Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 451

Time flew by, and soon after the New Year, Sebastian received his acceptance letter to grad school, ready to follow in Emma's footsteps. The irony was, with his one-year master's program just beginning, Emma was about to graduate from hers.

This left Sebastian in a state of quiet anxiety.

That evening, he went out of his way to cook a special dinner, but he kept hesitating, words catching in his throat. Emma saw it all. This was supposed to be a celebration for his acceptance, but he was so on edge he'd made it a formal affair, even giving his sister Genevieve money to eat out with her friends.

Emma sat down, resting her chin in her hands with a smile. "Sebastian, what's with the long face on such a happy day? Are you mad I didn't get you a graduation gift yet?"

Her words made him blush. "No, of course not..."

Emma glanced at the table. The only thing she'd contributed were the butter cookies, and even that was a stretch. Sebastian had done everything, only asking her to open the oven door for him.

"As a reward for getting into grad school, you get one cookie," she said, picking one up and holding it to his lips.

Sebastian ate it, but his eyes remained fixed on her, soft and pleading. He always looked at her that way, and it made it impossible for her to tease him for long.

She sighed playfully. "Alright, I've given you your reward. Now, what are you going to give me for mine?"

He blinked, not understanding.

Her eyes danced mischievously. "I'm going on to get my Ph.D. What's my reward for that?"

Sebastian's face lit up. "Really? Emma! I was so worried..."

In his excitement, he dashed around the table, sweeping her into his arms and spinning her around. When the initial euphoria passed, he set her down but held her tight. "Emma, I'm so happy. This means I'm in your future, right?"

Emma wrapped her arms around his waist. "Sebastian, can you please just say what's on your mind next time? Don't keep it all bottled up."

"Okay... okay..." he said, beaming. "I just... I didn't want my feelings to influence your future or your decisions."

Winter hadn't quite released its grip, and a cold wind howled outside, but inside their home, a warm, sweet fragrance filled the air.

Emma's master's program was mostly theoretical, but she had still managed to form a dance troupe, composed mainly of international students like herself. While touring Europe with Ms. Brown, she had conceived the idea of choreographing a major ballet based on the theme of a *Bestiary*, a project both Sebastian and Serena Innis had encouraged.

Although she couldn't take the lead role herself, she was determined to bring the ballet to life. It was also the topic of her thesis, a study on incorporating classical folklore into modern dance. Consequently, her schedule was packed. Between her physical therapy, choreography, and graduation preparations, she was constantly busy.

Thankfully, Sebastian was her biggest supporter, a true partner in both her recovery and her professional work. He was not only her greatest help but also the male lead of her ballet.

The university's rehearsal studio had become their second home.

As she guided her dancers, she would often join in, and before she knew it, months had passed. They planned a preview at the campus theater, which meant rehearsals really ramped up.

Lately, though, Emma had begun to feel a persistent gaze lingering on her during practice.