No Need to See You Again

Jocelyn's POV

"Whoa, Jocelyn! You've been holding out on us, haven't you? If you're getting engaged, what are you even doing at a bachelorette party?" someone called out.

Kristine leaned in, eyes bright with curiosity. "Who's the lucky guy? Since when is this a thing, Josie? We haven't heard a single whisper."

"Just now," I replied casually.

The phone in my pocket started to buzz, each pulse angrier than the last.

Shawn's texts came through one after another.

"Jocelyn, what are you pulling?"

"Look, I know I shouldn't have hugged Alyssa, but I couldn't just walk away from the game. Kristine's getting married in two days. I couldn't blow her off and make things awkward."

"Be reasonable. I told you I'd marry you. I meant it."

After reading them all, I flipped the phone face-down on the table without typing a word back.

I just watched Shawn from across the room. As if to prove a point, he tightened his grip, pulling Alyssa even closer against him.

"Since you're the couple of the day, why don't you two give us a kiss?" someone suggested.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

The crowd egged them on until they were pressed together.

Alyssa was flush against his chest, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Stop it, you guys… Shawn and I haven't seen each other in five years. We can't just start making out."

She put on a show of resisting, but as she tilted her head up, her lips nearly brushed his jawline.

I'd been in love with Shawn for more than five years.

From the time I was a kid, I'd known my life was already mapped out for me. Every day was an endless cycle of tests and expectations. I'd stopped looking forward to anything a long time ago.

Then, one afternoon, when I was leaving the library to turn in some paperwork like any other day, a basketball came flying straight at me.

I was so dizzy from low blood sugar that I couldn't even move. I just closed my eyes and braced for the impact.

Honestly, a part of me thought getting knocked out wouldn't be the worst thing.

But then Shawn called out my name and stepped in front of me, shielding me from the blow.

That moment tore a hole in the monotonous fabric of my life.

I started carving out time in my schedule to watch his games and attend his debates.

I slowly fell for him, but when I heard he had a childhood sweetheart he'd known forever, I buried my feelings deep.

Then, five years ago, Alyssa moved abroad. At the same time, the Lowell family was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. I thought my moment had finally come.

"Enough, give them a break. Shawn, even my grandma's heard about your mom nagging you to get married. She says if you're not hitched by the end of the year, she'll break your legs herself," Kristine chimed in.

She covered her mouth, laughing. "I told her I'd book you a room at my family's orthopedic clinic, but it looks like you're saved now that Alyssa is back."

"You and Josie are a funny pair, though," she added. "Either you're tearing each other apart in business for five years, or you're both keeping your love lives under wraps. What is this, a footrace to the altar?"

The room erupted.

"No wonder Jocelyn is getting engaged on the spot. If Shawn beat her to the altar, she'd probably send funeral wreaths to the wedding out of spite."

For five years, everyone had assumed I was out to get Shawn.

In reality, I'd been the one flagging his missteps so they'd never see the light of day.

I was the one who'd pulled him back from the edge of bankruptcy, funneling him money and connections behind the scenes.

I'd rather be called petty and small-minded than wound his pride by letting people call him a kept man.

That was why, in five years, we'd never once held hands in public.

We arrived at restaurants separately.

At the movies, we sat three rows apart.

And yet I was happy to do it. I was the one who'd fallen for him first.

The day he finally agreed to be with me, he told me with bloodshot eyes that he needed five years.

He promised that on our fifth anniversary, he'd go public and give me the wedding of my dreams.

That was supposed to be this year.

That was supposed to be today.

But here he was, holding someone else in front of everyone.

"Come on, Jocelyn, don't leave us hanging. Who is the guy?"

The room kept pushing.

I met Shawn's ink-dark eyes and curled my lips into a smirk. "I can't say just yet. But… he's in this room."