Chapter 1Graduation day, I'd just said yes to my crush when my phone buzzed—some email. Sender? Future ME. Like, ten years from now.
I stared at it for a second, then typed back.
"Beckett and I end up happy, right? And Sutton—we're still best friends?"
She replied instantly.
"He's been banging Sutton for a year already. Right under your nose. Everybody knows. Even your mom."
"After you marry him, he gives you a thousand a month. Sends HER a hundred grand."
"Three miscarriages. All because of them."
"Found out the day they celebrated their ten-year cheating anniversary."
I stared at my screen. Hands shaking.
Then another email.
"I'm dying. Got a month left."
"But YOU don't have to end up like me."
"End him first."
I screenshotted everything. Walked straight to where Beckett was waiting.
Time to rewrite the whole damn story.
---
Beckett sees me on my phone. "What're you looking at?"
I look up. "Just another job."
He laughs. "That's what you get for being good. Whatever, they're late—we already said same company."
I smile. Don't say shit.
Sutton runs over with flowers, white dress.
"Ro! Grad pics, let's go!"
She grabs my arm, laughing, then looks at Beckett.
"Fine, you can take our pics. They better not suck or I'm kicking your ass." Throws a punch at him.
Usually when they fight I stop them.
Not this time. I wanna see what he does.
He grins, grabs her wrist.
"Yeah? Let's see you try."
Sutton's face gets red. She pulls her hand back, pissed.
"Ew, get your nasty hands off me. Ro, let's go."
We're going to the classroom for pics. I go to the bathroom quick.
Get back. Hear them through the door.
"Beck, this ring you got me is like ten carats. So shiny. Why didn't you get Ro one? We're best friends—could've had matching ones."
Beckett's petting her head.
"Babe, you forgot? I'm broke, remember? In front of her. And this one's custom. Just for you."
I look at my plain ring. Takes me a sec to breathe. Push the door.
He hears me. Hand moves off her head.
That night we're out celebrating. My phone goes off.
Another email pops up.
"Don't listen to what they say. Watch what they do."
I don't get it. Someone says, "Truth or Dare!"
Beckett picks a card. "Pick up the second person on your left, do ten squats."
I'm on his left. Sutton's next to me. So... her.
Everyone's staring.
Sutton rolls her eyes. "Stupid game. Now he's gotta touch me. Ro, don't worry, he's gonna regret this."
Beckett looks at me. "Just a game. Relax."
Then goes over, picks her up. Her arms go around his neck. Super close.
He puts her down. Breathing hard. "Damn, you're heavy. I'm sweating. Gonna wash up."
Sutton rolls her eyes. "Ew, I gotta wash my hands. Touched a gross dude. Ro, back in a sec."
They leave.
My phone goes off again. Another email.
"You know what I found in his diary? That party night when they disappeared? Next room over."
I get up. "Gonna hit the bathroom."
My friends panic. "Wait till they're back! Don't go alone."
I smile. "Actually feeling kinda sick. I'm gonna bail. Tell them for me?"
They chill. "Oh yeah, sure."
I walk past the next room. Door's open a little.
Sutton's kissing him. His hand's on her head, pulling her closer.
Chapter 2
Outside, my phone buzzes. Mom.
"Sweetie, got tickets for me, Beck, and Sutton. Couldn't get you one. Maybe check standby?"
I stare at my phone.
Hits me—I'm the extra one.
We've been planning this trip forever. Sutton said we should bring Mom. Mom got all excited, said she'd get the tickets.
My parents split when I was a kid. Sutton lived across the hall, pretty much moved in during middle school.
We were close. At least I thought so.
My phone rings. Beckett.
"Why'd you leave? I would've driven you home."
He sounds sweet like always.
I think about senior year graduation, him confessing with his face all red.
Four years, he had my back.
This one time some creep was following me—Beckett got hit with a stick protecting me. Even when he was broke as hell, never forgot our anniversary.
He'd always say, "Taking care of my girl? Obviously."
Junior year I introduced him to Sutton. They hated each other right away.
Beckett got pissed. "She's gonna steal you? No way."
Sutton laughed. "Where'd you even find this guy?"
Next day I'm bringing down my last stuff from the dorm. See Sutton coming down.
She's mad. "Beckett left me at the gate last night. Just drove off."
I don't say anything. Downstairs Beckett's in his car waiting.
Sutton opens the back door, gets in. "I'm sleeping."
Someone walks past us. "Yo, you guys hear? Someone was hooking up by the dorms last night. Super loud. I heard the whole thing."
Beckett's loading my stuff. I see his hand freeze.
I'm in the front fixing my makeup. Check the mirror—see the backseat.
Beckett keeps giving me water and stuff, but he's looking at Sutton in the mirror.
She sticks her tongue out. He smirks.
We get home. Mom's always kept a room for Sutton.
That night Mom brings me milk. Stares at me.
"You've been working hard. Drink this, go to sleep."
I smile. "Love you."
Back in my room, I think about the email. My hand stops.
Pour the whole thing on the plant by the window. Cover it with dirt.
