Chapter 13: LET HIM CHASE

If I woke up one day to find out my parents weren’t actually my parents, I’d probably have a mental breakdown before breakfast. So as Aiden and I trudged along the street, his expression a mix of heartbreak and confusion, I couldn’t begin to imagine how he felt. I mean, how do you process that kind of existential whiplash? The fact that he wasn’t screaming or throwing things into the nearest trash can was impressive—or maybe worrying. Probably both.

The sun was sinking lower in the sky, painting everything in hues of orange and pink, which would’ve been romantic if I weren’t walking beside a man who had just learned that his mom wasn’t who she seemed. Add to that the fact I had a date with Damon Bass in two hours—a date that was rapidly losing its appeal with each passing minute.

I stole a glance at Aiden. He looked... distant. His gaze was somewhere far away, maybe lost in a memory or trying to untangle the mess the day had dumped on him. I thought about saying something—offering a pep talk or some motivational cliché—but the silence felt sacred. Besides, what could I say? Hey, at least you’ve still got great hair? Yeah, no.

So, I walked beside him quietly, hoping my presence was enough. Spoiler alert: it probably wasn’t.

Suddenly, Aiden pulled out his phone and started typing furiously. His thumbs moved like they were trying to win an Olympic gold medal for speed texting.

“Who are you texting?” I asked, trying to sound casual, though I was dying to know.

“Mickey,” he said, not looking up. He kept typing for another moment, then slipped his phone into his pocket. “There’s a party. I’m going and you’re coming with me. They’re coming to pick us up.”

Wait, what?

“What party? Who’s coming to pick us up? And what about my date?” The questions tumbled out of my mouth like an avalanche.

“The gang—Mickey, Tobias, Anika, Pearl,” he said nonchalantly, as if I’d just asked him the time.

“And my date?” I repeated, more pointedly this time.

“Ditch it,” he said, running a hand through his already messy hair, although he seemed a bit guilty about not being able to hold up his part of the deal “Stand him up. Guys love that—it keeps them hooked. Give him the chase, they love that shit”

I blinked at him, trying to decide if he was serious or just messing with me. He wasn’t smiling, but he had that mischievous glint in his eye.

“You’re serious?”

“I am. Ditch the good girl act of wanting to please everyone. In fact, you know what, consider this lesson one – let him chase”

“Let him chase me?” it sounded a bit ridiculous in my ears

“Exactly.” He smirked. “While he’s pining after you, probably losing sleep and wondering why you canceled, you’ll be partying with me and having the time of your life.”

Okay, so, let’s pause. Ten years ago, the idea of partying with Aiden Scott would’ve been enough to make my high school self faint on the spot and give me the title of the most popular girl in school. I mean, it’s exactly how Anika earned her spot. And now, here he was, casually inviting me to join in. It sounded tempting—too tempting. Plus, after the emotional train wreck of today, I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave his side. It felt like it was my duty to make sure he was okay

“Fine,” I said with a sigh, pulling out my phone to cancel on Damon. Just as I hit send, Tobias’s car pulled up, music blaring loud enough to make the ground vibrate.

“Come on,” Aiden said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the car. My heart did a tiny somersault. I told it to calm down.

As we approached, I caught sight of Anika in the backseat. She was already throwing me one of her patented nasty looks.

“Don’t tell me you’re bringing the prude,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Anika, be nice,” Aiden said casually, like he hadn’t even registered her hostility.

I climbed into the car, squeezing into the backseat with Anika and Pearl, while Aiden sat up front with Tobias. Thankfully, Pearl was between me and Anika, acting as an unintentional buffer to our cold war.

“Nice shorts,” Pearl said with a friendly smile.

“Thanks,” I replied, forcing a smile of my own.

Mickey’s house was... extravagant. The kind of place you see on social media with captions like #HouseGoals or #Blessed. It had massive floor-to-ceiling windows, a sprawling lawn, and a pool that practically glowed in the twilight. Inside, it was all sleek modern furniture and LED lights, with music thumping so loud I could feel it in my bones.

The party was in full swing, with people dancing, laughing, and doing shots like they were trying to win a contest. I immediately felt out of place, like a kid who accidentally wandered into the grown-ups’ table.

Within minutes, I lost everyone. Aiden disappeared into the crowd, Tobias and Mickey were probably somewhere near the bar, and Anika had vanished like a puff of smoke.

I grabbed a beer from a nearby table and retreated to a corner, sipping it slowly and nodding along to the music like I belonged there. Spoiler alert: I didn’t.

The longer I stood there, the more tired I felt. This wasn’t the kind of partying I’d envisioned. Aiden had promised the time of my life, but so far, all I’d gotten was a lukewarm beer and sore feet.

Deciding I’d had enough, I wandered upstairs. The noise faded as I climbed, replaced by a peaceful silence. I found a balcony with a stunning view of the city lights and leaned against the railing, taking it in.

“Thought I’d find you here,” a voice said behind me.

I turned to see Aiden standing in the doorway, his silhouette outlined by the soft glow of the party lights. My heart did another somersault. Stupid heart.