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 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 . Something in my casual response seemed to hit a nerve . Without another word , he disappeared into the night . 16.9 % Chapter 18 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 , Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!