Mom fought like hell to keep me when they split. Gave me everything I wanted.
But after the past few days? That email?
I can't stop thinking.
I get in bed. Pretend to sleep.
My door opens. Someone's standing there. Just stands. Then leaves.
Voices from the living room. Quiet. But I hear them.
I go to the door. Press my ear on it.
Sutton. "She out?"
"Yeah. Cold. Put sleeping pills in the milk." Mom sounds normal.
"Keep your voice down."
My chest tightens.
Beckett. He sounds weird.
"Does she have to get hurt? We could just not—"
"You said after we get married tomorrow we'd go celebrate. You said you owed me."
Sutton's voice gets all whiny.
"Yeah but—"
"Beck." She cuts him off.
"She doesn't get hurt, we get married, then what? No honeymoon?"
"Fine. Whatever." Beckett stops talking. Gives in.
Sutton goes quiet. "Tomorrow I'll take Ro to that bookstore on Main."
"That place safe? Don't do anything stupid. This can't blow up."
Mom again. "I'll act normal. Just be careful."
I'm against the door. Nails in my palms.
This woman fought like hell for me. My whole life I counted on her.
Now she's helping them fuck me over.
I breathe. Go back to bed. Close my eyes.
Next morning I stay in bed.
When I get up, they're in the living room. Beckett and Sutton on the couch. Mom's cooking.
They look different. Lighter maybe. Probably got married already.
Sutton comes over.
"Ro! That bookstore on Main? I need this old art book. Come with?"
"Yeah sure."
Beckett drives us. Waits in the car.
The bookstore's got this old wooden stairs to the second floor. Sutton goes, "I need something upstairs."
I follow.
She goes up a few steps. Then—"Oh shit!"—falls backward, arms out like she's grabbing for me.
I was ready. Grab the railing, push against the wall.
Sutton hits the floor. Screams.
Beckett runs in. Looks at her first.
Then at me. Pissed.
"You just stood there? Didn't even try?"
I look down at him. My voice is flat.
"Beckett. I'm your girlfriend, right? You didn't ask if I'm okay. You just blamed me."
"Anyone watching would think she's your girlfriend."
He freezes. Face goes guilty.
Sutton's voice gets all weak. "Beck... my leg..."
At the hospital, Beckett's everywhere—checking her in, paying, taking her for X-rays.
Acting more worried than me. Her actual best friend.
He forgot he's even supposed to be pretending.
I'm by the door, arms crossed, watching.
He sees me. Comes over. Looks weird.
"She's your best friend. I know you're worried. You're hurting, I'm hurting more."
I almost laugh. He's good at this. Just went too hard today.
I go outside. Call Dad.
He answers. Sounds happy. "Ro! You called me back!"
"Dad. That thing about taking over the company—you still serious about that?"
"Hell yeah! You ready?"
"Do it. Now."
Chapter 3
Sutton's injury isn't bad. Doctor says rest for two weeks.
Their trip's canceled. Mom says she'll take care of Sutton.
She calls me. Sounds normal.
"You're starting that internship, right? Just focus on work. I'll handle Sutton."
I say okay. Don't argue. Not the time to start shit.
One night I go to the hospital. Want to see what's really going on.
Her door's open a little. I look in.
Beckett's on her bed cutting up an apple.
A minute ago he texted me he's at work.
I hear someone coming. Go in the empty room next to hers. Look through the crack.
Mom. She's got a thermos. Goes right into Sutton's room.
I get close to the wall. Hear them.
Mom's voice. Quiet.
"You two gotta be more careful. What if Ro showed up?"
"Seriously. Just tell her already. All this sneaking around... what're you gonna do when she starts showing?"
My hand's white on the doorframe.
Sutton. Sweet as hell.
"Beck's just worried about me. His family's all about image. He wants Ro to get established at the company first."
"Right before she's up for promotion? We get her pregnant. She quits. Stays home with the baby. I take over her work."
"Then his parents accept me."
Beckett cuts in. Casual.
"I care about Ro. Five years. I love her. I feel bad about it."
"But guys used to have multiple wives, right? Ro's just too jealous. Sutton doesn't care if Ro stays."
I stand there. Don't know how long.
So that's what this is.
Last summer I worked temp at this company Beckett got me into. Busted my ass on like twenty proposals. Director loved my work. That's why I wanted to intern there.
Now I get it. Someone else's name is on all of them.
Next day I quit.
Second I hit send, Beckett calls.
Pissed. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Someone else is paying more."
He blurts out, "The Hargroves can match that."
I freeze. "The Hargroves?"
He knows he fucked up. Covers fast.
"Mr. Hargrove. CEO. He loves your work. We can talk salary."
"I'll think about it." Hang up.
Few days later Sutton gets out. Beckett picks her up. They crash on the way home.
No one's hurt bad but the car needs work.
Beckett calls. Normal voice.
"Ro, drop the car at the shop for me? I'm slammed."
About to say yeah. Phone buzzes.
New email.
"Today he asks you to give Sutton blood. First time. She'll keep needing it. Your first baby? Gone because you gave her blood."
