School was finally over.
Still no Aiden.
Fuck.
Why does shit like this always happen the moment I think life's cutting me some slack? Like, the universe sees me smiling and just decides, "Let's ruin that real quick."
I'd tried everything. Went to a few of Aiden's classes, even asked people I normally wouldn't be caught dead making eye contact with. Most of them just gave me weird stares or shrugged like I was speaking alien. No one had seen him. No one knew anything. It was like he'd vanished off the face of the Earth.
And then, because my day clearly wasn't painful enough, I bumped into Toby. Again.
Oh, joy.
He wasted no time. Launched straight into one of his "Aiden is bad news" speeches like he'd been rehearsing it in front of a mirror. Something about how Aiden ruins everything and how being around him is a "dangerous mistake" and how I'm gonna end up "in pieces emotionally and possibly literally."
I wasn't listening. Not really. My head was somewhere else — somewhere between panic and frustration.
Still, he kept talking.
And I finally snapped.
"Hey, Toby," I said, with the calmest rage I could manage, "do you mind going as far away from me as humanly possible? I need to make a phone call."
He blinked. Clearly hurt. I could see it all over his face.
But honestly? Not my problem.
No one asked for his opinion. Especially not when the person I actually cared about was missing in action.
Toby mumbled something like, "I should probably get going," and walked away with his feelings trailing behind him like a kicked puppy.
I didn't care.
I pulled out my phone and called Julie. One ring. Two. She picked up fast.
"Hey baby," she answered, way too cheerful. "You have fun with your boyfriend?"
I sighed so hard I nearly popped a lung.
Held back the reflex to shout, "He's not my boyfriend!" because, well… this time he actually was.
Progress, I guess.
"Don't start, woman," I muttered. "I need a ride home. Now."
"Okaaay honey," she said, dragging it out like she was already planning how to interrogate me the second I got in the car. "But you have to tell me everything that—"
I hung up.
Didn't even feel bad.
This nosy woman is gonna be the end of me.
I shoved my phone deep into my pocket, resisting the urge to throw it at the wall. My head was a mess, and my heart felt like it was tied up in knots and dipped in anxiety. I hated not knowing where Aiden was. I hated feeling useless. And most of all, I hated that I finally had him — and now he was gone.
Goddamn it, Aiden. Where the hell are you?
_ _ _
The ride home with Julie was… not what I expected.
I thought she'd be all over me with questions about Aiden. "What did you do?" "Where did he touch you?" "Did you kiss him or did he kiss you?" You know — Julie things.
But nope.
Instead, the second I got into the car, she pulled me into one of those intense, borderline life-threatening hugs. Her arms locked around me like she was trying to fuse our bodies into one organism or something.
She kissed my cheeks, like, a lot — rapid-fire pecks that made me scrunch up my face like I was dodging bullets.
"I missed you so much," she said dramatically, like I'd been kidnapped or drafted into war. "The house was so empty without your grumpy little face."
Bullshit.
I squinted at her. "I know you went out with Victor. You're not fooling anyone, woman."
She laughed — caught red-handed but way too shameless to even flinch. "Looks like I got caught," she said, grinning. "But I did miss you, I swear." Then she ruffled my hair like I was a damn golden retriever or something.
I sighed. "I guess I sort of missed you too," I mumbled, looking away before she milked it.
She might be nosy and annoying and a little bit crazy, but… she's my only family. And she's been there — always. Even when she drives me to the brink of insanity, I know she's just worried about me. She really cares.
And I care about her too.
"So…" I said, glancing over at her, "you wanna tell me how the hell you managed to land Victor? I haven't even told you how impressed I am, by the way. Way to go, Julie."
Julie laughed, brushing her hair back like she was on a talk show. "Yeah… about that…"
She paused.
Oh no.
"Let's just say," she continued, "Victor and I… actually have a little bit of history."
I blinked.
"Wait, what?"
She gave me this weird nostalgic smile and just said, "It's a long story. Really long. And totally stupid."
"Oh, I'm not complaining," I said quickly, leaning in with a grin. "Spill it, woman."
But of course, this was Julie.
"Nice try," she said smugly, "but I'm not telling you anything. It's a secret." She even winked. Winked.
I groaned. "Oh, come on. Tell me, please?" I threw in the puppy face — full eye sparkle, soft pout, slightly tilted head. My ultimate weapon. She didn't stand a chance.
Julie gasped. "Damn it, baby, don't make that face!"
I leaned closer, still begging. She was cracking. I could see it.
"Fine!" she caved, throwing her hands up. "Alright, I'll talk. But not here. When we get home, I promise." She gave this exaggerated sigh like I was some kind of adorable curse she couldn't shake. "Why'd I have to be blessed — or cursed — with such a dangerously cute nephew?"
Then she pinched my cheeks and pulled. Like really pulled.
"Ouch! Fuck! You'll tear my face off, you crazy woman!"
She just laughed and leaned on my shoulder like nothing happened.
I rubbed my cheeks, still stinging, and sighed. Then smiled — despite myself — staring down at her.
She might be a menace.
But she's my menace.
And honestly? I wouldn't trade her for anything.
_ _ _
When we finally got home, the car rolled to a stop and the driver stepped out. I squinted at him through the window, my brows furrowed.
"Whoa. Who the hell is that?" I muttered.
Julie didn't even blink. "Oh yeah, he's new."
New? Since when?
She turned to the guy with a smile. "Thanks, Henry. Don't forget to bring the car around later," she said casually. Then she looked at me and tilted her head, giving that classic Well? Are you coming or not? look. "Hmm?"
I was still stuck processing. My eyes trailed from Henry back to her. "You keep giving me lectures about cutting down my spending and suddenly you've got a new driver? What happened to the old one?"
Julie rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Please. I didn't hire Henry."
I folded my arms. "Mmm-hmm. So?"
She tossed her hair like it was nothing. "Victor did." And with that, she spun around and walked toward the door like she didn't just drop a bomb.
I blinked. "Victor…" I repeated slowly, then scoffed under my breath. "Aunt Julie's on a roll."
I stretched my arms above my head, immediately regretted it, and winced. "Still hurts like hell," I muttered, rubbing my lower back.
Inside, I dropped onto one of the dining chairs, letting my weight sink into it. My phone was still in my pocket, and I pulled it out, unlocking it with a sigh. Aiden's name stared back at me. I hovered my thumb over the call button… then hesitated.
Would he even pick up?
My mind, of course, took the opportunity to betray me again—drifting right back to Hayden. His arms around me. The kisses. The warmth of his breath on my skin. God, I missed it. I missed him.
But poof. Like magic. Gone.
"Stupid Aiden. Stupid Hayden. Ugh!" I groaned and let my forehead drop onto the table with a loud thud.
That's when I heard a voice behind me.
"Well aren't you just adorable."