Chapter 2 - The Fiancée Appears
Ginny Nakamura had made many questionable decisions in her life.
This one, however, was easily in the top three.
She stood beside Jayna Stewart in the middle of the reunion hall, Jayna’s arm comfortably—too comfortably—wrapped around her waist while a circle of their former classmates buzzed around them like excited bees.
“Wait, how did this even happen?”
“Who confessed first?”
“Where did you meet again?”
“Who proposed?!”
Questions flew from every direction.
Ginny kept smiling. Nodding. Giving vague, noncommittal answers.
“We reconnected a few months ago.”
“It just… felt right.”
“We kept it private.”
All technically lies.
All delivered with the kind of ease that came from years of performing perfection for a living.
But the problem wasn’t the crowd.
The problem was the woman at her side.
Jayna Stewart.
Warm. Solid. Real.
And very, very amused.
Ginny could feel it—the subtle flex of Jayna’s fingers at her waist, the occasional brush of her thumb against the fabric of Ginny’s dress, the way Jayna leaned just a little closer than necessary whenever someone spoke to them.
It was all for show.
It was all part of the lie.
So why did it feel so dangerously convincing?
“Okay, okay, we need details,” someone insisted. “How did you propose, Jayna?”
Jayna didn’t even hesitate.
She tilted her head slightly, eyes flicking down to Ginny with that playful, almost teasing softness.
“I actually didn’t plan it,” Jayna said easily. “It just… happened.”
Ginny’s heart skipped.
Jayna squeezed her waist gently.
“We were out one night,” Jayna continued, voice smooth, “and I realized I didn’t want to spend another day without her. So I asked.”
The group collectively sighed.
“That’s so romantic!”
Ginny stared at Jayna, trying very hard not to look as affected as she felt.
Jayna met her gaze and smiled.
And for one terrifying second, it didn’t look fake at all.
---
“Excuse us,” Ginny said quickly, her hand sliding up Jayna’s arm in what looked like a sweet, affectionate gesture—but was actually a firm, silent we need to talk right now.
Jayna let herself be pulled along without protest.
They slipped out of the crowded hall and into a quieter side corridor, the muffled sounds of music and chatter fading behind them.
The moment they were alone, Ginny dropped Jayna’s arm and spun to face her.
“What are you doing here?” Ginny hissed.
Jayna leaned back against the wall, arms folding casually over her chest.
“Attending my reunion?” she said, amused. “Same as you.”
“You weren’t supposed to be here.”
Jayna raised a brow. “Pretty sure I graduated with the same batch as you, Ginny.”
Ginny groaned softly, dragging a hand over her face.
“Okay, fair. But you weren’t supposed to be standing right behind me when I—” she stopped herself.
“When you what?” Jayna prompted, clearly enjoying this.
Ginny took a breath.
“I panicked.”
Jayna’s expression softened—just a little.
“You always do when people ask about your love life.”
Ginny narrowed her eyes. “Don’t psychoanalyze me right now.”
Jayna’s lips twitched. “Hard not to when you just publicly announced we’re engaged.”
Ginny winced.
“Look,” she said, lowering her voice, “I needed a quick way out. My ex was there, people were asking questions, and I just—said your name.”
“Why me?” Jayna asked, genuinely curious.
The answer came out before Ginny could stop it.
“Because you’re the only one who’d actually be convincing.”
A beat.
Jayna’s gaze held hers.
Something unreadable flickered there—something warm, something curious.
Something that made Ginny’s stomach flip.
Jayna pushed off the wall, stepping closer.
“Convincing, huh?”
Ginny swallowed. “Yes.”
Jayna tilted her head slightly, studying her.
“Or,” she said softly, “because you already kissed me once and you know what it feels like.”
Ginny’s face heated instantly.
“That was one time,” she said quickly. “We were drunk.”
“And you never called after,” Jayna added, tone light—but the words landed with a quiet weight.
Ginny looked away for a second.
“I didn’t think you’d be interested.”
Jayna huffed a soft laugh. “You didn’t think I’d be interested?”
Ginny shrugged, defensive. “You’re… you. Confident, charming, everyone likes you. I figured it was just a fun moment for you.”
Jayna watched her for a long second.
Then she said, gently:
“I remember it differently.”
Ginny’s chest tightened.
Before she could respond, footsteps echoed from the hall and voices grew louder—people looking for them.
“Ginny? Jayna? Where did you go?”
Ginny cursed under her breath.
“They’re looking for us.”
Jayna glanced toward the noise, then back at Ginny.
“So,” she said, that playful spark returning to her eyes, “what’s the plan, fiancée?”
Ginny groaned.
“I just need you to play along. For tonight. Just until this reunion is over.”
Jayna’s lips curved slowly.
“Just tonight?”
“Yes,” Ginny said quickly. “We smile, we hold hands, we act convincing, and then tomorrow we go our separate ways and pretend this never happened.”
Jayna considered her for a moment.
There was a beat of silence.
Then Jayna stepped closer again—close enough that Ginny could feel her warmth, could catch the faint scent of her shampoo, could see the tiny crease that appeared when Jayna smiled.
“Okay,” Jayna said.
Relief flooded Ginny instantly.
“Thank you,” she breathed.
“But,” Jayna added.
Ginny blinked. “But?”
Jayna’s smile turned mischievous.
“If I’m going to be your fake fiancée,” she said, voice dropping slightly, “we’re doing this properly.”
Ginny frowned. “What does that mean?”
Jayna reached out, her fingers gently catching Ginny’s chin, tilting her face up.
Ginny’s breath hitched.
“It means,” Jayna said softly, “you don’t get to control everything.”
Their eyes locked.
Heat sparked.
Uninvited.
Dangerous.
Footsteps grew louder.
Voices closer.
Jayna let go of Ginny’s chin and stepped back, her expression slipping effortlessly back into that easy, charming smile.
She held out her hand.
“Come on, baby,” she said lightly. “Our audience is waiting.”
Ginny stared at her hand for half a second.
Then, with a resigned exhale, she slipped her fingers into Jayna’s.
Jayna’s grip tightened—warm, steady, grounding.
And just like that, they walked back into the reunion together.
Hand in hand.
Smiling.
Pretending.
Only now…
it didn’t feel entirely like pretending anymore.