Chapter 17
Chapter 17
After six months apart, we’d both changed. Aiden looked different thinner, with sun–lightened hair, but still unfairly handsome in that effortless way that had made half our high school swoon.
I might have been naive about people, but I always had good taste. It’s probably why I’d spent years following him around like a lovesick puppy, convincing myself that the boy next door was my destiny. Looking at him now, I could still see why but the view was different when you weren’t looking through rose–colored glasses anymore.
After a moment’s pause, I walked over with an easy smile, the kind you give distant acquaintances. “Hey,
Aiden! Didn’t expect to see you here.”
His hand froze mid–reach for my suitcase, staring at me like I’d started speaking in tongues. The casual tone seemed to throw him more than anything else – no trace of our history, no hint of the girl who used to hang on his every word.
It took him a solid minute to recover, hands slightly shaking as he grabbed my luggage. The confident golden boy suddenly looked unsure of his role in this new script.
Mom leaned in, whispering an explanation: “We ran into him outside. He insisted on coming to help. Wouldn’t take no for an answer – you know how he gets.”
I just smiled, letting her know it was fine. And surprisingly, it was.
In the car, I filled the silence with stories about college life, making my parents laugh with tales of midnight pizza runs and failed attempts at doing laundry. While we all carefully ignored Aiden’s presence, I caught him fighting back smiles in the rearview mirror, like he couldn’t help himself.
He lingered when we got home, clearly angling for an invitation inside, but we all politely deflected with that practiced suburban courtesy that says “not today” without actually saying it.
Throughout break, I kept busy with driving lessons (finally getting my license) and meeting up with old friends. I heard through the grapevine that he tried to catch me several times, but I was always conveniently out. Mom mentioned he’d stop by, looking like a lost puppy, only to leave disappointed.
I was genuinely puzzled why he’d even try – what could we possibly have left to say to each other? Some stories are better left unfinished.
New Year’s Eve brought the usual chaos. Our house was packed with family – my grandmother and aunt had flown in from Chicago, bringing their usual mix of love and drama. After our traditional family dinner (complete with my dad’s infamous attempts at grilling in winter), the older generation settled in with their shows while us younger ones attempted to learn poker, mostly failing but having fun anyway.
16.3%
Chapter 17
That’s when the Carters showed up unexpectedly, loaded down with gifts like they used to every year before everything changed as if nothing had changed at all
16.6%
Chapter 16
