Chapter 166

I spotted a dessert truck and immediately ordered my favorite: iced coffee jelly. Hayden glanced at my cup, frowning.

“What? You don’t like it?” I asked, smirking.

“Too much cold stuff is bad for your stomach,” he said seriously.

I laughed. “Wow, look at you being all considerate. Are you sure you’ve never had a girlfriend before?”

“Nope,” he replied confidently.

I shot him a skeptical look. “I have a little sister to take care of, so I know a few things,” he added, and I paused mid-bite.

Wait, what? He has a sister? He’d never mentioned her before. Suddenly, these lyrics popped into my head:

Talkin’ all that, but I know you’re caught. Every girl’s just “like a sis”? Boy, you ain’t slick, can’t play me like this.

It was as if Hayden could read my mind, because he quickly said, “My actual sister. Same mom, same dad.”

I returned to my coffee jelly. “You’ve never mentioned her.”

“I just never found the right moment,” Hayden said, taking a bite of my coffee jelly. I watched him grimace slightly. He didn’t like it. Jace hadn’t liked it either. Out of spite, he used to say coffee jelly was invented to torture people. The thought of Jace left a sour taste in my mouth. “If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself. Choose something else.”

“It’s fine. It’s just a little cold,” Hayden said, locking eyes with me. “It’s late, and this cold stuff won’t sit well with your stomach.”

I remained silent, opting for defiance. Hayden must have sensed my mood, because he dropped the subject. We ate in quiet tension.

“Rea,” a familiar voice, surprised and slightly confused, called from behind me.

I turned to see Steve, a perfectly made-up girl on his arm.

“Hey, Steve,” I greeted him.

“Out here enjoying some street food, huh?” Steve asked, not noticing Hayden.

Before I could answer, Hayden’s spoon slid into my bowl, scooping up a bite of my coffee jelly. As he tasted it, he commented, “It’s too cold. You shouldn’t eat so much.”

Steve’s eyes widened as he glanced between us, clearly perplexed. Knowing his connection to Jace, I smiled slightly and said, “I’m here with my boyfriend.” I casually linked my arm through Hayden’s. He played along smoothly, nodding at Steve as if this were perfectly normal.

“It’s you?” Steve finally recognized Hayden. They’d seen each other at the amusement park.

Hayden nodded silently. Steve looked utterly stunned. Shaking his head, he blurted, “Rea, what’s going on here? Explain.”

“There’s not much to explain. I’m dating him. And tonight, we had dinner at the Johnston residence. Matthew and Lindey invited us,” I said, emphasizing this wasn't casual. “This is way too fast, don’t you think?” Steve sounded incredulous.

I smirked. Jace had hooked up with Tanya before we’d even officially broken up. Wasn’t that faster?

“Didn’t you tell me to move on? Have you forgotten already?” I retorted.

Steve scratched his head, laughing. “I knew you weren’t as soft as you looked. Guess I was right—you’ve got some bite.” He gave Hayden another look, then said, “Good choice.”

I knew Steve had my back in this little revenge plot against Jace. He’d been a true friend through all the drama.

“Alright, you two have fun. Bring this guy by my place sometime—we’ll see if he’s got what it takes,” Steve grinned, walking away with his companion.