Chapter 1My boyfriend and my best friend? Both wanted me. They literally threw punches—just over who gets to take me to dinner.
So I laid down the rules:
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays? I'm with Rowan Castellane.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays? I'm with Jade Ashford.
Sundays? Mine.
Pickup days? They wouldn't even LOOK at each other. Like sworn enemies.
Till one Sunday I walked into a coffee shop and saw them.
They were just... talking. Normal. Calm.
Jade even brought me up: "You got Brynn tomorrow, right? God, I wish Sundays lasted longer."
Rowan took a sip of his coffee. "Yeah. Same."
Turns out the two people who loved me most? They were already done with me.
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Rowan and Jade? Easy to spot.
Two hot people sitting there? Everyone stares.
But wait, they hang out now? They hate each other.
I was standing there confused when some server bumped me and spilled coffee on my dress.
Rowan heard and looked over.
"Brynn. Come here." He waved at me.
I held my wet dress and walked over. Felt so dumb.
Standing next to them? I looked like crap.
"What're you doing here?" Rowan can tell I'm upset. He touched my ear.
Then started wiping my dress. Real gentle.
Jade took my hand. "We'll get you a new dress."
Then she ordered for me. "Hi, rose lychee latte, extra cream."
I couldn't look up.
Did I hear wrong? Had to be wrong.
They're still good to me. Why would they be done with me.
"Wait. What are you two doing together?" I breathed and looked at Rowan.
Rowan blinked, smiled a bit. "Tomorrow's your birthday. We stopped fighting. Gonna celebrate together this time."
"Happy?"
Birthday. Together.
All these years they did everything to get me alone on my birthday.
Rowan literally flew me to another country once. Just one day.
I begged them to stop. They never listened.
Now they're saying they wanna do it together?
I never knew Rowan could lie like this.
"Yeah. Super happy." I smiled. But inside felt like shit.
But I didn't call them out.
Don't choose when you're mad. Rowan and Jade taught me that.
Out of us three? I'm the one who blows up fastest.
But I've been trying.
"Gonna head out. You two keep talking." I stood up.
Jade stood too. "I'll drive you."
Rowan grabbed my hand. Wouldn't let go. Suddenly they're fighting over me again.
"I'll take her. She's mine tomorrow."
Before I could talk, Jade snapped. "Rowan, we had a deal."
Rowan laughed quiet. Didn't push this time.
Voice got soft—like he's trying to make her feel better. "Okay okay. My bad."
Don't know what's wrong with me.
Used to want them to get along. Seeing this now? Hurts like hell.
When did they get this comfortable?
Just this Sunday? Or every Sunday I didn't know about?
I stared at them. Kept my voice steady. "Nah I'm good. Getting home myself."
When I got in the car, Frank said, "Saw Rowan and Jade's cars back there. Thought they'd grab you again."
I leaned on the window. Watched stuff blur past.
Yeah. Before? They'd never let me leave alone.
"Miss, your parents have been gone forever. Too busy for you."
"Good thing Rowan and Jade were around. They really love you."
Their talk kept playing in my head. Didn't know I was crying till my hand got wet.
Rowan and Jade do love me.
Seven years though? Guess they got tired.
Chapter 2
Freshman year Dad used his money to shove me into AP classes—where all the smart kids were.
Rowan Castellane, ranked first. Jade Ashford, ranked second. Both sat next to me. I was squished between them.
Neither talked much. Didn't hang with anyone.
Rowan slept at his desk when he wasn't in class. Jade just sat quiet.
One time at lunch both their stomachs were growling loud as hell.
Oh. That's why they're always half-dead.
After that I started bringing extra food to school every day. Bribed them to help with homework.
Okay tutoring was my excuse. Really just wanted to hang with them.
Feeding these two geniuses became the only reason I survived homework hell.
Every time I'd walk up with snacks. "Here's today's tutoring fee."
So hard to crack. Cold as hell.
Only talked when explaining problems. That's it.
I kept trying though. Finally they treated me like a friend.
Before I switched? I was in the slacker track—rich kids doing whatever.
Like this chill paradise in a strict school.
No clue why Dad randomly threw me in with the geniuses.
My old friends came looking for me one day. Making fun.
"You stuck between two broke kids now? That sucks right?"
"Brynn just come back. Boring without you."
I totally lost it. Yelled loud. "You're just jealous I sit next to hot people all day!"
Everyone went quiet.
Rowan was at the water fountain. Jade walked by with some fancy pastry.
Rowan walked past, pulled my sleeve, dragged me back to class.
When class started? Hot water and a pastry on my desk.
That night Rowan gave me this insane problem set. Got most of it wrong.
He stayed late explaining every single one.
When he walked me home it was snowing. Cold as hell.
"Brynn, who do you like more?"
The wind was so loud I barely heard him.
Rowan stared at me. Grabbed my hand, shoved it in his coat pocket.
"Brynn, make me matter more. Please?"
That night my hand stayed warm the whole way home.
Made me feel good.
Rowan doesn't talk much. But when he decides something? All in. Stubborn as hell.
Petty. Competitive. Jealous of everything.
Started walking me to and from school every day. Wouldn't hold my hand but always carried my bag.
Said he wanted to see me before Jade in the morning—leave after Jade at night. More time with me that way.
Made this whole study guide just for me. Fun and easy so I'd ask him for help instead of Jade.
During lunch? Made me face him when I napped.
One time I turned over. He literally turned my face back.
When we took the SATs somehow I got into the same school as them.
Dad was so hyped he sent them both a ton of money as a "reward" through the school.
When we picked majors, Rowan chose Economics. "Brynn, you're with me? You'll never worry about money."
Simple. Real. Wanted to take care of me.
