Chapter 4: Choosing Someone Who Chooses Me

The next day, right after lunch, my phone buzzed—Aubrey.

“Caleb, do you want to grab dinner tonight?”

“Aubrey, we barely know each other,” I replied, stuck in old habits, fighting the reflex to brush her off even though I’d promised to stop.

No reply. Ten minutes later, another text lit up my phone—Natalie, of course.

“Dinner tonight?”

I didn’t even have to ask—she was helping Aubrey out. Still, I did.

“Is this really you inviting, or Aubrey?”

Natalie: “Yes or no, Caleb.”

Me: “Yeah.”

Natalie: “Cool, Riverside Grill, 7 p.m.”

I could picture the place—neon beer signs, wing night posters for Thursdays, TVs over the bar. I agreed, not for Natalie, but because I’d promised myself I would.

Back in the dorm, Derek couldn’t help but run his mouth again. He checked his reflection in his phone, adjusted his hair, and spun his key ring like he needed the noise.

“Natalie invited me to BBQ tonight. Caleb, think I should go?”

“If you want to go, go. Would you listen if I said no?”

I didn’t sugarcoat it. Derek just shrugged, then grinned, laugh a notch too loud.

“I’m definitely going. Natalie asked me, not you—ever wonder why?”

I tuned him out. He had no clue.

When I arrived, both girls were already seated across from each other. Host stand chatter and the clatter of plates filled the air; Buffalo sauce and grill smoke mingled over the tables. Aubrey jumped up, her voice sweet.

“Caleb, you made it!”

I nodded and slid into the seat beside her, feeling her smile brighten. She really was adorable, I realized. “We can split—Venmo or Apple Pay, whatever,” she said, and I liked that she offered without making it weird.

A few minutes later, Derek wandered in. Seeing me there, his face soured, but he plastered on a grin for Natalie and took the seat next to her.

“Natalie,” he said, flashing that fake charm. The whiplash was so obvious, I almost laughed.

Natalie blinked, surprised.

“Why are you here?”

Aubrey jumped in to fix the awkwardness.

“I invited Derek. You’re cool with that, right?”

“Doesn’t matter now, he’s here, isn’t he?”

Derek gave an over-bright laugh that wilted into a wounded smile. I felt a smile tug at my lips—sometimes even the king of two-faced moves gets a taste of his own medicine.

Honestly, Natalie’s straightforwardness was something I loved about her. The dinner turned out nice—Aubrey was attentive, asking about my favorite foods, even remembering I liked Buffalo medium wings. For the first time, I let myself enjoy being cared for. All those years I’d been hung up on Natalie, I’d never stopped to ask what I wanted. Plenty of girls had crushed on me, but I’d always turned them down, blind to the idea that someone might actually care about me. Sitting there, shoulders finally dropping as the table noise softened around us, I realized—being liked felt pretty damn good.

After we finished eating, the server swung by to refill waters; a cheer went up at the TV over the bar. Natalie piped up with a laugh.

“Aubrey, you like Caleb, right? You should confess!”

“Jeez, Natalie!” Aubrey covered her face, sneaking glances at me, cheeks bright pink.

Derek jumped in, never missing a beat.

“Anyone with eyes can see Aubrey’s into Caleb. What do you say, man?” His eyes flickered with calculation, thumbs flying a quick text under the table like he was setting up his next move.

He probably figured if I got together with Aubrey, he’d finally have a shot with Natalie. But I wasn’t playing those games anymore. I’d made my decision—it was time to let go.

“Aubrey, do you really like me?”

Aubrey nodded, face half-hidden in her jacket, blushing hard.

“Then, will you be my girlfriend?”

Her head snapped up, eyes wide as dinner plates, stunned. Derek looked caught off guard, then quickly smirked, thinking he’d scored. But all I cared about was Natalie—her face didn’t change, but when she grabbed her water glass, she switched from her usual left hand to her right. Her smile tightened, blink rate ticking up, earrings going still. I knew her well enough to see it for what it was: discomfort at losing something she’d always thought belonged to her. Not real love, just habit.

The whole table went quiet. I asked again, gently:

“Aubrey, is that a yes?”

“Okay,” she whispered, eyes crinkling as she squeezed my fingers. She ducked her head to hide a grin.

“Can I hold your hand?”

She nodded, and I took her hand as we walked out. Behind us, I heard Natalie snap at Derek:

“Beat it.”

I couldn’t help smiling as I stepped into the cooler night, the smell of grill smoke trailing after us. Maybe for the first time, I was finally living for myself—and it felt damn good. My phone buzzed in my pocket as we hit the sidewalk—an unread IG DM from Natalie sliding onto the screen.