Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I'm Shining Golden as a Queen - Chapter 35: Chapter 35
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He was sporting a plain black tee. When we walked in, he turned, his eyes dark and intense like he'd stepped out of some moody indie film.
I couldn't tell if he was checking me out since Rosalia had basically body-blocked his view with her strategic positioning.
Jax's eyes crinkled as he flashed that signature troublemaker smirk that screamed "I'm hot and I know it."
Aunt Jessica swatted his arm. "Say hi to Diane and the girls, Jax."
After mumbling his hellos, Jax shot his mom a look. "Mom, I'm literally in college. Can you not parent me in public?"
Aunt Jessica just snorted and moved on, hooking arms with my mom. "Check out the menu, Di. What looks good?"
While the moms chatted away, Rosalia pounced on the seat next to Jax, eyes practically Disney-princess sparkling. "Jax! Do you still remember me?" she chirped, voice hitting that flirty high note.
Jax lazily propped his chin up, eyes lit with amusement. "How could I forget? You're little Rosie."
Rosie was her childhood nickname.
Obviously meant as a compliment—everyone in our Minnetonka neighborhood used it back then.
Rosalia grinned like she'd won the TikTok lottery. "OMG, no way!"
She whipped out her iPhone. "Can I add you on Snapchat?"
Jax shrugged. "Yeah, whatever."
He unlocked his phone, and from my position behind Rosalia, I had the perfect view of his screen.
His League of Legends: Wild Rift stats page was open. I'd never played it, but mentally added "become gaming goddess" to my summer bucket list.
After they exchanged info, Rosalia was about to launch into something else when Jax suddenly looked up at me. "Lia, you gonna stand there all night?"
Rosalia glanced back, clearly annoyed at the interruption. "Yeah, Liana, just sit somewhere already."
I nodded silently.
There were eight seats around the table.
Aunt Jessica wasn't sitting with Jax—she was next to my mom. Mom had Rosalia on her other side, and Rosalia was practically glued to Jax.
After a quick calculation, I dropped into the chair on Jax's other side.
He raised an eyebrow. "The AC vent's right above you. You'll be a popsicle in ten minutes."
I faked chill vibes. "I'll deal."
Rosalia threw me some shade before turning back to Jax with her honey-sweet voice. "So Jax, tell me about UCLA. Is it as amazing as everyone says?"
Her cheeks were doing that cute-blush thing as she effortlessly pulled his attention back.
He leaned back, shifting toward her. From my angle, I could only see his profile—that ridiculous jawline that belonged on a Marvel superhero.
After dropping a few UCLA facts, he suddenly turned to me. "Lia, can you hear me okay over there?"
I was legit stunned he even remembered I existed, but before I could answer, Rosalia jumped in: "It doesn't even matter. Liana's grades won't get her anywhere near UCLA."
My poker face stayed intact—I'd heard this chorus before.
I just looked up and accidentally locked eyes with him.
Jax's eyes weren't huge, but damn, those lashes—longer than most girls' with mascara, casting actual shadows on his cheekbones.
My whole right side went electrically numb.
Heart thumping like a broken bass speaker.
Jax casually reached across, sliding a bottle of peach Snapple toward me.
His tone was offhand but hit different: "Cream always rises to the top."
I stared at the Snapple bottle like it was some alien artifact.
This was totally his fault—making me fall for him.
No exit strategy.
No backup plan.
I couldn't tell if he was checking me out since Rosalia had basically body-blocked his view with her strategic positioning.
Jax's eyes crinkled as he flashed that signature troublemaker smirk that screamed "I'm hot and I know it."
Aunt Jessica swatted his arm. "Say hi to Diane and the girls, Jax."
After mumbling his hellos, Jax shot his mom a look. "Mom, I'm literally in college. Can you not parent me in public?"
Aunt Jessica just snorted and moved on, hooking arms with my mom. "Check out the menu, Di. What looks good?"
While the moms chatted away, Rosalia pounced on the seat next to Jax, eyes practically Disney-princess sparkling. "Jax! Do you still remember me?" she chirped, voice hitting that flirty high note.
Jax lazily propped his chin up, eyes lit with amusement. "How could I forget? You're little Rosie."
Rosie was her childhood nickname.
Obviously meant as a compliment—everyone in our Minnetonka neighborhood used it back then.
Rosalia grinned like she'd won the TikTok lottery. "OMG, no way!"
She whipped out her iPhone. "Can I add you on Snapchat?"
Jax shrugged. "Yeah, whatever."
He unlocked his phone, and from my position behind Rosalia, I had the perfect view of his screen.
His League of Legends: Wild Rift stats page was open. I'd never played it, but mentally added "become gaming goddess" to my summer bucket list.
After they exchanged info, Rosalia was about to launch into something else when Jax suddenly looked up at me. "Lia, you gonna stand there all night?"
Rosalia glanced back, clearly annoyed at the interruption. "Yeah, Liana, just sit somewhere already."
I nodded silently.
There were eight seats around the table.
Aunt Jessica wasn't sitting with Jax—she was next to my mom. Mom had Rosalia on her other side, and Rosalia was practically glued to Jax.
After a quick calculation, I dropped into the chair on Jax's other side.
He raised an eyebrow. "The AC vent's right above you. You'll be a popsicle in ten minutes."
I faked chill vibes. "I'll deal."
Rosalia threw me some shade before turning back to Jax with her honey-sweet voice. "So Jax, tell me about UCLA. Is it as amazing as everyone says?"
Her cheeks were doing that cute-blush thing as she effortlessly pulled his attention back.
He leaned back, shifting toward her. From my angle, I could only see his profile—that ridiculous jawline that belonged on a Marvel superhero.
After dropping a few UCLA facts, he suddenly turned to me. "Lia, can you hear me okay over there?"
I was legit stunned he even remembered I existed, but before I could answer, Rosalia jumped in: "It doesn't even matter. Liana's grades won't get her anywhere near UCLA."
My poker face stayed intact—I'd heard this chorus before.
I just looked up and accidentally locked eyes with him.
Jax's eyes weren't huge, but damn, those lashes—longer than most girls' with mascara, casting actual shadows on his cheekbones.
My whole right side went electrically numb.
Heart thumping like a broken bass speaker.
Jax casually reached across, sliding a bottle of peach Snapple toward me.
His tone was offhand but hit different: "Cream always rises to the top."
I stared at the Snapple bottle like it was some alien artifact.
This was totally his fault—making me fall for him.
No exit strategy.
No backup plan.
End of Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I'm Shining Golden as a Queen Chapter 35. Continue reading Chapter 36 or return to Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I'm Shining Golden as a Queen book page.