Chapter 1"Alright! Anyone who's been a homewrecker—DRINK UP!"
Truth or dare. Someone shoves a drink forward.
Nobody moves.
Then Finn's "girl bro" Nora slides a glass toward ME. Grinning.
"Actually, Finn and I got married a year ago. So technically? You're the homewrecker. Come on, bottoms up."
My hands shake. I look at him.
Waiting for him to say something. Anything.
Finn just shrugs.
"Lost a dare. We went and signed papers. Figured we'd undo it someday."
"Then one night we hooked up. Her parents were on her case about marriage, so I just... stayed married. Easier that way."
"But babe, relax. Nora and I are just bros. YOU'RE the one I love."
Amazing.
I just stare at him.
Feel like someone just ripped my lungs out. Can't breathe.
Finn pinches my cheek. Smiles like none of this matters.
"Wedding's still happening next month. She gets the certificate. You get the ceremony. Win-win, right?"
Eight years. Gone.
I don't cry. Just pull out my phone.
Text my dad:
"I'll do the arranged marriage."
---
"Come on, Summer—drink it. What, you scared or something?"
Nora's right in my face with the glass, looking way too happy about this.
Everyone starts going crazy.
"Yeah! They're actually married—so drink up!"
They're all staring at me like I'm some kind of joke.
Finn's friends have messed with me before.
But not like this. Not right in front of everyone.
He used to tell them to stop.
But ever since Nora came back from London? He doesn't do that anymore.
Now he just looks at me like I'm being annoying and says:
"Why are you being so dramatic? They're just messing around."
I bite my tongue. Taste blood.
Finn's sitting there with his arms crossed. Smirking.
Like he's waiting for me to just drink it and shut up.
When he sees how pale I look, he squeezes my hand.
"Babe, just drink it. Everyone's looking. Don't make it weird."
I pull my hand back.
"So you think I'm the other woman too?"
He puts his arm around me, voice all gentle.
"No one's saying that. It's just a game."
I push him away.
"Don't touch me. She's your wife."
His face changes. Now he's pissed.
"What are you so upset about? Me and Nora are friends. The marriage thing was a joke. I was helping her out with her parents. Why does it matter?"
Nora cuts in, trying to smooth things over.
"Summer, seriously. Finn and I are just friends."
Then she smiles, all innocent.
"That one time? He was so drunk he thought I was you. Guy was desperate—I could barely walk the next day. Honestly, he was terrible. If we weren't friends, I would've killed him."
She hits Finn's chest, laughing.
Finn grabs her wrist and pulls her onto his lap.
"I was terrible? You were the one wrapping your legs around me, wouldn't let me pull out."
Nora's face turns red. Sits on his lap and covers his mouth.
"Shut up!"
Then she looks at me, acting all sweet.
"If the marriage thing bothers you, I'll get a divorce tomorrow. I'll drink this instead—sorry about everything."
Finn's face changes. He grabs the glass from her.
"What are you doing? You're on your period. You can't drink."
"And I never said I'd divorce you. Your mom's just gonna bug you again."
My chest hurts so bad I can barely breathe.
My parents have been telling me to get married for years.
Every time, Finn would say: "It's just paper. We don't need it."
Guess it matters. Just not with me.
I waited eight years for something he gave his "bro" when he was drunk.
Finn finally looks at me. His face is cold. He pushes the glass into my hand.
"Summer, stop acting like a child. You lost. Drink it and get over it."
I laugh. It sounds empty.
"Yeah. I'm done."
Done with all of this.
I take the glass and drink it all at once. It burns. My eyes start watering.
"Finn, we're over."
Chapter 2
Finn stops moving. For a second, he looks scared.
I grab my bag and go to the door.
Someone yells:
"Yo, Finn! If you leave, who's taking Nora home?"
He stops.
Nora yells out, pretending to care:
"Bro, your girlfriend matters more than me. Go after her. I can get an Uber—I'm fine."
But Finn doesn't move.
I get in the cab by myself.
A few minutes later, my phone buzzes.
Finn.
"Babe, don't do this."
"It's late. Nora can't go home alone. I'll take her home and then come to you. Wait for me, okay?"
I look out the window. It's dark. Can see myself in the glass.
He never worries about me. Only her.
Finn doesn't come back until the next afternoon.
I'm packing my stuff.
He walks in and hugs me from behind, pushing a bag into my hands.
"Stop being mad. I waited forever to get your favorite cake."
I open the bag.
Mango cheesecake. Nora's favorite.
