Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN WHO WENT BACK TO SCHOOL
Six months later, I returned to college.
I was twenty-seven.
Older than most of my classmates.
Still working part-time.
Still worried about bills.
But I was finally moving toward something I had once believed impossible.
Sofia was thriving in her architecture program.
She had also started paying part of our rent through a paid internship.
I protested.
She ignored me.
“You're not the only DeLuca allowed to help,” she said.
I laughed.
“Fine.”
Aurelio and I remained in contact.
Sometimes we met for coffee.
Sometimes he asked me to explain a financial concept.
Sometimes we argued about whether a business decision was ethical.
He never offered to pay my tuition again after I made it clear that I wanted to handle my own education.
Instead, he respected my choices.
That mattered more than he understood.
One afternoon, he met me outside the campus library.
He wore a dark coat and carried two cups of coffee.
I smiled.
“You look out of place.”
He glanced around.
“Because I'm overdressed?”
“Because everyone here is broke.”
He laughed.
“Fair.”
We sat on a bench.
He looked at me.
“Would you have dinner with me Friday?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“We've had dinner.”
“I mean a date.”
My heart jumped.
I studied him.
“Aurelio.”
“Yes?”
“Are you asking because you feel grateful?”
“No.”
“Because you think I saved your company?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
He smiled.
“Because I like you.”
I laughed.
“That's a very simple answer.”
“Sometimes the truth is.”
I looked down.
Then back at him.
“One date.”
May you like
His smile widened.
“One date.”
