I follow him, but every step away from Aurora's door feels wrong.
This is going to be hell.
One month of living under the same roof. One month of watching her with Leo. One month of knowing that I created this nightmare.
And I have no idea how to end it.
10
AURORA
"Girl, you look like death."
I stare at Chloe's face on my phone screen. She's not wrong—I've got dark circles under my eyes, my hair's in a messy bun, and I'm pretty sure I'm wearing the same shirt I wore yesterday.
"Thanks, Chloe. Really helpful." I grumble.
"I'm serious," she says, and Tiana gives Chloe a look before leaning into the frame, her brown doe eyes worried. "Aurora, what's going on? You've been dodging our calls for a week."
God, I can’t believe it’s been a week already.
One week of living in the same house as Axel, of avoiding his gaze at breakfast, lunch, dinner, of Leo's hands on me, his voice in my ear, his constant presence like a disease I can't shake.
It’s been one whole week of hell.
“I-I'm fine," I lie.
"You’re a terrible liar girl." Chloe crosses her arms. "Spill. Now."
I glance at my bedroom door. I locked it, but still. "I can't talk about it."
"Can't or won't?"
"Both?” I bite my lips.
Tiana's expression softens. "Aurora, we're worried. You look exhausted. Are you eating? Sleeping right?"
No. I'm throwing up every morning and lying awake every night thinking about Axel down the hall.
"I'm just stressed. Wedding planning is—it's a lot."
"Wedding planning?" Chloe's eyes go wide. "Wait, WHAT? You're getting married?"
Shit.
I forgot I hadn't told them even that bit.
"My father arranged it," I say quietly. "I'm engaged."
The silence on the other end is deafening.
Then Chloe explodes. "ENGAGED? Aurora, what the actual fuck?"
"Chloe—"
"No! You don't get to 'Chloe' me! You've been home for what, a month? And now you're engaged to some random guy your dad picked?!”
"It's complicated—" My throat closes around the rest of the sentence. I press my lips together, breathe through my nose, and try to find somewhere to start that doesn't make me fall apart before I get to the end of it.
