A Promise kept

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The house was still half-asleep when Aurora’s phone rang at 6:30am.

Beverly Hills area code.

"Hey baby," Her mom’s voice. "We’re boarding. See you in a few hours."

Aurora sat up. "Right. Today."

It was the plan. One week in Texas, one in Italy.

By 2:15pm she was at George Bush Intercontinental Airport with her grandparents.

IAH Airport

Caleb had texted at 9am: how’s your Monday?

She hadn’t answered.

Then they came through the doors.

Mom. Dad. And Luca- Stanford hoodie, tired eyes, looking exactly like home.

Luca pulled her into a hug first. "Hey Ro."

"Hey." Her voice cracked.

Her mom hugged her too tight. "Look at you. You’re tan."

Her dad smiled. "Ready for some Texas and some pasta?"

Linda cried. Tom shook her dad’s hand. The quiet Woodlands house was full again.

They spent the afternoon doing nothing and everything.

Linda made enchiladas. Tom told bad golf stories.

Her mom and Linda sat on the porch swing talking.

Her dad and Luca played catch in the backyard, even though it was 98 degrees.

Luca tossed the ball to Aurora. "You still run like you’re gonna fall?"

"Shut up." She caught it and threw it back.

For a second it felt like Beverly Hills again. Before everything.

At dinner it was normal.

"How’s the summer going?"

"Are you excited for fall?"

"Try the peach cobbler, Ro."

Aurora smiled. Ate. Answered.

But her phone kept buzzing.

Caleb.

Hey. Saw your snap at the airport. You ok?

She typed back under the table.

I'm OK. My fam just got here

Oh wow. Wanna talk later?

Later. After everyone sleeps

11:34pm. Everyone was asleep.

Aurora shut her bedroom door and called him.

"Hey," Caleb said immediately.

"Hey." She sat on her bed, pulling her knees up. "Sorry I didn’t text earlier."

"It’s fine. How’s Ro doing with the fam?"

They talked. For an hour. About his classes at Lone Star College. About her being nervous for Davis. About the heat. About nothing. His laugh made the house feel less heavy.

Then the door opened.

Luca. In sweats. Hair messy. "You up?"

Aurora jolted. "Yeah— I—"

Caleb heard it. "You good?"

"I gotta go. Goodnight," she whispered. Dropped the phone on the bed.

Luca shut the door behind him. "Who was that?"

Aurora’s heart was pounding. "Just... a guy I met. Here."

Luca raised an eyebrow. "A guy?"

"His name’s Caleb. He’s 19. We met at the movies. He goes to Lone Star."

Luca leaned against her desk. His face went carefully blank.

"Ro," he said quietly. "Is this about Ethan?"

Aurora shook her head fast. "No. Me and Caleb are just... talking. For now. Nothing more."

Luca studied her for a long second. He knew things Aurora didn’t. That Ethan was a panther shifter. That Aurora was his mate. That "just talking" could still get complicated.

But he couldn’t say any of that.

"Okay," he said finally. "Just be careful. With everything."

He left. Shut the door.

Aurora picked up her phone.

You good? from Caleb.

Yeah. My brother came in. Night

She turned off the light.

Texas. Then Italy. Then Davis.

And now Luca knew about Caleb. And knew way more than he could say.