I’m Done Being My Genius Boyfriend’s Secret Chapter 02

I’m Done Being My Genius Boyfriend’s Secret Chapter 02

She flipped her phone onto the table.

Briar’s latest Instagram post was up.

Two movie tickets. Caption:

Go public.

In the corner of the photo, a guy’s wrist was visible—wearing a black hair tie.

I stared at that hair tie.

My eyes stung.

I’d bought it for Tristan.

I’d begged him to wear it—some small sign that he was taken.

He called it childish. Refused to put it on once.

But he’d been wearing it lately.

I’d let myself believe he just didn’t want to admit it out loud.

Now I knew how stupid that was.

The table buzzed.

“Who’s the guy? Someone from our school?”

“She’s always with Tristan. I thought they were already together.”

I said, “It’s Tristan.”

They looked at me—then stopped.

“Kira… your eyes are really red.”

I looked down. “Chili’s too spicy.”

The door swung open.

Tristan and Briar walked in together.

He carried her bag and her jacket.

The waiter asked for their order. Briar smiled. “The Couple’s set is cheaper. Let’s get that.”

The table erupted.

“Tristan—we knew something was up.”

He saw me. Paused.

Then walked over like nothing happened.

“Perfect timing. Let’s eat together.”

He was so calm.

Like none of this had ever been awkward.

Like I’d imagined everything.

Someone asked, “So—are you guys actually together?”

He glanced at Briar’s post and laughed lightly.

“That? She meant the movie’s release.”

He scanned the table—and stopped at me.

“You didn’t actually believe it, did you?”

Briar blushed and stayed quiet.

Everyone laughed.

But I couldn’t stop staring at the shiny gloss on his lips.

He sat down and reached for my hand under the table—like he always used to.

I pulled away.

His hand froze. His face cooled.

He moved over to Briar’s side. Shoulders touching.

She blushed again.

The whole meal circled around them.

Their college plans. Their future genius kids.

I sat like a stranger at my own table.

I wanted to leave—but he was blocking me in.

So I stared at my plate. My stomach twisted.

Briar bent to eat—her hair fell forward.

Tristan slipped the black hair tie off his wrist and tied it back for her.

Smooth. Like he’d done it a hundred times.

I remembered begging him to wear that same tie.

He’d told me to stop bothering him with “girly stuff.”

Briar reached for an iced soda.

He grabbed it before she could open it.

“Your stomach hurts. No cold drinks.”

Everyone laughed at how sweet he was.

Briar swatted him. He smiled.

Then he glanced at me—like he just remembered I existed.

“You look flushed. The chili’s getting to you, right?”

He slid the cold bottle toward me.

“Drink some. It’ll help.”

I stared at the bottle. My stomach ached.

He used to know.

He used to ask for warm water when we ate out.

Now he’d forgotten.

I didn’t take it. His face tightened.

“Kira. How long are you going to keep this up?”

I shook my head, pushed down the knot in my throat, and stood up.

“I’m not feeling well. I’m going home.”