Your Girlfriend Calls Me Daddy

Chapter 175 - 176 | When You’re Ready

"Why?"

"Because you’re dangerous. Everything about you screams warning signs. The abilities that shouldn’t exist. The secrets you’re obviously keeping. The way you’ve somehow collected half the women in our class like they’re accessories."

"They’re not accessories."

"I know. That’s what makes it worse." She finally turned to face me fully. "If you were using them, I could hate you. I could walk away and feel justified in doing it. But you actually care about them. I can see it. Cheon. Mera. Even Noel, who spent five years trying to destroy you. You’ve turned enemies into allies and strangers into family."

"I didn’t plan for any of this."

"I believe you. That’s the terrifying part."

She stepped closer. Close enough that I could smell her perfume. Something light and floral that reminded me of spring mornings and possibilities.

"What do you want from me?" she asked.

"What do you want from me?"

"I asked first."

Fair enough.

"I want you to be happy," I said. "Whatever that looks like. With whoever that involves. If that’s Nolan, then I’ll step back. If that’s someone else entirely, I’ll accept it. But if it’s me." I paused, choosing my next words carefully. "If you decide that what you want is me, then I’ll do everything in my power to deserve that choice."

Her eyes glistened. I couldn’t tell if it was tears or just the reflection of city lights.

"That’s not what I expected you to say."

"What did you expect?"

"Something more selfish. More demanding." A small, sad smile crossed her face. "Something that would make this decision easier."

"Sorry to disappoint."

"You’re not." She reached out and touched my chest. Her palm rested flat over my heart, warm through the thin fabric of my henley. "You’re making this impossibly hard, actually."

"Would you prefer I be an asshole about it?"

"Maybe a little. At least then I could justify walking away."

"I can try if you want."

"Please don’t."

Her hand slid up to my shoulder. Then to my neck. Her fingers were cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth building in my chest.

"I’m not ready," she said quietly. "To commit to anything. To you or to Nolan or to anyone. My whole life has been planned out since I was twelve years old. School, agencies, partnerships. All of it mapped and scheduled and optimized for maximum career trajectory."

"That sounds exhausting."

"It is." Her thumb traced the line of my jaw. "You’re the first person who’s ever made me want to throw the plan away. Who’s ever made me want something just because it feels right, not because it makes strategic sense."

"Is that good?"

"I don’t know yet."

She kissed me.

It was different from the first time. Less desperate. More intentional. Her lips moved against mine with a tenderness that felt like permission. Like a question being asked rather than an answer being demanded.

I let her set the pace. Let her explore. Let her decide how far this moment would go.

When she finally pulled back, her eyes were darker than before. Her breathing had quickened. Her cheeks flushed with color that had nothing to do with the cool night air.

"I need time," she said.

"Take it."

"I need to break up with Nolan properly. Not through a text or a voicemail. He deserves better than that."

"He does."

"And I need to figure out what I actually want. Not what my parents want or what the agencies expect or what the timeline says should happen next. Just what I want."

"Okay."

"You’re not going to push?"

"No."

She stared at me like I’d grown a second head.

"Who are you?" she asked. "Seriously. What happened to the Rome D’Angelo who spent three years chasing anything in a skirt? The one who hit on every woman at every party and never took no for an answer?"

"He died in a parking lot."

The words came out before I could stop them. Aurora’s eyes widened.

"What?"

"Nothing." I shook my head. "Figure of speech."

"That didn’t sound like a figure of speech."

"It was." I stepped back, putting space between us before I said something else I’d regret. "Take your time, Aurora. Figure out what you want. I’ll be here when you’re ready."

"And if I decide I don’t want this?"

"Then I’ll accept it."

"You make it sound so simple."

"It’s not. But some things are worth being patient for."

She looked at me for a long moment. Searching for something. I wasn’t sure if she found it.

"Goodnight, Rome."

"Goodnight, Aurora."

She walked toward the elevator. Stopped. Turned back.

"For what it’s worth," she said, "I think I’m going to want this. I’m just not ready to say it out loud yet."

Then she was gone.

I stood on the observation deck, the city glittering below like a promise I had no right to keep. The faces of the women in my life flickered through my mind. Cheon, with her sharp mind and unexpected warmth. Mera, whose loyalty was becoming as fierce as her ambition. Noel, a wounded rival who was now something else entirely. And now Aurora, the one I wasn’t supposed to want, asking me for time I wasn’t sure I had. The system remained silent, but for the first time, I didn’t care what it had to say.

Seven heroines. Six claimed. One pending.

The system remained silent. No notifications. No updates. No commentary on my conversation with Aurora or my earlier activities with Noel.

For once, I didn’t mind the quiet.

I pulled out my phone and texted Cheon.

Rome: On my way home.

Cheon: How did it go?

Rome: We talked.

Cheon: That’s it?

Rome: That’s it.

A pause. Then:

Cheon: I’m proud of you.

Three words. Simple and direct. They shouldn’t have meant as much as they did.

Rome: Thanks.

Cheon: Mera made dessert. There’s ice cream if you want some.

Rome: Perfect.

I took one last look at the city. At the life I was building in this world that wasn’t supposed to be mine. At the future that was slowly taking shape despite every obstacle the universe kept throwing at me.

Then I headed for the elevator.

Home was waiting.