Chapter 20 - Ex Returns
Ginny should've known peace wouldn't last.
It happened three days after the Mable coffee interrogation.
She was at a venue walkthrough for an upcoming corporate gala, clipboard in hand, barking lighting instructions while trying not to think about the fact that she'd been waking up next to Jayna every morning for the past two days.
Not officially moving in.
Just... staying.
Too easy.
Too dangerous.
She turned around to ask the coordinator something—
And froze.
Standing near the entrance.
Perfectly styled.
Annoyingly familiar.
Elliot Cruz.
Her ex.
Her very serious, very almost-fiancé ex.
He smiled like he had every right to be there.
"Hi, Ginny."
The world tilted slightly.
Janhae, standing beside Ginny, noticed immediately.
"That's the one?" Janhae murmured quietly.
Ginny didn't answer.
Because Elliot was already walking toward her.
Confident.
Charming.
Like he hadn't been the one to end things when Ginny refused to "prioritize stability over chaos."
"You look good," he said smoothly.
"You look... present," Ginny replied flatly.
He laughed. Same laugh. Same practiced ease.
"I heard about the reunion," he said casually.
Of course he did.
Apple had posted a blurry engagement photo with dramatic captioning. Half their batch had commented. The other half had stalked.
"And?" Ginny asked coolly.
"And I had to see it for myself."
Janhae stepped in gracefully. "I'm Janhae Dover. Coworker. Emotional support."
Elliot smiled politely. "Ah."
Then his eyes shifted back to Ginny.
"So," he said lightly, "you're engaged."
Ginny lifted her chin.
"Yes."
"To a woman."
"Yes."
He nodded slowly.
"I didn't know you were... reconsidering."
That irritated her.
"I'm not reconsidering anything," she said sharply.
He raised both hands. "Hey. I'm not judging. I just... think we ended things too quickly."
There it is.
Ginny's stomach tightened.
"We ended because you wanted a version of me that didn't exist," she said evenly.
"I wanted you to settle down."
"I didn't want to shrink."
Elliot stepped closer.
"You don't have to shrink with me," he said softer now. "I was scared. I thought if we planned everything, it would make sense."
"And now?" she asked.
"Now I think I made a mistake."
The timing was cruel.
Because things with Jayna were finally real.
Finally fragile.
Finally terrifying.
And Elliot showing up like this felt like someone testing whether she'd actually changed.
"I'm not available," Ginny said firmly.
Elliot's jaw flexed.
"You don't even look convinced."
That one hit too close.
Before she could respond—
A familiar voice cut in behind her.
"She doesn't have to look convinced."
Jayna.
Ginny's pulse spiked.
Jayna walked up calmly, hands in her jacket pockets, posture relaxed.
But her eyes—
Composed.
Guarded.
Taking everything in.
Elliot looked her over.
"So this is the fiancée."
Jayna offered a polite nod. "That would be me."
Ginny felt heat crawl up her neck.
Elliot smiled faintly. "Interesting."
Jayna didn't rise to it. "You needed something?"
"I was just catching up."
Jayna glanced at Ginny briefly.
Then back at him.
"She's working."
There was no aggression in her tone.
Just quiet claim.
Elliot studied them both.
Then he leaned slightly closer to Ginny.
"You know where to find me," he said softly.
And walked away.
Just like that.
Leaving tension in his wake.
---
Silence.
Ginny stared at the door long after it closed.
Jayna didn't speak immediately.
Which somehow made it worse.
Finally—
"You okay?" Jayna asked.
Too neutral.
Too careful.
Ginny turned. "Yeah."
Jayna nodded once.
"That's good."
Ginny hated that tone.
"Say what you want to say," she snapped.
Jayna's jaw tightened slightly.
"I don't want to say anything."
"That's worse."
A flicker of hurt passed through Jayna's eyes before she masked it.
"He's your ex," Jayna said evenly. "It's normal he'd show up. Especially after... all this."
"All this," Ginny repeated softly.
Jayna gave a small nod.
"The engagement. The staying over. The pretending."
That word again.
Pretending.
Ginny stepped closer.
"I told him I'm not available."
"I heard you."
"Then why do you sound like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're already bracing."
Jayna held her gaze.
Because she was.
"I'm not bracing," Jayna said quietly. "I just don't want to compete with your past."
Ginny's chest tightened painfully.
"You're not competing."
Jayna's lips curved faintly.
"Good."
But it didn't sound convinced.
Not entirely.
And that scared Ginny more than Elliot ever could.
Because Elliot challenged her choices.
But Jayna—
Jayna challenged her heart.
And as Jayna stepped back slightly, creating space again—
Ginny realized something dangerous.
She didn't want space.
Not from her.
Not anymore.