Run, Girl (If You Can)

Keeley and Valentina rode over to the restaurant where the engagement party was being held in Aiden's car. He ran into Valentina earlier in the week and offered since they were all going to the same place.

They had all dressed up a bit for the occasion. Keeley had never seen Aiden wear anything but sweatpants and tee shirts so it was a bit surprising to see him in a button-down shirt and dark wash jeans.

Valentina wore a black beaded mini dress with matching flats and straightened her hair for once. Keeley opted for a navy blue halter-neck dress with a flared skirt that had fuchsia flowers on it and paired it with heeled black sandals she got on clearance. She wore a cheap pair of fake diamond drop earrings to complete the look.

They made up a good-looking group if she did say so herself.

When they arrived Keeley didn't recognize most of the people scattered throughout the group of tables the restaurant had pushed together for the event. They probably consisted of Jennica's actor friends she hadn't met and all of Cameron's guests.

There were only two people aside from the future bride and groom that she recognized: Ryan and Aaron. What was he even doing here?

He worked in the same company as Cameron but he was way higher up! There was no way they would be friends. Did he come just because he knew she would? That was low, even for him.

Keeley resolutely parked herself next to Ryan, who was sitting a few seats diagonally across from Aaron. Valentina joined her but Aiden chose to sit next to the Ice King and greeted him cheerfully as if they were best friends.

Ryan said hi to both of them before leaning over and whispering to Keeley with a confused expression. "Isn't that your ex? What's he doing here?"

Her knuckles turned white because she was clenching her fists so hard under the table. "I'm not sure."

At that moment Cameron, who had been standing with Jennica and greeting people as they came in, strode over and leaned over both Aiden and Aaron with his hands on their shoulders with a jovial smile. "Hey guys! Glad you both made it."

"We wouldn't miss this for the world! Right Aaron?" Aiden said with a grin on his face.

"Right," he responded flatly. "Congratulations to both you and your fiancée."

Cameron looked up at Keeley's little group. "Obviously you two know Aiden but does everyone else here know each other?"

Ryan remained cordial even though he clearly wasn't happy that Aaron was here. "We've met but I don't know either of your names."

"Ah yes," the groom-to-be said and started pointing to everyone as he introduced them. "Keeley and Valentina were Jennica's roommates and this is their friend Ryan. As for these two…they're probably my closest friends. Aaron here has agreed to be my best man."

"When did I ever say I would do that?"

"Yesterday, dude. I was there," Aiden said with a sigh. "You're such a space case lately."

A space case, huh? That didn't sound like him. Was it because of what Keeley said after she found out he had been reborn as well?

She frowned as she sneakily examined him. He didn't look so hot.

There were dark circles under his eyes and his blank expression was somehow even deader than usual. It must be his eyes. The pupils were so large that they looked like a shark's, not showing even a hint of blue.

"I didn't realize you two knew each other so well," Keeley spoke up, causing Aaron to swivel his head and stare at her.

Cameron smiled brightly. "Oh yeah, we met in college! He helped kick start my career."

Interesting. So he was one of the business contacts Aaron mentioned the other day that he connected with during their time apart. Aaron wouldn't have gotten him a job at Hale Investments for no reason; Cameron must be of some special use to him.

Come to think of it…he also said Aiden was the one who helped him take down Lacy. He probably recruited him early for a similar purpose.

Exactly how talented were these people she had been interacting with like normal? Did Jennica know about any of this?

Speaking of Jennica…she had asked Keeley specifically to be the maid of honor even though there were other bridesmaids that could have done it. Did she know Cameron was going to ask Aaron?

They would be thrown together an awful lot during this process. They would even have to walk down the aisle together.

She knew that Keeley and Aaron had a somewhat complicated history even though she didn't have any details. Why would she do this? What kind of friend was she?!

Keeley just had to last until the end of this and it would all be over. The wedding and Aaron would be completely behind her then.

All the guests had arrived and conversations arose between various groups of people at the table who knew each other once everyone was seated and the food had been ordered. Cameron bought several bottles of wine that were meant to be shared throughout the party.

For the life of her, Keeley couldn't get the cork off of the bottle closest to her so she handed it over to Ryan. "Use your superpower; I've got nothing."

He had always been able to open even the most impossible of bottles and jars. During their study group days in college he even managed to open a can of soda after the pull tab had been ripped off, gaining the respect of all present.

Ryan opened the bottle with ease and poured glasses for her and Valentina before helping himself and passing the bottle down to an actress Jennica knew.

Aaron watched this interaction with dead eyes, not even bothering to emit his usual chill. She was pointedly ignoring him though so she didn't notice. However, Aiden did and shot a worried look between the two of them.