Chapter 18
“Our house is too quiet mind if we join your game?” Mrs. Carter asked with her usual warmth.
We’d always spent New Year’s Eve together before everything happened. This year, Mom had politely declined their dinner invitation, but you can’t exactly turn away guests at your door.
Aiden naturally gravitated to the seat next to mine, watching me play poker. My cousins, oblivious to our history, kept making those classic “when’s the wedding?” jokes. I laughed them off smoothly while Aiden’s jaw tightened more with each comment.
At midnight, when everyone headed outside for fireworks, he caught my arm, clearly wanting to talk. That’s when my phone rang.
Blushing slightly, I pulled away from him to answer. It was Jake from my photography club back at Stanford – a local California guy with an infectious laugh. He wasn’t the brooding type like Aiden; instead, he was the kind of guy who could make anyone smile, always ready with a terrible pun or a ridiculous
story.
He claimed he called just to count down the New Year together, not wanting to celebrate alone. I kept him on speaker, letting him join our family’s celebrations from across the country.
Before hanging up, he laughed sheepishly. “Truth is, I just wanted to be the first person to wish you happy New Year. So… happy New Year, Brooklyn!”
I couldn’t help grinning as I wished him the same, chatting for a few more minutes. When I finally hung up and turned around, Aiden was standing there, his expression glacial.
He’d clearly heard everything.
“Boyfriend?” His voice was rough.
“Not officially,” I answered honestly, after considering it.
Aiden stayed quiet for what felt like forever.
Just as I was about to head back inside to rejoin the poker game, he spoke again: “Long–distance relationships rarely work out. You should find someone closer to home.”
I nodded, noting the irony. “You’re right – you never really know someone until you do. I’ll take my time deciding. Thanks for the advice, Aiden. Hope you settle down soon too.”
Something in my casual response seemed to hit a nerve. Without another word, he disappeared into the night.
16.9%
Chapter 18
I shrugged it off his mood swings weren’t my problem anymore. Amazing how rose colored glasses could make even red flags look like normal flags.
The rest of break flew by in a blur of family visits and road trips with my parents. I barely spent any time at home, successfully avoiding any more Aiden encounters,
Break ended too quickly, and I was back at Stanford before I knew it.
Then, impossibly, I saw Aiden standing at the university entrance the very next day,