Jade picked Law. "Then I'll protect Brynn when she marries you. You screw up and she divorces your ass? I'll make sure she gets everything."
Rowan's face went red. He looked pissed.
The car slowed down. Brought me back.
I looked outside—two cars driving by fast.
Frank said, "That's Rowan and Jade. Different car today so they didn't spot us. Want me to follow?"
I shook my head. "Nah. Just take me home."
Whatever. Let them do their thing.
Chapter 3
When I got home I couldn't stop freaking out.
Tears kept coming. I didn't even know why.
Sad they didn't love me enough? But they already gave me everything.
After I calmed down I worked on my comic.
I've drawn comics before but none got this popular.
This one—Ten Out of Ten—based on us three. Real stuff. Real feelings.
Ten out of ten. Like they gave me their whole hearts.
I drew till sunset. Then curled up on the couch and closed my eyes.
Half asleep I started thinking about before.
Rowan and Jade always fighting.
"Brynn I'm your favorite right?"
"Brynn I'm the most important one right?"
But in my dream they were staring at me. Cold eyes.
"We don't want you anymore."
I woke up fast. Sat up—smacked my head into something hard.
Grabbed my forehead and looked up.
Rowan.
"What are you doing here?"
Rowan moved my hand, rubbed where I hit it. "Brynn, can I break the rule just once?"
"Missed you so bad baby."
I used to be fair with them. Sundays I wouldn't see either.
Now? I didn't know what to say.
Rowan sat next to me. Pulled me close.
He smells like mint. Not like Jade.
He took the pages I was drawing and looked at them. He looked happy.
"Where'd you get to? Oh the confession scene."
Rowan stared at the drawing—him and me. Text said: "Stay with me from now on okay?"
In the comic my face was red as hell. My brain was going nuts.
Rowan covered his face, laughed. "God that still gets me."
He held my face and got close. "Brynn you're like an angel or something. Saved my life."
Rowan kissed me soft, kissed down my neck. Got close, whispered, "Baby when you wanna marry me?"
"Then you're mine. Just mine."
We started making out. Rowan pulled his shirt off—and I saw it.
A tattoo on his side. Brynn.
I frowned. "You know I hate tattoos. And this looks like it hurt."
Messed up too. Definitely not a real tattoo artist.
Rowan you idiot. Got scammed.
Rowan grabbed my hand, pulled me closer. Breathing on my neck. "But I wanted it. Wanted everyone to know I'm yours."
"Rowan is Brynn's. Only Brynn's."
I stared at that shitty tattoo. Closed my eyes.
Fine. At least let me get through my birthday.
Before bed Rowan wouldn't leave me alone.
He was being way too clingy. Felt like he was trying to make up for something.
Like a cat that got caught.
"When you wanna marry me? Brynn just tell me. Please?"
I turned over. Tears I was holding back came out.
Marriage? Yeah no.
Next day I woke up around noon. Rowan was just lying there staring.
Just like before. Made me face him when I slept. Then he just watched. Wouldn't move.
"Come over. Having your birthday party today. Together."
I used to dream about them both being there for my birthday.
Now? Didn't care.
Sitting at Rowan's table with all three of us? Felt wrong.
Back in college they'd both show up after class. Whoever got there first got dinner with me.
One time they straight up fought outside my classroom.
Rowan was pissed. "Why do you keep trying to take Brynn?"
Jade didn't back down. "Cause I want her too."
That summer Jade learned how to box. Said she wanted to protect me.
Rowan's bigger. Stronger. That day? Didn't hold back.
I went over to Jade's. Helped with her cuts. Came back—Rowan's sitting outside my door.
Looking miserable. Won't come in.
Still pissed but seeing him? Anger just gone.
"I'm not talking to you." I unlocked the door and went in.
"Not talking to me? Brynn I'm hurt too."
That was the first time I saw Rowan cry.
"Brynn feel bad for me. Please?"
Rowan's a pain when he's upset.
So my life got split after that.
Monday Wednesday Friday—Rowan.
Tuesday Thursday Saturday—Jade.
Only thing they had in common? Me.
"You good? Don't like the food?" Jade's putting more on my plate.
I looked at the table. All my favorites.
Years of eating together—they only ate what I ate. Never ordered for themselves.
"It's good." I drank wine. Bit my lip hard.
I can't drink much. Three drinks and I'm done.
They never let me drink before. Knew I'd feel like shit.
But this time? Nobody stopped me.
Three glasses. I felt kinda drunk. Not wasted though—brain too loud.
I put my head down. Didn't move.
After forever I heard Jade.
"Can we go to your room?"
Rowan's voice went cold. "No. Only Brynn sleeps in my bed."
"Guest room then. Gonna shower."
Jade went quiet. Then: "Tattoo from yesterday—does it hurt? Wanna shower together?"
Rowan sighed. "We both got her name. Yours looks like shit though. Way worse than the one I gave you."
Then his voice got mean. "Use the guest shower. Told you—my bed, my room, my stuff—that's for her."
Tattoo.
My name. Their cute little matching thing.
My eyes barely open, staring at nothing. Chest so tight I couldn't breathe. Tears just came.
Their footsteps faded.
I lifted my head. Stared at the cake.
That much of a rush? Couldn't even eat cake first.
Couldn't even wait for me to blow out candles.
I stuck them in. Closed my eyes.
Before my wish was always: I hope us three stay together forever.
This time I made a different wish.
I wiped my tears and went to the kitchen. Turned off the gas. Grabbed some oil bottles.
Poured them all over the leather couch.
Then called 911. "There's a fire at 2847 Riverside Drive, get here now."
When I heard sirens getting close I lit the candles again and threw them on the couch.
Flames went up right away. I looked at the closed door upstairs.
Then left through the back.
