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.”

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

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.

“We ran into him outside. He insisted on coming to help. Wouldn’t take no for an answer – you know

her know it

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

an invitation inside, but we all politely deflected

and meeting up with old friends. I heard through the grapevine that he tried to catch me

was genuinely puzzled why he’d even try – what could we possibly have left to

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

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