CHAPTER 7
THE DINER INCIDENT
POV– Aiden Hart
Saturday
The door clicked softly behind me as I left the dining room. Not a slam, God forbid. Just a quiet retreat.
I'd barely touched the orange juice, but I carried the empty glass upstairs like it meant something. Like it made the silence I gave my father count for something. His words still hung in the air behind me, cold and sharp like the frost lining the windowpanes.
"You were distracted last night. That's not how leaders play. Your brother never let emotions ruin his performance. And look at him now."
That last line had twisted inside me like a knife. Caleb. Always Caleb. The perfect son with his degree, his fiancée, his clean white coat, and easy charm.
I made it to my room, shut the door, and leaned back against it, squeezing the glass tighter than I needed to.
The phone buzzed on my desk. One missed call. Caleb. A text followed it.
"Still on for the house tour?"
Right. The house. His big renovation project with Ivy. The one he wanted to show me, the one he said could be "my place" when I needed space.
I should've felt excited about it. I had, once.
Now it just felt like another thing I didn't deserve.
I didn't answer. I didn't even open the message. I just stared up at the ceiling, where the plaster had started to crack in the corners.
Then the group chat pinged.
Ty:"Diner? Burgers are calling. 1 pm."
I stared at the screen for a long time. I wasn't in the mood. But sitting in here any longer would make me explode.
Me:"On my way."
The diner was already buzzing when we got there. Tyler shoved the door open with his usual swagger, Vanessa giggling behind him. Maddie slid her hand into mine like she was staking a claim.
I didn't pull away, but I didn't squeeze back either.
We pushed two booths together near the back corner, shuffling in like a pack of overdressed ghosts.
Usually, this was our spot. Our kingdom.
Today it felt... wrong.
The loss from last night sat on everyone's shoulders. Tyler was doing his best to lighten the mood with a dumb joke about our center tripping over his shoelaces, but even that landed flat. Maddie was sipping her iced tea too quickly, like trying to drown a feeling she wouldn't name.
Me? I just sat there. Numb.
I was staring out the window when she came over.
The waitress.
She had a kind face, tired eyes, but was warm. Brown hair pulled back in a bun, a few grays peeking through, but it didn't make her look old. If anything, she looked... soft. Young in a way that made you wonder how old she was.
"Afternoon, y'all," she said gently, setting down laminated menus. "I'll be right back to take your orders."
Maddie didn't even look up. Just muttered, "Thanks," like the woman had interrupted something.
A minute later, she came back with a pad and pen. To take our orders. Even when Tyler couldn't decide between a milkshake and a Coke, and ended up getting both.
Then it happened.
She brought back the drinks. Maddie had asked for Sprite, but the glass held root beer. Honest mistake.
But Maddie's eyes narrowed like someone had slapped her.
"Um, excuse me," she said, voice pitched high enough for the whole table to hear. "I said Sprite. Not… whatever this is."
The woman blinked, startled. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'll fix that for you right away."
Maddie wasn't done. She let out a tight laugh. "Do they not teach basic service here or…?"
A few people at the table chuckled nervously. Tyler just looked down.
I felt my spine go rigid.
The waitress, this woman who'd been nothing but polite, smiled again. Smaller this time. "I apologize, sweetheart. I'll get you a new one."
Maddie rolled her eyes and muttered, "Maybe don't take orders if you can't remember them."
And that's when I saw him.
Behind the counter.
Kieran.
Wearing an apron over a black tee, a towel slung over one shoulder. He'd been cleaning glasses, talking with the guy who owned the place, Mike, I think.
But now he was stiff. Still. Watching us.
Watching Maddie.
His jaw clenched. One step forward. Then another.
I don't know what I expected. But the woman looked over her shoulder and caught his eye.
And then... she shook her head. Barely. Just once. A silent stop.
Kieran froze.
Didn't move again.
I stared at her. Then at him. Back and forth.
Was that... his mom?
No.
She looked too young. And Kieran, he didn't seem like the type to
But the way she looked at him. The way he backed off immediately, jaw ticking like he was biting back a hundred words.
Something about it sat wrong in my chest.
Then I looked at Maddie.
Perfect, blonde Maddie. Smiling like nothing happened, like she hadn't just humiliated someone in public.
And suddenly, I couldn't remember how many times she'd done that before.
Little digs. Snide remarks to girls she didn't like. Mocking the server who spilled ketchup last week.
I used to laugh with her. Or ignore it.
Now I couldn't.
Not with Kieran watching.
Not with whatever that was passing silently between him and the woman.
The rest of lunch blurred. Burgers arrived. Milkshakes melted. Conversations wandered.
I barely ate.
My eyes kept drifting back to the counter, where Kieran stood like a statue, face unreadable.
When it was time to leave, everyone filed out in a noisy blur. Tyler punched my arm. "Later, man."
Maddie kissed my cheek. "Text me tonight, okay?"
I nodded. Didn't say anything.
I lingered for a second.
Kieran turned halfway. Our eyes met.
His face didn't shift. Not anger. No recognition. Just... blank.
Then he turned away.
I stood there, hands in my pockets, heart thudding against ribs that suddenly felt too tight.
I should've said something.
Should've stopped Maddie.
Should've apologized.
But the words stayed locked in my throat.
And as I walked out into the crisp air of Kingswood, I only had one thought.
Why do I care so much?