Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 711

Xander kept that stone-cold poker face, and honestly? I was cover it. I grabbed my phone and started scrolling, pretending not to care

"You really pull guys in, huh?" he said out of nowhere.

I glanced up, raising a brow. "Obviously. I'm a total catch Everyone's obsessed with me "

I smirked. "What's the problem? Wade getting too much of my attention for your ling?

He sipped his water, cool as ever. "No."

Yeah, okay. Sure, Jan.

I was ready to roll my eyes and move on when he hit me with "You only love Hayden"

Yikes. Cue the most awkward silence ever.

I almost laughed. Like, really? The guy was walking around all smeg thinking I was still hooked on him?

Spoiler: not completely wrong. I mean, I still had the ring he gave me and this bracelet with

the dumb little bell charm.

The bell jingled softly when I flicked it, breaking the tension. "Yeah, you're right-I do love him," I said, voice light. "But let's be real, how sustainable is that? Loving someone you can't even touch? Kinda tragic, don't you think? I shot him a sly smile. "Maybe one day, I'll meet someone else. The world's full of distractions, right?"

"So your

"If someone wants a shot, they better

but an image of Jace

was Exhibit A of

stayed quiet, and I wasn't about to poke

and Wade came back. Yuna was all sunshine and sparkles, practically

vibe flipped fast. At

ages since you proposed to Keira! When

"she said, grinning.

soon," Xander sald, so chill you'd think

soon' isn't a real deadline! I'm losing patience here," Yuna huffed before turning, her playful energy toward me. "Right, Keira? You're dying to lock him down

on the joke, "Oh, I can wait. But if I do lose patience, and he's still

you hear that?

his eyes locking with mine. "But it's not happening. I

my cue to dip. I stood, muttering something about needing the bathroom, but instead made a

Xander's whole two-face act-Hayden for Yuna, Xander when it was just us-felt like a fun little

on the railing, letting the cool air calm me down. Below,

I heard footsteps.

bothering you?"

fish. "Doesn't everyone have something weighing on them?" I mumbled. "Even those fish probably have their own little problems." "Like what? Planning a jailbreak?" Wade joked, and I couldn't help it-a small smile

just the sound of the