Backup Girl No More: Adios To My V-Card and My First Love
Chapter 18

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 .

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 replace 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 .