm into his. The contrast between their temperatures was chilling, while her hands were were cold, nearly icy, his were warm like a furnace and she burrowed closer into him.
Ryan noticed this and smiled, "You know what I think?" He started gently and she shook her head, "I think you're going to do wonderfully well, I'm also apprehensive about going back to school and opening the gym class but I know that I'm going to do it anyway and do you know why?"
She shook her head, mesmerized by the tiny flecks of brown in his dark eyes, "No, I don't."
He cupped her cheek with his other hand, giving her an encouraging grin, "It's because five to ten years from now, I know that I won't regret making this choice."
Aurora's courage swelled and she leaned to press her forehead against his, their heavy breaths mixing in the air between them,
"How do you know that?"
"I can feel it," He answered with a low murmur, "Deep down inside my heart, I can feel that this is what I should do. So tell me, flower,"
He placed a palm on her thrumming chest, listening, "Do you feel it?"
Aurora pressed her hand against it, feeling the way her heart beat steadily and somehow, she couldn't explain it but somehow she felt a strange conviction inside of her.
"Yes," She whispered strongly, "I can feel it."
He huffed out a laugh, the action making him unbelievably handsome even up close and it took everything in her not to swoon. Ryan pulled back then and an unconscious whine slipped out of her mouth,
"Here," He said with a smile, presenting a small rectangular box, "I got you this."
Aurora arched a brow, laughing softly, "Okay?" She picked the box from his hand and gave him a suspicious look before popping the lid open.
A silver necklace lay cushioned inside the box and she picked it up, placing it on the inside of her palm. It was a pretty thing, very beautiful with a red gem as it's pendant.
"It was hard to find one that matched the color of your hair and I didn't want to get you a ring because I know how much you hate them," She sputtered out a laugh, moisture gathering in her eyes as she stared at the trinket, "And I know you're not a fan of flowers either so I got you this. Do you like it?"
Her head snapped up and his eyes went wide when he saw the wetness in her eyes.
"Did I-Did I do something wrong?" He rushed out quickly, cupping her face and frowning, "Oh shit, I shouldn't have gotten you a necklace. I'm sorry, I didn't know-"
She shut him up with a kiss, angling her head so that their mouths could mould better. He groaned softly, his hand curving behind her head to hold her still.
When they parted, his gaze was alight with a new fire and she smiled,
"I love it," She breathed, leaning to kiss him again, "I love you."
Ryan stiffened, his entire body going still and his eyes grew wide.
"Y-You," He shook his head, at a loss for words, "Say that again."
She giggled, leaning forward to whisper, "I love you."
Aurora squealed when he carried her into his arms and stole her lips for a passionate kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers closing around the necklace buried within her palm. She was going to treasure it for the rest of her life.
"I don't mind waiting for you a thousand years, I would rather die than to hold any other person in my arms like this," He promised solemnly, gazing into her eyes with intensity, "I love you, Aurora with all that I am and all that I will ever be. In this life and the next, I'll always love you."
The tears ran down the side of her face and she made no effort to hold them back.
Aurora's mouth wobbled helplessly but she managed to say, "I love you, Ryan with all that I am and all that I will ever be. In this life and the next and even the one after, my heart will always belong with you."
They sealed their confessions with another searing kiss, staying like that underneath the transcendent glow of the moonlight with nothing but the stars as their witnesses.