Half an hour ago, Nora posted on Instagram:
"My boy waited 3 hours in line to get me cake. Guess I'll forgive him for being a little shit last night"
The photo? Finn in line at The Cheesecake Factory.
Finn leans in to kiss me.
I smell it right away—her perfume all over him. That citrus smell.
I'm gonna throw up.
I shove him away.
His face changes. Now he's pissed.
"Summer, what the hell is your problem?!"
"I waited in line for hours to make you happy. What else do you want?!"
I look at him. My voice sounds cold.
"Make me happy? Or make your 'bro' happy?"
I throw the cake in the trash.
Finn's face goes dark.
"Are you serious right now?"
I swallow hard. My voice shakes.
"You remember everything about her. You take the onions out of her food. You know when her period is."
"But you forgot I'm allergic to mango."
"You married her. Not me. So stop lying."
Finn punches the mirror. Glass goes everywhere.
Pieces cut my arm. I'm bleeding.
He doesn't care. Just yelling:
"I TOLD YOU I was helping her! Why do you keep saying this?!"
"It's just paper! I said I'd marry you—why do you care so much about some paper?!"
My ears are ringing.
I look at him.
Same face. But I don't know him anymore.
Years ago, my parents told me not to date him. He had nothing. No money. Nothing.
I cut them off for him.
Moved to the city with him so he could start his business.
He had no money to start. So I gave him everything I had.
Worked three jobs. Ate ramen every day to save money.
I got so tired I lost our first baby.
He knelt by my hospital bed, crying. Said he'd never hurt me.
When his company started doing well, he bought me a ring. Looked so happy.
"Summer, what I want most is to see our names together on a marriage certificate. Just you."
My chest hurts. I can't talk.
Sees how upset I look. His face changes. He reaches for me.
Then his phone buzzes. Nora's ringtone.
He looks at it. His whole body gets tense.
Grabs his jacket and runs to the door.
"Summer, you need to grow the hell up."
The door slams.
I bend over. Feel like I'm gonna throw up.
Hold my chest tight.
When I stop crying, I get up off the floor and keep packing.
Then my phone lights up. Dad texted.
"Wedding's the 30th."
Same day. Different guy.
Chapter 3
By the time Finn gets back, I'm almost done packing.
He walks in. Nora's right behind him.
Her foot's all wrapped up. She's hopping on one leg.
I watch Finn get down and put her slippers on for her.
Helps her to the couch. Gets her a glass of water.
That's his mug.
He's weird about germs—won't let anyone use his stuff.
I used it once by accident. Next day it was in the trash.
Finn looks at me. His voice is flat.
"Nora fell in the shower. Hurt her leg. Her place doesn't have an elevator, so she's staying here a few days."
I don't say anything. Just keep packing.
Nora laughs and puts her arm around Finn.
"Your girl's jealous again. Maybe just take me home. I don't wanna cause problems."
She rolls her eyes.
"We're not doing anything. I'm not gonna let her make me look like a homewrecker."
Finn looks at me. He looks annoyed.
Before he can say anything, I stop him.
"I don't care."
I'm leaving anyway.
He looks surprised.
Just then, our cat runs out of the bedroom.
Nora sees him and freaks out.
"Finn! Get it away from me!"
Finn pushes Treasure away and picks Nora up. Carries her into the guest room.
When he comes back, his voice is sharp.
"Nora's scared of cats. You need to take Treasure somewhere for a while."
We've had Treasure for five years.
But Nora shows up, and suddenly our cat has to go too.
I swallow. Can taste how bitter I feel.
"Don't bother. I'm taking Treasure with me."
That's when he sees my suitcase.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
He stops. Then his face relaxes.
"Fine. We both need to cool off. You hate Nora anyway. Once she's better, I'll come get you."
But I'm not coming back.
I turn to leave. Then stop.
"Finn. Goodbye."
His eyes lock on mine. For a second, he looks scared.
Reaches for me—
Then Nora screams from the guest room.
Finn's head turns toward the sound. He runs in.
Over his shoulder, he says:
"I gotta take care of Nora. Don't ask me about wedding stuff—just do it yourself."
In his world, anything with Nora matters.
Everything else? Me? Nothing.
I look at his back as he goes into that room.
My eyes hurt. But I'm not crying.
Think I'm all out.
This relationship started in high school.
I really thought we'd go all the way. Matching hoodies to matching rings.
But now my heart's broken. And it doesn't beat for him anymore.
When I get home, I take a week off work. Need to get myself together.
A week before the wedding, my friend calls. She's freaking out.
"Summer! Check Twitter—NOW!"
My stomach drops.
