I promise, I will.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Aurora / Joshua
Aurora
Three days.
Three whole days of silence.
Not a text. Not a call. Not a glimpse of him anywhere. It’s as if he were hiding from me, like he didn’t want toseeme.
It was 9:07 p.m.
The lights in my room were dim, the curtains half drawn, and I sat cross-legged on my bed in my stupid little pyjamas, soft white shorts, an oversized t-shirt, hair falling loose in my messy bun. I was supposed to be asleep. I wanted to be asleep.
But my body wouldn’t let me rest.
It kept moving, kept fidgeting, pacing, standing up, sitting down again, because if I stayed still long enough, I’d start crying.
My chest ached as if someone had reached in and twisted it. I pressed my palm there, trying to make it stop, but the pain just pulsed harder.
I missed him.
Aly’s voice replayed in my head.
Be shameless, Rora. Go get him.
Then Alex’s.
If he doesn’t come back, chase him.
Chase.
Chase.
Chase.
The word kept echoing, like a heartbeat I couldn’t slow down.
I got up before I could talk myself out of it. Grabbed my phone and my keycard. My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped everything, but I forced myself toward the door anyway.
The hallway was cold when I stepped out.
The elevator was even colder.
Every floor between mine and his felt like forever.
Maybe he wouldn’t answer.
Maybe he’d shut the door in my face again.
But I couldn’t stay quiet anymore.
I’d rather have him reject me to my face than spend another night wondering if he still thought of me, if he still missed me like I missed him.
So I whispered it under my breath, a mantra, a prayer, a promise—
