A Promise kept

CHAPTER SIX

5:40 PM.

I turned the burner off. The sauce was done. The pasta was done. I pulled the garlic bread out of the oven. Golden and hot. I wiped the counter. Washed the pot. Threw the paper towels Ethan used in the trash. The kitchen smelled like tomatoes and garlic and Lover was still playing softly from my phone. The house was quiet again. Too quiet.

I couldn’t stay down here. I needed a shower. Hot water. Steam. Somewhere the silence and the song couldn’t follow me. I let the water run over my face. Hoodie. Shorts. Messy bun. All of it in a pile on the floor. I stood there until my fingers pruned and the water went lukewarm. I got out, wrapped in a towel, hair dripping.

Laptop on the bed. I’d been avoiding it for days.

UC Davis portal.

Login. Password. Submit.

Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you admission to UC Davis for Fall 2026 in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Major: Animal Science.

Below that, another email notification popped up.

UC Davis Housing: Roommate Assignment Confirmed - Sierra Hall

Roommate: Elena M.

I read it twice.

Then a third time.

Animal Science.

And Elena. We got in. Together.

My chest felt weird. Happy and heavy at the same time.

I grabbed my phone with wet hands.

ELENA

She picked up on the first ring. "Rory??"

"I got in," I whispered. "UC Davis. Animal Science. And we got Sierra Hall. Together."

A scream. "OH MY GOD!!! ROOMIES!!! I KNEW IT!! I’m so proud of you!!"

I laughed. It came out shaky. "We’re actually doing this."

"We’re gonna be so close! Same dorm, same classes probably!"

"Yeah," I said. My voice dropped. "Elena... today was weird."

"What happened?"

"Ethan helped me cook. And then Cory called about Saturday and he just... left."

"Oh, Rory."

"I don’t know why it bothered me."

"Call me tomorrow, okay? I need all the details."

"Okay. Love you."

"Love you too. Congrats again, Animal Science girlie."

We hung up.I was still damp. Still tired.

I lay back on my bed, towel and all, and the next thing I knew—

"Principessa."

A hand on my shoulder.

"Wake up. It's time for dinner."

Dad.

I blinked. My hair was half-dry, my eyes puffy.

"Okay. 2 minutes."

I washed my face, threw on clean sweats and a tee. No makeup. Didn’t matter.

Downstairs...

The dining table was full. Mom. Dad. Luca and Ethan. He was back. He didn’t look at me when I sat down.

"Hey," I mumbled.

"Hey," Luca said. "Smells good in here."

"I tried," I said.

Mom smiled. "Aurora, say grace please."

I bowed my head. "Dear God, thank you for this food and for my family. Amen."

"Amen," they all said.

Plates passed. Pasta. Salad. Garlic bread. Normal. Like nothing happened in this kitchen 2 hours ago.

"So," Dad said, serving me. "How was your day, mija?"

I took a breath.

"I got in."

Mom froze. "In where?"

"UC Davis. Animal Science. And Elena and I got Sierra Hall together."

The table went quiet for half a second.

Then:

"OH MY BABY!!" Mom was up, hugging me.

Luca: "LETS GOOO!! Roomies!! Told you they’d take you!"

Ethan finally looked up. Small smile. "Congrats, Milla."

"That’s amazing sweetheart," Dad said. Then his face fell. "Davis though? That’s so far."

"Dad—"

"I just... I can’t stand the thought of my princess so far away. UCLA is right here."

I reached over and squeezed his hand. "Dad. Davis has the best Animal Science program in the country. And I’ll come home some weekends. I promise. I’ll FaceTime you every day. And I have Elena."

He sighed, but pulled me into a side hug. "Fine. But I’m driving you there myself."

"Deal."

Luca took a bite of garlic bread. "Speaking of going places... Stanford’s next month. You ready to be an only child?"

Ethan shrugged. "I start at Reed Group in June. MBA orientation is in September."

"And I start med school in September," Luca grinned. "Human Biology undergrad done. Time to actually be a doctor."

"We’re both leaving you," Luca said to me. "Cruel."

Dad put his fork down. "Don’t remind me."

Luca took another bite. "Also... how’s that date Saturday?"

"LUCA."

"What? I’m asking for Dad."

Dad looked at me. Slowly. "Date?"

"With Cory," Luca said innocently. "He is picking her up at 1."

"Rory," Dad said.

"Dad it’s not a date," I said fast. "He’s just a friend. We’re going to lunch. And maybe the arcade."

Mom: "She’s 18, mi amor. She’s allowed to have friends and go on dates."

"Friends who pick her up at 1," Dad muttered.

"I’ll be home by 5," I said. "And I’ll text you when I get there and when I leave. Please?"

Dad looked at me for a long time. Then nodded. "Fine. But Luca’s going with you to drop you off."

"Deal," I said quickly.

We moved on. Graduation next week. Gowns. Photos.

"New chapter," Ethan said quietly when Mom asked if he was excited. He glanced at me. "At Reed Group, then back to GSB."

Dinner ended. 9PM.Luca and Ethan cleared plates. They went to wash them in the kitchen.

Hallway...

Ethan was by the stairs. He stopped when he saw me.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey."

Awkward.

"So," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Saturday."

My stomach dropped.

"1 PM," he continued. "Right? With your... friend."

The word friend sounded wrong in his mouth.

"Yeah," I said. "Just lunch."

"Mm." He nodded once. "Cool. Just... text Luca when you get there, okay? For safety."

"That’s what I said I’d do."

"Right."

He looked at me. Really looked.

"Don’t stay out late, okay?"

"Are you... telling me what to do?"

His jaw ticked. "No. Big brother thing. Luca asked me to."

"Right," I echoed.

Silence.

"Congrats on Davis, by the way," he said quietly. "You and Elena. That’s great."

"Thanks."

He walked past me up the stairs.

"Night, Milla."

"Night." I went to my room and got in bed.

I fell asleep after some minutes of doomscrolling.