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    “You silly girl, I swore I’d never let you lose,” Aiden said, putting on that melodramatic, bittersweet look you only see ining–of–age stories, as he reached out to stroke Sophia’s hair.


    I cleared my throat.


    The two lovebirds across from me immediately straightened up.


    “Victoria, Sophia and I are nning to save up for two years and then buy a house in Braylin,” Aiden said, looking serious.


    “Real estate in Braylin is crazy expensive. Do you guys have a budget in mind?” I asked.


    Aiden scratched the back of his head, clearly not having done any real budgeting. He let out a nervousugh. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. If we have to, we’ll just get a loan. We’re young, Sophia and I—we’ll make it work.”


    Sophia immediately frowned. “Loans are such a hassle. I don’t want to take one.”


    Aiden quickly tried to soothe her. “Okay, babe, no loans. I’ll just work harder and try to get an even bigger bonus next year.”


    Sophia finally smiled again, then gave me a shrewd nce.


    Come on,


    we’re both women–I know exactly what that look means.


    She’s obviously hoping I’ll lend her some cash, or maybe get my folks to help out with the down payment.


    If she’s truly serious about building a life with Aiden, and I actually had the money, I’d totally support them. But if Sophia’s just scheming for my cash, then I’d have no problem smiling and breaking up the lovebirds myself. I don’t expect my brother to marry into money, but I’ll be damned if he brings home a queen who turns our whole family into her personal staff.


    “Victoria, we’re getting our break in two days, but Sophia doesn’t get time off- she’s on shift duty. When are you heading home? Are you going to Hachester or back to Mom and Dad’s?” Aiden asked.


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    “I think I’ll go see Mom and Dad,” I replied. It’s been a while, and I kind of miss


    them.


    “Alright then. Should we book our flights together?” Aiden suggested.


    I paused to think. “Let me check with Yvonne first, see if she wants <i>to </ie with me. If not, I’ll just go back by myself.”


    “Alright, just let me know,” Aiden said.


    While Aiden and I were chatting, Sophia had already almost finished off the wagyu beef and foie gras.


    The portions weren’t that big to begin with–Aiden pretty much let her have most of it, and I was too full to eat any more anyway.


    After dinner, Sophia started nagging Aiden again about not having a car. On the surface, she wasining to him, but honestly, it felt like she was hinting at me the whole time.


    ‘What a scheming girl,‘ I thought to myself.


    I just ignored her.


    “Want me to give you guys a lift home?” I asked, standing next to my car.


    Sophia gave my BMW a quick once–over, then turned to Aiden. “We already talked about this, remember?”


    Aiden shot me a look. “You head home first, Victoria. We’re not going back tonight.”


    I nodded, minded my own business, and drove off.


    A sad love song was ying in the car, and with the holidays starting, there were way fewer cars on the road in Braylin.


    Every word of that song felt like a bead dropping into my heart, weighing it down with a dull, heavy sadness.


    It had been a while since I’d talked to Ryan. This city of Braylin still held traces of us–ces where we used tough and have fun together.


    Now, it’s just me, all alone.


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    I didn’t head straight home. Instead, I just drove around aimlessly, wandering through the city for a while.


    By the time I finally got home, it was already past eleven. My phone lit up with a group chat notification.


    Scrolling through my messages as I got out of the car.


    Nathan dropped a message in the group chat: [Victoria, when do you guys get your break?]


    I didn’t reply right away. Jared beat me to it and dropped the official holiday notice in the chat.


    Nathan jumped in right away: [Can’t you give Victoria an early break? That’s so unfair.]


    I quickly sent a smiley: [Thanks for looking out for me, Nathan, but I’m good–no need for special treatment.]


    Jared replied: [If I really gave her an early break, you’d just start snarking that I’m up to something shady.]


    Nathan threw in a yful jab: [Mr. Hob, are you really that petty? Come on, don’t get so touchy over a little chat.]


    Jared didn’t bother replying and just asked me, “Heading back to Hachester?”


    I answered, “Just going home.”


    Jared followed up, “Are you bringing Yvonne?”


    “Would you be alright with hering with me?” I asked. I don’t have custody of Yvonne, so I wasn’t going to ask for anything.


    “If you’re bringing her, mind if I join too?” Jared asked, half–joking but with a hint of curiosity.


    Before I could type a reply, Nathan popped up in the group chat: [Victoria’s hometown must be gorgeous. I’ve never been! If Mr. Hob’s going, can I hitch


    a ride too?]


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    Jared just dropped a string of speechless emojis, clearly at a loss for words.


    Watching them chat so happily, I couldn’t help but feel like a third wheel.


    “Why don’t you all just go have fun together? I’ll stay out of it,” I said, putting on my best serious face.


    Nathan shot back: [Victoria, you know I’m not into guys, right?]


    Jared sent an angry emoji: [Don’t gross me out!]