Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Jessica’s POV

The deep twilight had fully given way to night. Above us, the stars now twinkled like scattered diamonds on black velvet.

The adults had retreated inside with the kids, leaving the rest ofs (the over–eighteen crowd) circled around a crackling bonfire in the middle of the garden.

It was game‘ time, and I felt a cold dread about what they had planned. Judging by the constant, shark–like smirk on Fiona’s face, echoed by the smug satisfaction on Lena’s, their plan was definitely designed to put me squarely in the spotlight.

Aaron dropped down on my left, close enough that the heat of his thigh brushed mine. David took the spot on my right without asking, stretching out long legs and shooting me a quick private smile.

Aaron’s jaw flexed the second he noticed, but he didn’t say anything. Just leaned back on his palms and stared into the fire like it had personally offended him.

Great. So it took another guy showing interest for him to recognise my value. Or maybe he just hated losing control of the narrative. Either way, it stung.

I let out a low, discreet sigh and focused on the hypnotic dance of the fire.

“…or dare, Jess.”

My name yanked me back. I looked around to find everyone staring at me, their faces illuminated by the shifting firelight.

I instinctively shrank into my spot, the sudden, overwhelming attention too much to bear.

“What?” I managed, my voice a strained whisper.

“Oh, she’s not only fat but she’s dumb as well.”

Lena remarked, her voice dripping with venom.

The words were finely carved needles, piercing straight into my chest, straight into the veins of my already fractured heart.

I swallowed hard, focusing on a patch of grass, fighting the desperate sting behind my eyes. Do not cry. Do not cry.

“Lena!” David and Aaron both seethed the name at the exact same moment.

My gaze slowly shifted between the two men seated on either side of my existence, who had just issued a simultaneous, fierce defense of me.

What just happened? I thought, bewildered.

Their eyes met for a brief, charged second—a flash of competitive challenge–before they both quickly averted their gazes.

“Ooh, do I smell a love triangle brewing?” Natasha, one of the cousins‘ girlfriends, cooed, her eyes glinting with pure, delightful mischief.

Absolutely not a love triangle. I couldn’t bear the thought. David was kind, and he made me feel good, but my heart still called out, still yearned only for Aaron.

“Ugh, enough! Can we go back to the game? It’s not all about Jessica, please.” It was Fiona this time. Unlike Lena’s vicious attack, Fiona’s words held no power over me. They were just the familiar, impotent hiss of a defeated rival.

“Yes! I agree,” Mika butted in, clapping her hands briskly.

“So, Jessica, the bottle landed on you. Truth or dare?”

I stayed silent for a tense moment, weighing my miserable options. Either path would lead to me being cornered. These people had clearly planned a public humiliation.

I took a deep breath, letting the cool night air steady my rattling herves. “Truth,” I replied softly.

“Great!” Mika replied, delighted. “So how did Aaron ask you out? Give us all the romantic details.”

I felt Aaron’s entire body tense up beside me. From my peripheral vision, I could feel Fiona’s sharp glare trying to burn right through my skull.

Damn it. Aaron and I hadn’t prepared for these basic details. We didn’t have a story.

We finished the Truth or Dare game. Fortunately, the bottle never landed on me again until it was over, and we moved on to the next one, one I genuinely dreaded.

“Come on, babe, it’s just a game.

Yes, the It just a game. Not a big deal,” Lena backed her up.

The guy beside Fiona smirked, leaned in, his eyes shifting pointly to a fuming Eric just as

Fiona’s lips landed carelessly on his, and the others cheered loudly.

As stupid as I found this whole ordeal, a wicked satisfaction bloomed in my chest. At least Eric got a tiny taste of the betrayal he inflicted on my Aaron.

“Okay! Let’s continue…” Mika announced, but Eric was already his feet, storming away.

“Babe, hey…” Fiona reached out, but he was gone. A normal person would show remorse, but she simply shrugged it off.

“Let him be. I’ll make it up to him later in the bed,” she said, staring directly at Aaron with a sly, challenging smirk.

I saw Aaron’s fist clench tightly on his knee, but he remained outwardly calm, though the air beside me felt colder. I swallowed hard and looked away.

The card began its circuit again. Finally, it got to David, who was meant to pass it to me.

Suddenly, the whole circle seemed to fall silent. Or maybe it was just the deafening roar of the blood in my own ears.

My eyes locked with David’s. He held the card perfectly to his lips, and I tried to purse mine just right, praying desperately that the flimsy piece of cardboard wouldn’t slip.

It slipped.

It fluttered down, causing our faces to tilt sharply toward each other, our lips almost touching. But before skin could meet skin, a large, warm hand shot out and grabbed my shoulder, yanking me away.