Chapter 15
Jayden reached for Arianna’s hand, his eyes shining with emotion. “We’re never going to miss our chance again. I swear to you.”
But the moment his fingers touched hers, she tensed and gently pulled away.
The rejection felt like a knife between his ribs, but he tried to keep his expression neutral. She wasn’t ready for physical contact yet. After everything she’d been through–after everything he’d put her through–of course she wasn’t.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, her voice small and apologetic. “I’m still getting used to… being close to
people again. It’s not you, I promise. I just need time.”
“Hey, no.” His voice was soft, understanding, even though his chest was aching. “Don’t apologize. We’ve got all the time in the world. No pressure, okay?”
She nodded, but he could see the guilt in her eyes, and it made him hate himself all over again.
That afternoon, Jayden tried to focus on work emails while Arianna curled up on his couch watching
some cheesy rom–com. Every few minutes he’d steal glances at her, still barely believing she was
real–that she was here, alive, choosing to stay with him despite everything.
The peaceful moment was interrupted by his phone buzzing. Harris Rogers, his college roommate, was
calling.
“Jayden! Holy shit, man, guess what? I’m in Burlington for a conference this week. We absolutely have to grab dinner–I haven’t seen you in forever!”
Jayden looked over at Arianna, who was watching him curiously while stealing bites of ice cream straight
from the container.
“Actually, that sounds perfect,” he said, his heart racing with nervous excitement. “There’s someone really important I want you to meet.”
“Ooh, mysterious,” Harris laughed. “Let me guess–you finally found yourself a girlfriend?”
“Something like that,” Jayden said, smiling at Arianna. “You’re gonna love her.”
Burlington’s downtown sparkled with Friday night energy as Jayden and Arianna walked toward the restaurant. He’d chosen a nice place with private dining rooms–he wanted everything to be perfect.
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Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I’m Shining Golden as a Queen
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Chapter 15
“I’m so nervous,” Arianna admitted, adjusting her scarf for the third time. “What if he thinks I’m weird? What if he doesn’t like me?”
“That’s literally impossible,” Jayden said firmly, wanting to take her hand but respecting her boundaries. “Harris is going to think you’re amazing because you are amazing.”
They were seated in a cozy private room and had just ordered wine when Arianna excused herself to the bathroom. She’d barely been gone two minutes when the door burst open and Harris walked in, grinning
like an idiot.
“There’s my boy!” he said, pulling Jayden into a crushing bear hug. “Look at you, all grown up and successful. I’m so fucking proud of you, man.”
“Thanks for making time for this,” Jayden said, his stomach fluttering with anticipation. “I can’t wait for you to meet her. She’s incredible.”
Harris waved him off with a knowing smirk. “Already met her, actually. Bumped into her in the hallway on my way in–absolutely gorgeous, by the way. You did good.”
Jayden felt a little jolt of surprise. “Oh, that’s great! What did you think?”
Instead of answering, Harris pulled a black wallet out of his jacket and tossed it across the table.
“You dropped this like a total klutz. Good thing I saw it, or you’d be buying dinner on my credit card.”
Jayden opened his wallet, and his breath caught. There, tucked behind his driver’s license, was that old photo of him and Arianna from senior year–faded and worn from being carried around for a decade.
“Jesus Christ,” Harris laughed, “you still carry around high school pictures? That’s some serious hopeless romantic shit right there. I respect it.”
They were both chuckling when the door opened and Arianna slipped back in.
Jayden immediately stood, pulling out her chair with a nervous smile. “Arianna, I want you to officially meet my best friend from college. Harris, this is my girlfriend, Arianna.”
Arianna smiled warmly and gave a little wave. “Hi, Harris. It’s so nice to meet you.‘
But Harris didn’t respond. He was staring at Jayden with an expression that was shifting from
amusement to genuine concern.
“Jayden,” he said slowly, like he was talking to someone who might be having a mental breakdown. “What are you doing, man? Who are you talking to?”
The question hit Jayden like a physical blow. “What do you mean? I’m introducing you to Arianna. She’s sitting right there.”
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Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I’m Shining Golden as a Queen
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Harris looked directly at the chair where Arianna was sitting, then back at Jayden with growing alarm in his eyes.
“Dude, there’s nobody there. That chair is empty. Are you feeling okay? You’re really starting to freak me
out.”
Jayden’s world tilted sideways. He looked at Arianna, who had gone deathly pale, her hands clenched in her lap.
“That’s not funny, Harris,” he said, his voice coming out harsher than he intended. “She’s sitting right fucking here. Stop being an asshole.”
“Jayden,” Harris said gently, like he was trying to talk someone off a ledge. “I’m looking right at that chair. There’s nobody in it. You’re talking to empty air.”
The restaurant suddenly felt like it was closing in around him. His chest was tight, his hands were shaking, and he couldn’t breathe properly.
“We’re leaving,” he said abruptly, reaching for Arianna’s hand.
“Jayden, wait-”
But he was already pulling her toward the door, his entire body trembling with panic and rage and something he couldn’t name.
The car ride home was suffocating in its silence. Arianna stared out the passenger window while Jayden gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles had gone white.
“I don’t understand what just happened in there,” he said finally, his voice barely steady.
Arianna’s voice was so quiet he almost didn’t hear her. “Maybe he just… doesn’t like me very much.”
“No, that’s not-” Jayden started, then stopped. Because what was the alternative? That his best friend couldn’t see the woman sitting right next to him? That was insane.
Wasn’t it?
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice heavy with guilt and confusion. “Harris has never acted like that before. I don’t know what the hell got into him tonight.”
But even as he said it, a cold dread was settling in his stomach. Because deep down, in a place he didn’t want to acknowledge, he was starting to wonder if maybe Harris hadn’t been acting strange at all.
Jayden sighed and nodded, hating himself for the disappointment he could hear in his own voice.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
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