Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Jessica’s POV

We stepped out together, and his hand found mine immediately.

Our escorts flanked us, their presence a shield as we navigated the swelling crowd.

Whispers started almost instantly: Who was that with Aaron Tyrone?’ ‘Aaron isn’t gay? “Oh my! He has a love life!”

Cameras flashed discreetly, but Mabel and a few security personnel kept people at bay, their hands forming a subtle barrier.

Inside, the arena was packed-screams and cheers reverberating off the walls, the squeak of sneakers on the court mixing with the thump of the ball.

It reminded me so viscerally of college days, sneaking into games to watch Aaron play, my heart in my throat every time he scored. The nostalgia hit hard, a bittersweet pang.

As if the commentator had eyes in the back of his head, he spotted us entering.

Mid-sentence about a player’s impressive layup, he transitioned smoothly, his Spanish accent thick and enthusiastic:

…and what a drive to the basket by young Ramirez, folks-reminding us all why basketball’s the heart of this city! Speaking of legends on the court, we’ve got a special guest in the house-Aaron Tyrone, the man who’s redefined the game with his unbeatable streak and that powerhouse firin of his. Give it up for him, Madrid!”

The commentator’s shift was flawless, a seamless bridge from the game to the man beside me.

The reaction it triggered was anything but subtle-it was instantaneous.

A hundred heads snapped toward us in a single, synchronized motion, eyes wide and hungry.

The sound that followed was a deafening roar of screams and howling that vibrated through the very floorboards beneath my feet.

Women were flinging their arms up, shrieking his name with a desperation that made them totally oblivious to the woman standing right next to him.

A surge of irritation rose in my throat. I used to judge those “overly possessive” celebrity wives I saw in magazines, but standing here? I totally got it; the attention felt invasive, like vultures circling.

Aaron felt me tense. He squeezed my hand reassuringly, pulling me closer as he waved to the fans with his free arm-a casual, charismatic gesture that only amped up the cheers.

An usher tried to steer us toward the velvet ropes of the VIP section, but Aaron shook his head, politely declining.

He led me straight into the heart of the bleachers instead, choosing to sit right in the middle of the crowd.

It was a mistake. Or maybe he just didn’t care.

Almost instantly, I felt the air around us grow thin. It wasn’t just the heat of the gym; it was the magnitude of a thousand

eyes.

People weren’t even pretending to watch the game anymore. Phones were angled toward us at every turn, lenses peeking over shoulders and between seats.

I could feel the speculation buzzing through the rows; the whispering behind us was a low, persistent gossip that I couldn’t

tune out.

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Chapter 96

“Who is she?”

“Is that the girl from the airport?”

“No way, look at the height… is she his girlfriend?”

I knew we’d be trending by midnight. The internet would pick apart every pixel of my clothing, trying to find a clue to my identity.

A sense of vertigo hit me; it was a bizarre feeling to be the most talked-about person in a room while feeling completely invisible behind a layer of blue surgical fabric.

I pulled the brim of my hat lower, my heart hammering against my ribs. The mask was my only shield, the only thing keeping “Jess” from becoming a headline.

It was the only thing keeping my life-and my secret-from being torn open for the world to see.

The game dissolved into a rush of adrenaline, with the young players pouring their entire souls into every dribble.

When the home team clinched the win with a buzzer-beater, the arena didn’t just cheer; it exploded.

T

In the chaos of the celebration, the coach approached us with a starstruck, toothy grin, formally inviting Aaron down to the

court.

I watched him walk toward the students, and the way they looked at him-with pure, unadulterated worship-made my heart ache.

To them, he was a god; to me, he was the man who had just held my hand in the dark.

But as the crowd began to surge toward the court to get closer to him, the walls felt like they were closing in.

I could see people eyeing me, their curiosity turning aggressive. I felt exposed, like a target waiting to be hit.

I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I typed: ‘I can’t stay here. I have a bad feeling someone’s going to get bold and try to yank this mask off.”

My phone buzzed almost before I could lock the screen.

Aaron: Stay calm. Be patient. I’m sending Mabel to get you now.

True to his word, Mabel appeared within a minute. Her tall, solid frame cut through the throngs of people like a ship’s prow through heavy waves.

She didn’t say a word, just stepped in front of me, her arm forming an iron barrier.

With security flanking us, she steered me through the gauntlet of flashing lights and hushed theories.

People pressed in, their heat and breath too close for comfort, but no one dared break Mabel’s perimeter.

The moment the heavy door of the SUV clicked shut, the silence of the car felt like a sanctuary.

“Whew!” I threw my head back, and took a deep breath. “Thanks, Mabel.”

She caught my eye in the rearview mirror and winked. “At your service, reina.”

I blushed, her protective vibe making me feel safe, valued.

“I’m just going to step around the block for some fresh air,” she said, sensing I needed a moment. I nodded.

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Chapter 96

Alone, I let the mask fall away-figuratively and literally–and tossed the hat onto the floorboards.

My lungs finally expanded, drawing in a full fresh breath for the first time in hours.

Staring at my reflection in the darkened window, hat and mask discarded beside me, I wondered how it’d feel not to be hidden.

To walk openly with him, no disguises, no fear. Did he truly mean it? Would he really show me off one day?

Suddenly, a dark voice slithered into my thoughts-my subconscious, perhaps, or the doubts I’d buried deep.

How would Aaron react if he found out you have a child? His child? Would he forgive you, or hate you forever?

For years, I’d focused on how he hurt me, but now I had to face my own secret.

My phone began to vibrate, shattering the silence. It was my Aunt.

My stomach did a somersault because I knew exactly who wanted to talk.

“Hey, Auntie,” I said, my voice trembling slightly.

“Hey, Aunt. Everything okay?”

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“Everything’s fine, honey,” she replied, her tone warm but tired. “Someone here misses his momma and insisted on saying goodnight.”

My heart melted as Adrian’s voice came on.

“Mommy!” His small, bright voice chirped on the other end. “Are you coming home soon?”

My heart ached. “Soon, Adrian. I promise. Are you being a good boy for grand-Auntie?”

“Yes! Guess what, Momma?” he asked, excitement practically crackling through the line.

“What is it, baby?”

“I scored three baskets at recess today! And Mrs. Hargrove said I’m the best in the class at math!”

I bit my lip, blinking back tears. “That’s amazing, sweetheart, I can’t wait to give you the biggest hug and take you out to dinner. I am so proud of you.”

“I miss you, Momma. I love you to the moon!”

That did it. The tears finally spilled over, I couldn’t just hold them back anymore.

“I miss you too, my baby,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “And I love you even more. I love you to the stars and back.”

After we hung up, the silence in the car felt heavier than before.

I opened my gallery and scrolled until I found it; a photo grid I’d made in a moment of late-night weakness.

On one side was a professional shot of Aaron from a sports magazine. On the other was a candid photo of Adrian laughing, his eyes crinkling in the exact same way.

The resemblance was terrifying. It was beautiful.

“I want you two to meet,” I whispered to the empty car, tracing Adrian’s face on the screen. “I know it’s going to be the most beautiful day of your lives… or the hardest.”

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