Page 86 of Stuck with my Mechanic Daddies

“No,” I said, my voice firm. “I don’t think you should just think about giving this up. It isn’t what your uncle wanted.”

But even as I said the words, something twisted inside me.

Her life was in the city. Her career, her boss, everything she had worked for.

Her future.

A future that was never meant to involve us.

“You have to do what's right for you,” I whispered, sadness creeping into my voice. “Whatever that is. But don’t feel like you're trapped, Aurora. You can still make your choice. Don’t let this force you into something you don’t want to do.”

She lifted her head slightly, her eyes filled with uncertainty. She was staring at me as if trying to figure out if what I said was true.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered.

Then I saw it.

A hand-drawn book, half hidden beneath a pile of papers.

I pulled it out.The Adventures of Rosie and the Bookshop Dragon.

She smiled a little when she saw it. “I wrote that when I was little. I guess my uncle did keep it.”

I flipped through it, scanning my eyes over the words.

A story about a girl and a dragon who protected books.

Her story. Her dream.

“You're a good writer,” I said, looking at her. “Even at this age. I’m surprised you didn’t become an author.”

Her lips pressed together, and she nodded. “I never thought it was possible. But yeah. I’ve always wanted to.”

I held her gaze, a little surprised.

She had so many dreams that didn’t involve the city.

But of course, she was still torn.

“You still can.”

Her face faltered. “But I can’t. Not with everything else going on in my life.”

“You can,” I said, my voice sharp. “You don’t have to choose. You're not just one thing.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know how to do it all.”

I leaned in, my voice low. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. But you can’t give up on your dreams. You deserve to chase them.”

Her hands shook, but she nodded. Slowly.

She smiled thinly. “Maybe I just take this one step at a time, huh?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Aurora

The hours blurred together.

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