A Step Closer to Love

Kieran entered Aurora’s office where she was tidying up to leave for the day.

“Can we talk now?” Kieran said taking his seat on one of the couches in her office.

“Here? I was thinking we could catch lunch and talk there” Aurora said.

Kieran frowned. Was she trying to force him to have lunch with her? He had no choice but to hear her out. She has done so many things in the past. She has called him out when she was drunk and even made a huge scene too.

“Do you have a place in mind?” Kieran asked giving up.

“Oh yes, I did not bring my car so we can take yours,” Aurora said going out the door and pulling him too.

Arabella was standing at the curb of the office building when Kieran drove past her with Aurora in the front seat. Arabella thanked her stars that she did not listen to Kieran. If she had waited for him then she would have to be in the car with the two of them.

“Let’s go,” Chole said linking her hands with Arabella’s hand.

“Oh okay,” Arabella said removing her gaze from the car that was going and almost long gone from them.

“I am so excited to be the one taking care of Michelle,” Chole said with a squeal.

She had been beaming since she got the news. It was impossible for her to calm down. She even burst into fits of happy laughs at instances too.

“Me too,” Arabella said rubbing her palm lightly.

“What do you think we should get her?” Chole asked.

“I have been following her for a long while and I know her favorite meal places to visit in Crescent Bay. I plan to call the owner and order something nice for them” Arabella said happily. She was elated.

“What can I get you?” the waiter who would be waiting at the table where Kieran and Aurora were seated.

“Give us your special” Kieran said before Aurora could get a word out to start ordering the whole menu.

“Okay, maybe bring you bread or chips?” the waiter asked.

“Anything that pairs well with your special” Kieran said dismissing him.

“So you want to tell me something?” Kieran asked leaning back into the chair and crossing his hands over his chest.

Maybe tonight would be the tonight he turns down Aurora finally. If she went ahead to confess her feelings to him. She had made it obvious over the years that she liked him but he never had her any attention since he did not want her.

She chuckled and took a sip of her water before cleaning her hand on her napkin multiple times. Now that she was about to talk she felt nervous.

“Kieran, why don’t we get married?” she asked forcefully. She could not believe it. She just asked him to marry her.

“Married? Get married?” Kieran said laughing out loud. He barely laughed but this must be one of those rare things that make one laugh.

“Get married me and you? You must be kidding”

“Come on it makes sense that we end up together. Why not just do it earlier?” Aurora asked.

She did not know what came over her but asking Kieran to marry her when he had said no to all her lettering seemed logical to her.

“How does it make sense that we end up together? What is the reason for your conclusion?” Kieran asked his eyebrows going up in curiosity.

No matter how he thought about it there was no reason for them to be together. Maybe hearing her logic would make him see some sense in what she was saying and not call her crazy.

“We have known each other for the longest time. Our friends expect us to be together and I have liked you for the longest time too. I know that you would eventually cave in and we would be together. So why wait?” Aurora asked.

Her self-confidence was skyrocketed. She felt confident. Her reasons were reasons why young people get together. She has been friends with Kieran for fourteen years and had liked him that long too. Everyone rooted for them and they looked standing next to each other. They did complement each other.

Kieran found himself chuckling silently. He thought not to laugh so as not to offend her but no matter how he thought about her words they made no sense and they would not make any sense in any universe either.

“What’s funny?” Aurora asked now uncomfortable. Her former esteem that had risen and blown off the roofs was now slowly coming down.

She has expected anything except the laugh. She knew Kieran was distant but he had proven time and time again that he was considerate. His laugh was not sitting well with her.

“If that’s the way the marriage of a thing works then I guess I have to settle down with Arabella or Arabella’s sister. They are the girls I have known for the longest time” Kieran said.

At the sound of Arabella’s name Aurora froze and felt her blood rising. The reason she decided against waiting for Kieran after waiting all these years was because of her. Somehow she managed to find her way into their conversation too.

How did she just appear out of nowhere and begin to scatter her plans for a long time? How did she even begin to shake Kieran up? Kieran had always been against others in his car but he was gladly offering her a free ride to and fro.

Aurora would have been least bothered if Arabella was not that beautiful but she was a sight to behold. There was barely anybody who would not do a double take when they first meet.

“And I do not plan to live my life according to what my friends expect of me,” Kieran said.

“But…” Aurora began.

“Is this the reason you brought me out today?” Kieran asked sitting up.

Aurora scratched her head and looked away. She felt guilty and embarrassed. She did more to get what she wanted and now she was feeling self-conscious. Kieran stood up when he confirmed the reason she had brought him out.

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