Chapter 3 - The Deal
Ginny Nakamura had never wanted to disappear into the ground more in her life.
Which was saying a lot.
Because right now, she was standing on a quiet hotel terrace, facing the woman she had just publicly announced as her fiancée…
…without asking first.
Jayna Stewart leaned casually against the railing, the city lights glowing behind her, arms folded loosely over her chest.
And she looked—
Amused.
Very, very amused.
Ginny pressed her fingers against her temple.
“Okay,” she said, pacing once. “I panicked. I admit it. But we can fix this.”
Jayna tilted her head. “Fix this how?”
Ginny stopped pacing and faced her.
“We just… we just tell them it was a misunderstanding.”
Jayna’s eyebrow lifted.
“You announced an engagement,” she said slowly. “With full confidence. In front of at least twenty people.”
Ginny winced. “Okay, yes, but—”
“And you used my full name,” Jayna added, lips twitching. “Very committed to the lie.”
Ginny groaned. “I know. I know. It was stupid.”
Jayna watched her for a second.
Then she pushed off the railing and took a step closer.
“Or,” Jayna said lightly, “we don’t fix it.”
Ginny blinked. “What?”
Jayna’s eyes sparkled.
“We lean into it.”
Ginny stared at her.
“…You’re kidding.”
“I’m not.”
“Jayna.”
“Ginny.”
Ginny threw her hands up. “This is not funny!”
Jayna laughed. “It’s a little funny.”
Ginny glared at her. “I just told everyone we’re engaged.”
“Exactly,” Jayna said. “Which means you now have a perfect shield against your ex, your classmates, and all the annoying questions you hate.”
Ginny paused.
…That was true.
Jayna continued, more gently now:
“And it’s just for a week. Reunion activities, family dinners, the whole thing. Then we quietly end the ‘engagement’ after everything’s over.”
Ginny hesitated.
“A week?” she repeated.
Jayna nodded. “The reunion isn’t just tonight. There are events, outings, brunches… you know how these things go.”
Ginny did know.
And the thought of facing all of that alone—while dodging her ex and endless questions about her love life—made her stomach twist.
Jayna watched her carefully.
“Let me help you,” she said simply.
There was something sincere in her tone.
Warm.
Steady.
Ginny swallowed.
“…Why would you do that for me?”
Jayna shrugged lightly.
“Because I can,” she said. “Because it’ll be entertaining.”
Then, softer:
“And because I don’t mind being close to you.”
Ginny’s heart gave a small, traitorous skip.
She looked away.
This was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
But also…
Very convenient.
Ginny exhaled slowly.
“Fine,” she said at last. “One week. We pretend we’re engaged. Then we end it clean.”
Jayna smiled—slow and satisfied.
“Deal.”
Ginny pointed at her. “But we set rules.”
Jayna’s dimples appeared. “Of course we do.”
Ginny crossed her arms, slipping into her professional, in-control tone.
“Rule one: this is fake. We don’t let it get weird.”
Jayna hummed but didn’t argue.
“Rule two: no talking about that kiss.”
Jayna’s gaze flickered briefly—something unreadable passing through it—before she nodded.
“Okay.”
“Rule three: after this week, we go back to normal. No complications.”
Jayna studied her for a moment.
Then she said, “My turn.”
Ginny narrowed her eyes. “Go.”
Jayna stepped closer.
Close enough that Ginny could feel the heat of her presence.
“If we’re doing this,” Jayna said, voice calm but firm, “we do it properly.”
Ginny frowned. “Meaning?”
Jayna lifted a finger.
“Meaning when we’re in public—you follow my lead.”
Ginny blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You overthink when you perform,” Jayna said bluntly. “It makes you stiff. People will notice.”
Ginny opened her mouth to protest—
Jayna continued:
“I’m naturally affectionate. I’ll handle the touches, the timing, the little couple things. You just respond.”
Ginny stared at her.
“That sounds like you just want an excuse to touch me.”
Jayna’s grin was immediate. “I mean… I’m not complaining.”
Ginny rolled her eyes, but heat crept up her neck.
“…Fine,” she muttered. “But nothing too excessive.”
Jayna didn’t promise anything.
Instead, she extended her hand.
“So,” she said softly, “fiancée… do we have a deal?”
