She’s standing by the deli counter, wearing a perfect smile and flipping her hair like she’s in a shampoo commercial. It’s like the universe is playing a sick joke on me, because I swear she sees me before I even have time to duck behind the bread display.
I try to keep walking, but she steps right into my path.
“Alli, hey!” Her voice rings too cheerful in my ears, sharp and calculating as her eyes lock onto mine. It’s like she’s been waiting for this moment. “Long time no see.”
I force a smile, though my pulse quickens, an instant spike of anger bubbling under the surface. “Hi, Ariel. What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing much,” she says with a flick of her wrist, gesturing vaguely to her empty cart. “Just grabbing some snacks while I’m in town visiting a friend.” She leans in closer, her smile stretched a little too wide. “I was just thinking about Jared. You two must be spending a lot of time together these days.”
My jaw twitches, but I manage to hold it together. “Yeah, we’re together.”
She laughs lightly, but it’s the kind of laugh that grates at my skin. “It’s funny, don’t you think? We’ve got a history, Jared and I. I always thought we had something… special.” Her eyes narrow while the silence stretches, examining me. “But hey, guess you never really know.”
A thin layer of sweat forms at the back of my neck. “Yeah, well, things change.”
Her smile doesn’t waver, but I notice the slight tightening around her eyes. “Do they?” she asks, sweet as honey yet slicing. “You know, I was thinking of stopping by Jared’s place later. It’s been a while since we caught up, just the two of us. He’dprobably like that, don’t you think?” Her tone is light, but there’s something dangerous about how she says it. It’s not a suggestion; it’s a claim.
My whole body stiffens. Every muscle in me screams to snap, to tell her just how deluded she is. But I hold it back, biting my tongue to keep from causing a scene.
Instead, I fake a smile, making sure it’s just as sweet as hers. “Actually, Jared and I have plans. Today. Tomorrow. And the day after that. So yeah… he’s a little busy.” I pause, my grip on my basket tight as a chokehold. “But I’ll be sure to let him know you stopped by to ‘catch up.’”
Her smile falters just for a split second. Long enough for me to see how much it pisses her off. But she doesn’t flinch, doesn’t back down. She gives me a quick, cold smile before shrugging, her movements too casual. “Well, maybe next time. It’ll be worth the wait.”
“Over my dead body.”
Her glare could slice through steel, but it doesn’t faze me when she just turns sharply on her heel.Click, clack, click, clack.It’s like she’s trying to leave her mark with every step.
“Have a blessed day, Ariel!” I say, just loud enough for her to hear, watching her back with a satisfied smirk.
Shaking off the irritation, I head to the checkout, my mind spinning with a million thoughts about what she might try to pull next. I can’t let her get to me, not today.
By the time I make it back to my apartment, the rain’s pounding hard, drumming against the windows like it’s got something to prove. I was hoping for sunshine, something to lift the mood, but apparently the universe has other plans.
My outdoor picnic idea? Scrapped. But I’m nothing if not adaptable. With Olivia out for the night, I clear some space in the living room, spreading out a blanket on the floor like I’m about to create a whole vibe: indoor camping, cozy and laid-back. It’s ridiculous in a way, but also… perfect. Maybe I’m trying too hard, but I want to do something nice for him. Something that might help, even if I’m not sure what he really needs.
Jared doesn’t open up easily, not about the things that really matter. I get it, though. He’s told me bits and pieces about his mom, how she’s been in and out of his life so many times it’s like she’s got one foot in the door and the other halfway across the country. She disappears, sometimes for months, sometimes longer, and when she does reappear, it’s like nothing’s changed, like she didn’t leave a trail of chaos behind her.
I know it screws with his head. I saw it in the way his shoulders tensed when he talked to me about her and the way his jaw locked like he was trying to keep himself from feeling too much. He doesn’t say it, but I know he still hopes. It’s hard to watch now, because I know how much he’s hurting, even if he tries to hide it. But it’s like… he’s waiting for her to be the person she’s never been. And I can’t help wondering how long he’ll keep holding on to that hope before it breaks him.
I can’t imagine what that’s like. Having a parent who should’ve been there for you but wasn’t. My family is complicated, sure, but at least they were always present. Jared grew up trying to hold it together by himself. And now, with his mom trying to reconnect after all those years… It’s no wonder he’s always closed off about his family.
I’ve got sandwiches, a charcuterie board, and drinks all set up when Jared finally shows up, drenched from the rain despite hishooded jacket. He shakes off water like a wet dog at the door, and I can’t help but smile.
“Hey,” I greet him, motioning to the spread in front of me. “So… I was going to take us on a little outdoor adventure, but the weather had other plans.” I lean in to give him a quick kiss, the kind that lingers just enough to feel warm. “Welcome to my indoor picnic.”
Jared gives me a crooked smile, his eyes drifting around the room before landing on me. The exhaustion is still there; it clings fiercely to him. But for a second, his guard drops, and a hint of vulnerability slips through. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
“I know,” I say with a shrug, sitting down on the blanket. “I wanted to. Anything to cheer you up.”
He hesitates before finally dropping his bag by the door and joining me on the floor. His hand brushes against mine as he reaches for one of the sandwiches; it’s hot and cold at the same time—that uneasy feeling he carries on his back. Our eyes meet, and I offer him a weak smile. The space between us feels like it’s expanding, but then his shoulders drop just a fraction, a barely-there shift that lightens the load.
Rain taps softly against the windows, filling the silence as we eat. For a while, it’s easy—comfortable. The kind of quiet that doesn’t need to be filled. I let him sit with his thoughts, even though mine keep circling back to everything he’s been carrying. Everything he still hasn’t said.
Finally, I break the silence. “So… Thanksgiving’s coming up.”
Jared pauses mid-bite, glancing at me. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. My family does this big lunch every year. It’s chaotic, but fun. I was thinking… maybe you could come with me?”
