Chapter Twenty-Seven: Aurora

Over breakfast, Aurora nervously chats with Henry while Russ visits with friends. Henry bluntly asks Aurora to keep future visits discreet and explains Russ’s tendency to assume the worst, urging her to be explicit with reassurance. Aurora appreciates the trust Russ has placed in her and Henry’s protective support.

Later, the camp’s routine is disrupted after the friends’ visit, and Aurora and Maya stage a treasure hunt to burn off the kids’ energy. During quiet hour, Xander announces he’s splitting from Emilia over “creative differences” for the talent show and recruits Russ. Aurora, wanting team unity but prioritizing Russ’s happiness, gives her blessing when Russ checks in with her.

That evening, Russ invites Aurora on a date but worries about arousing suspicion by signing out together. Aurora suggests a covert route; Russ insists she take his truck, then meets her nearby. He drives to an abandoned building on Orla’s land and reveals a cozy truck-bed setup with blankets, snacks, and a projector. They start Ratatouille, exchange soft affirmations, and trade “secrets,” imagining a simple shared future.

Encouraged, Russ shares a painful memory: a past situationship with Leah that led her hockey-player brother and teammates to trash a rink, wrongly implicating Russ until he was cleared. Shame has lingered, especially when facing UCLA. Aurora reframes it—he was used and is not at fault—urging him to stop self-punishing. Relieved, Russ accepts her reassurance, and they seal the moment with a kiss, their intimacy and trust deepened.