Chapter 25
Uncle Charles never responded to the text. When Jayden and Arianna showed up at his office that afternoon, he already had tea waiting for them.
“Uncle Charles,” Jayden said as they walked in, his hand protectively resting on Arianna’s back. “I want you to meet my fiancée, Arianna Carter.”
He turned to her with a soft smile that made his whole face light up. “Arianna, this is Dr. Morrison–Uncle Charles. He was my dad’s best friend growing up.”
Uncle Charles looked at the space beside Jayden for a moment, blinking like he was trying to focus on something that wasn’t quite there. Then he gestured toward the sitting area in his office.
“Please, sit down,” he said, pouring two cups of tea and setting them on the coffee table. “Sorry I don’t have anything fancier to offer for such an important introduction.”
“This is perfect,” Jayden said, settling onto the couch and automatically making space for Arianna beside him. “We’re just grateful you made time for us.”
Uncle Charles smiled warmly, though his eyes kept drifting to the empty space next to Jayden with a slightly confused expression.
Seeing Uncle Charles’s puzzled look, Jayden felt his stomach tighten with anxiety. “Arianna’s pretty quiet around new people,” he explained quickly. “She’s still getting used to… being back in Vermont.”
“Of course, of course,” Uncle Charles said, though he still looked uncertain. “Well, just make sure you’re taking good care of her. Given her health situation, she needs someone looking out for her.”
They made small talk for a while–Jayden’s work, their recent trip, his plans for the future. But Jayden could feel tension building in his chest as Uncle Charles kept glancing at the apparently empty space
beside him.
When it was time to leave, Uncle Charles clearly wanted a private word.
Arianna seemed to understand immediately. “I’ll wait in the car,” she said, giving Jayden’s hand a quick squeeze before heading for the door.
Once they were alone, Uncle Charles pulled out a familiar pill bottle.
“Keep taking these,” he said quietly, his voice taking on that clinical tone Jayden remembered from childhood checkups. “Your stress levels have been concerning me. You need to stay mentally stable if you’re going to be responsible for someone else’s wellbeing.”
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Chapter 25
Jayden dry–swallowed a couple of pills right there, then pocketed the bottle with hands that were trembling slightly. “Thanks, Charles I really appreciate you looking out for me.”
Back in the car, Jayden quickly stashed the medication in the glove compartment while Arianna was buckling her seatbelt.
“Everything okay?” she asked, studying his face with those perceptive brown eyes. “You look a little tense.”
Jayden forced a smile, not wanting to burden her with his family’s complicated mental health history. “He just reminded me to take good care of you. You know how protective he can be.”
They were halfway home when inspiration struck. “Hey, want to make a detour? I heard that dumpling place by our old middle school got completely renovated. Could be fun to see how much has changed.”
Arianna’s face immediately brightened, and Jayden felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. “Really? I’d love that! We haven’t been back there in ages.”
But the moment they parked near the school, Jayden’s heart sank. Harper Portman was walking across the street, and she’d already spotted them.
Shit. This was exactly what Arianna didn’t need right now.
Jayden instinctively reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together like he could somehow shield her from whatever awkwardness was about to unfold.
“Jayden!” Harper called out, already heading their way with a bright smile. “What a surprise! I can’t believe you’re here!”
“Hey, Harper,” Jayden replied carefully, pulling Arianna closer to his side in a move that he hoped looked casual but felt fiercely protective. “Yeah, just showing Arianna around the old neighborhood.”
Harper’s gaze flicked briefly toward Arianna, but seemed to slide right past her like she wasn’t even there. The focus snapped back to Jayden immediately.
“That’s so sweet of you to come back here. How long are you in town? We should definitely grab dinner
and catch up properly. It’s been way too long.”
Jayden felt Arianna tense beside him, and his protective instincts kicked into overdrive. Being back here, surrounded by ghosts of high school, was clearly hard enough for her without having to deal with his persistent ex–classmate.
“Actually, we can’t,” he said firmly, his voice taking on an edge that surprised even him. “I’m taking my fiancée out to dinner tonight.”
Harper’s eyebrows shot up. “Fiancée? Wow! That’s… huge news. So you’ve finally moved on from…” She let the sentence hang meaningfully in the air.
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Chapter 25
Something fierce and possessive flared in Jayden’s chest. He lifted their joined hands, letting the afternoon sunlight catch the diamond on Arianna’s finger and send little sparkles across Harper’s face.
“I didn’t move on,” he said, his voice steady and absolutely certain. “I moved forward. With the only person I’ve ever really loved.”
He started to introduce the two women properly, then caught himself. Harper had spent three years chasing after him in high school while he’d been completely oblivious to everyone except the girl sitting next to him right now.
This could get complicated fast, and Arianna had been through enough already.
Jayden tightened his grip on Arianna’s hand, hoping she could feel everything he couldn’t say out loud–that she was his whole world, that his heart had never belonged to anyone else, that no amount of time or confusion could ever change that.
Past, present, or future.
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