Ginny looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
Those dimples.
That confident warmth.
The memory of that one drunken kiss flickered in her mind—soft lips, shared laughter, a moment she had pretended didn’t matter.
She swallowed.
And placed her hand in Jayna’s.
“…We have a deal.”
Jayna’s fingers curled around hers, warm and sure.
“Good,” Jayna said.
Before Ginny could pull her hand away, her phone suddenly buzzed loudly in her clutch.
She blinked.
“Hold on.”
She pulled it out—and groaned.
“Oh no.”
Jayna leaned slightly. “What?”
Ginny turned the screen toward her.
Incoming video call:
?? Apple Chrome
Jayna’s eyebrows lifted. “Answer it.”
Ginny hesitated. “She’s going to be loud.”
“Even better,” Jayna said, clearly entertained.
Ginny sighed and hit accept.
The screen immediately filled with Apple Chrome’s face—eyes wide, hair messy, clearly mid-snack.
“GINNY NAKAMURA WHAT DID YOU DO?!” Apple shrieked.
Ginny flinched, pulling the phone slightly away from her ear.
“Lower your voice—”
“I SAW THE POSTS!” Apple continued, completely ignoring her. “Why are there pictures of you holding hands with JAYNA STEWART and why does the caption say ENGAGED?!”
Jayna leaned into frame, waving casually.
“Hi, Apple.”
Apple froze.
Her eyes widened even more.
Then she screamed again.
“OH MY GOD SHE’S RIGHT THERE—IS THIS REAL?!”
Ginny dragged a hand down her face. “It’s… complicated.”
Jayna rested her chin lightly on Ginny’s shoulder, smiling at the screen.
“We’re engaged,” Jayna said smoothly.
Apple let out a high-pitched, unholy squeal.
“NO WAY. NO WAY. NO WAY. GINNY YOU DIDN’T TELL ME YOU WERE HOOKING UP WITH HER AGAIN—”
“We are not hooking up,” Ginny snapped quickly, cheeks heating.
“Yet,” Jayna murmured under her breath.
Ginny elbowed her lightly.
Apple’s eyes darted between them like she was watching her favorite drama unfold live.
“I KNEW IT,” Apple declared. “I KNEW THAT DRUNK KISS WASN’T A ONE-TIME THING.”
“APPLE,” Ginny hissed.
Apple grinned wickedly.
“So what’s the deal? Fake engagement? Real engagement? Situationship? I need details.”
Ginny sighed in defeat.
“It’s fake,” she admitted. “One week. Just for the reunion.”
Apple blinked.
Then—
She grinned even wider.
“OH MY GOD. FAKE FIANCéES?!”
Jayna nodded, amused. “That’s the plan.”
Apple clutched her chest dramatically.
“I LOVE THIS FOR YOU. THIS IS THE BEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE.”
Ginny groaned. “Please don’t encourage this.”
“Too late,” Apple said gleefully. “I’m already emotionally invested.”
She leaned closer to the screen, squinting at Jayna.
“You better take care of her.”
Jayna’s expression softened slightly.
“I will.”
Ginny’s heart did an annoying little flip.
Apple gasped dramatically.
“THE CHEMISTRY. I CAN FEEL IT THROUGH THE SCREEN.”
Ginny covered her face with one hand. “I’m hanging up now.”
“NO WAIT—” Apple said quickly. “I need updates. Constant updates. Pictures. Videos. I want everything.”
“You’re not getting everything.”
“Minimum three updates a day.”
“Apple—”
“Fine, two.”
Ginny sighed. “Goodbye, Apple.”
“LOVE YOU, FAKE FIANCéES!” Apple shouted as Ginny ended the call.
Silence returned to the terrace.
Ginny lowered her phone slowly.
Then she looked at Jayna.
Jayna was still smiling.
Still holding her hand.
Still looking at her like this whole thing was the most fun she’d had in a while.
Ginny exhaled.
“…This is a terrible idea.”
Jayna squeezed her fingers gently.
“Probably,” she agreed.
Then she tugged her slightly toward the doors.
“But it’s going to be fun.”
Ginny should have pulled away.
She didn’t.
And as they walked back inside—hand in hand, back into the noise, the lights, the watching eyes—
Ginny had a feeling this one-week lie was about to change everything.