Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Our house is too quiet mind if we join your game ? Mrs.
Carter asked with her usual warmth .
Wed always spent New Years Eve together before everything happened .
This year , Mom had politely declined their dinner invitation , but you cant exactly turn away guests at your door .
Aiden naturally gravitated to the seat next to mine , watching me play poker .
My cousins , oblivious to our history , kept making those classic whens the wedding ? jokes .
I laughed them off smoothly while Aidens jaw tightened more with each comment .
At midnight , when everyone headed outside for fireworks , he caught my arm , clearly wanting to talk .
Thats when my phone rang .

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Blushing slightly , I pulled away from him to answer .
It was Jake from my photography club back at Stanford a local California guy with an infectious laugh .
He wasnt the brooding type like Aiden ; instead , he was the kind of guy who could make anyone smile , always ready with a terrible pun or a ridiculous story .
He claimed he called just to count down the New Year together , not wanting to celebrate alone .
I kept him on speaker , letting him join our familys celebrations from across the country .
Before hanging up , he laughed sheepishly .
Truth is , I just wanted to be the first person to wish you happy New Year .
So … happy New Year , Brooklyn ! I couldnt help grinning as I wished him the same , chatting for a few more minutes .
When I finally hung up and turned around , Aiden was standing there, his expression glacial .
Hed clearly heard everything .
Boyfriend ? His voice was rough .
Not officially , I answered honestly , after considering it .
Aiden stayed quiet for what felt like forever .
Just as I was about to head back inside to rejoin the poker game , he spoke again : Long distance relationships rarely work out .
You should find someone closer to home .
I nodded , noting the irony .
Youre right you never really know someone until you do .
Ill take my time deciding .
Thanks for the advice , Aiden .
Hope you settle down soon too .
17:42 Backup Girl No More : Adios To My V Card and My First Love 13.3 % Chapter 18 Something in my casual response seemed to hit a nerve .
Without another word , he disappeared into the night .
I shrugged it off his mood swings werent my problem anymore .
Amazing how rose colored glasses could make even red flags look like normal flags .
The rest of break flew by in a blur of family visits and road trips with my parents .
I barely spent any time at home , successfully avoiding any more Aiden encounters .
Break ended too quickly , and I was back at Stanford before I knew it .
Then , impossibly , I saw Aiden standing at the university entrance the very next day .