Chapter 4 - First Public Act
The moment Ginny Nakamura and Jayna Stewart stepped back into the reunion hall—
all eyes went to them.
Again.
Ginny immediately regretted every life choice that had led her to this exact second.
Her hand was still laced with Jayna’s.
Jayna’s thumb brushed lightly across her knuckles as they walked.
It was subtle.
Casual.
Completely unnecessary.
And it sent a warm, traitorous shiver straight up Ginny’s arm.
“Relax,” Jayna murmured under her breath, barely moving her lips.
“I am relaxed,” Ginny whispered back through clenched teeth.
Jayna glanced at her sideways, clearly unconvinced.
“Your shoulders are practically up to your ears.”
Ginny forced them down.
“There. Relaxed.”
Jayna’s lips twitched.
“Adorable.”
Ginny resisted the urge to step on her foot.
---
They hadn’t even made it three steps into the crowd when someone called out:
“THE FIANCéES ARE BACK!”
The attention returned instantly.
People gathered again—smiling, teasing, curious.
“Come sit with us!”
“We want details!”
“Show us the ring!”
Ginny’s heart skipped.
Ring.
Right.
They did not have a ring.
Jayna didn’t even hesitate.
She lifted Ginny’s left hand, turning it slightly toward the group.
“We’re still choosing one,” Jayna said smoothly. “We wanted to design it together.”
The group collectively sighed.
“That’s so romantic.”
Ginny stared at their joined hands.
At how natural Jayna made it look.
At how her fingers fit so easily between Ginny’s.
This is fake.
This is fake.
This is fake.
“Sit, baby,” Jayna said softly, guiding her toward an empty chair.
Baby.
Ginny almost tripped.
She shot Jayna a look as she sat down.
Jayna only smiled sweetly.
---
They settled at a table with a few classmates—people Ginny remembered just enough to keep up conversation.
Jayna sat close.
Very close.
Their thighs touched under the table.
Ginny froze for a split second.
Jayna didn’t move away.
Of course she didn’t.
She was enjoying this.
“So,” one of their classmates said, grinning, “who made the first move?”
Jayna answered without hesitation.
“I did.”
Ginny’s head snapped toward her.
Jayna winked.
“I couldn’t resist her,” she added easily. “Look at her.”
Ginny’s brain malfunctioned.
The table laughed and cooed.
“Okay but like—how did you confess?”
Jayna leaned her elbow on the table, turning slightly toward Ginny.
“I told her I liked her,” she said simply. “And then I kissed her.”
Ginny’s breath caught.
Jayna’s eyes flickered down to her lips for a brief second before returning to the group.
“And she kissed me back.”
Ginny’s cheeks burned.
She forced a smile.
“Yeah,” she said lightly. “I did.”
Her voice came out softer than she expected.
Jayna’s gaze lingered on her for half a second longer than necessary.
Then she looked away.
---
The conversation shifted to other topics—jobs, travel, gossip—but the attention kept circling back to them.
To their hands.
To their closeness.
To the way Jayna kept casually brushing her fingers along Ginny’s arm whenever she spoke.
At one point, someone leaned over and said:
“Can we get a picture of you two? For the group chat?”
Ginny opened her mouth to politely refuse—
Jayna beat her to it.
“Of course.”
Ginny’s eyes widened.
Before she could protest, Jayna slid her arm around Ginny’s shoulders and pulled her in close.
Close enough that Ginny could feel Jayna’s breath against her temple.
Close enough that her heart started pounding again.
“Smile, baby,” Jayna murmured.
Ginny smiled.
Flash.
Then—
Jayna turned her head and pressed a soft kiss against Ginny’s cheek.
The entire table erupted.
“OH MY GOD.”
“THAT WAS SO CUTE.”
“STOP, I CAN’T—”
Ginny’s brain completely shut down.
Jayna pulled back, completely unfazed, dimples deep as ever.
Ginny touched her cheek where Jayna’s lips had been.
Warm.
Very warm.
Jayna leaned in again, whispering softly:
“You’re doing great.”
Ginny swallowed.
“I hate you.”
Jayna’s smile widened. “No you don’t.”
Ginny did not respond.
Because she wasn’t entirely sure that was true.
---
Later, when they stood near the bar waiting for drinks, Ginny finally found a second to breathe.
She leaned against the counter, exhaling slowly.
“This is a lot,” she muttered.
Jayna stood beside her, relaxed, one hand resting lightly at Ginny’s lower back again.
“You’re doing fine,” Jayna said. “You just have to stop thinking so much.”
“That’s literally impossible for me.”
“I know,” Jayna said fondly.
Ginny glanced at her.
“You’re enjoying this way too much.”
Jayna didn’t deny it.
“It’s fun,” she said simply.
“Fun,” Ginny echoed, incredulous. “Pretending to be engaged to me is fun.”
Jayna turned to her fully now, leaning her hip against the bar.
Her gaze softened slightly.
“Being close to you is fun,” she corrected.
Ginny’s breath hitched.
The bartender arrived with their drinks, breaking the moment.
Ginny grabbed hers quickly and took a sip, trying to steady herself.
Jayna didn’t move away.
Her hand was still there.
Warm.
Steady.
Real.
Ginny stared at the crowd in front of them.
At the laughing faces.
At the version of herself they all believed in right now—
Confident. Happy. In love.
And for a dangerous, fleeting second…
it didn’t feel like a lie.
Jayna nudged her gently with her shoulder.
“Hey.”
Ginny turned.
Jayna smiled—soft, easy, dimples showing.
“Ready for round two, fiancée?”
Ginny huffed out a quiet laugh despite herself.
“…Let’s get this over with.”
Jayna’s fingers slipped into hers again, effortlessly.
“Come on, baby.”
Ginny rolled her eyes.
But she didn’t let go.