Chapter 1My fingerprint's in my boyfriend's smart lock—but ONE-TIME VISIT only.
Every time he re-added it: "My place is always open for you."
But every time I showed up all excited? "Fingerprint not recognized."
First time, "System update"—but his childhood sweetheart's STILL WORKED.
Then "Lock broke"—LIE! It was Blair bitching: "Why's she in here?"
This time, I was locked out AGAIN.
"Blair was screwing around with the lock yesterday. Accidentally deleted it."
"I'll add you back next time. Big deal."
Before he even hung up—
Click.
Blair locked the door from INSIDE on purpose.
On the phone, Grayson's still yapping. "Just wait, I'll come let you in."
Wait?
For what?
Another temporary pass?
Or another bullshit excuse to keep that little bitch's claws in MY man?
I laughed.
FUCK THAT.
His house? I was done trying to get in.
...
The night wind cut through my collar and I shivered.
I wiped my face. No tears.
Standing by the curb, I pulled out my phone to call a ride.
"Hey? What're you doing here?"
I looked up.
Mason—friends with both Grayson and Blair—was walking over with a convenience store bag.
"Here to see Grayson?" he asked.
"Yeah." I nodded.
"Door's locked from inside. Can't get in."
Mason frowned, confused.
"But Blair's already here."
"She just posted a message in the group chat saying she's cooking at Grayson's."
"Told us to come over for drinks."
He kept talking, didn't even notice how pale I looked.
"Does she come over a lot?" I asked quietly.
He laughed.
"Oh yeah. She knows Grayson's place better than anyone."
"We always joke she's the lady of the house."
Then it hit him.
He coughed awkwardly.
"Uh—I didn't mean it like that..."
I tried to smile. Wanted to say "it's fine."
But my throat felt blocked.
Just then, Mason's phone buzzed with another group notification.
I caught a glimpse of the group name: "Grayson's Harem."
Blair just sent a voice message.
Friends were already replying with hype emojis.
"On my way."
"Save me some ribs."
Mason quickly locked his phone, looking awkward as hell.
"Um... you wanna come up? She's probably just busy cooking, didn't hear you knock."
"We're all friends anyway."
All friends.
I'm Grayson's GIRLFRIEND.
But in this circle? I'm just the outsider no one asked for.
I shook my head.
"No thanks."
Then I turned and walked toward the street.
After a few steps, I couldn't help glancing down at my phone.
The screen was still frozen on Grayson's last message.
"Wait a few minutes, I'll be right there to let you in."
Twenty minutes had already passed.
He never showed up.
Chapter 2
The next morning, when I turned my phone back on, two messages from last night.
[Why didn't you wait for me?]
[Blair's cooking, I can't leave. Let me know when you get home.]
Before I could even reply, Grayson called.
"The lock thing—that was all Blair. I already talked to her."
"Mason's putting together a dinner tonight. Wanna grab dinner?"
"We're all friends. You'll warm up to them eventually."
I didn't wanna go.
But I said yes anyway.
---
When we arrived at the private dining room, Blair was already sitting at the head of the table.
She patted the chair next to her.
"Grayson, sit here."
I tried to sit on his other side, but another friend beat me to it.
"Come on, let me sit next to my boy."
"Gotta drink with him tonight."
Blair leaned forward, glanced at me and smiled.
"You can sit across from us. Better view from over there."
So I ended up sitting the farthest away from Grayson.
Through the steam, I watched Blair lean in close to talk to him. Her hair almost brushing his shoulder.
Then the king crab arrived.
Blair poked at it with her fork and pouted.
"Grayson, crack it for me. I can't do it."
Grayson didn't even hesitate. Picked up the crab, put it on his plate, started cracking it.
Steam flushed his fingers red, but he didn't seem to care.
Blair picked up a piece, took a bite, then held the rest to his mouth.
"Try this. It's so good."
Grayson leaned in and ate it right off her fork.
His lips touched where she'd just bitten.
Someone at the table whistled.
"You two are still this clingy after all these years."
"Aren't you worried his actual girlfriend's gonna get jealous?"
Blair smiled.
"Grayson's been cracking crab for me since we were kids."
"His girlfriend's not that petty. Right, Kira?"
She turned to look at me.
Everyone's eyes landed on me.
I froze. Forced a smile.
"It's fine."
Blair ate for a bit, then pushed her plate toward Grayson.
"This meat's too tough. I can't chew it."
Grayson glanced at it, pulled the meat onto his plate, cut it into smaller pieces, pushed it back.
He never said a word.
It was so effortless, as if he'd done it a thousand times before.
Someone sighed.
"You two have such good chemistry."
"That's what growing up together does."
Blair smiled, turned to Grayson.
"Remember when you came to visit me in college?"
"My roommate thought you were my boyfriend. She insisted on taking us out to dinner."
Grayson chuckled. "She was ridiculously friendly."
Blair laughed.
"Yeah. She kept asking when we were getting married."
As she said it, her eyes flicked over to me. A hint of smugness in her look.
Then she reached over and straightened Grayson's collar.
Her fingers brushed across his collarbone.
"Your collar's crooked."
Nobody at the table reacted. Like this was normal.
I watched her hand linger at his collar for two seconds before finally pulling away.
Grayson never flinched.
He was already used to it.
Midway through dinner, Blair got up to grab a drink.
As she stood, her hand slipped.
A glass of red wine spilled all over my white dress.
Before I could even react, Grayson grabbed Blair's hand and turned it over, checking.
"Did you cut yourself? Is the glass broken?"
Blair shook her head.
"I'm fine."
Then she looked at me, all apologetic.
"I'm so sorry. Was that dress expensive? I'll buy you a new one."
The wine soaked through the fabric, dripping onto my shoes.
Grayson didn't look at me ONCE.
I stood up. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom."
As I walked out of the private room, Blair lowered her voice.
"Grayson... is your girlfriend upset? Did I make her mad?"
Grayson's voice came through.
"She's not like that. Don't overthink it."
Blair laughed softly.
"Good. I was worried you'd stop talking to me because of her."
A chorus of quiet laughter followed.
I stood outside that door.
Same position as last night. Standing outside Grayson's apartment.
Suddenly, it all felt absurd.
The people inside were his "real" group.
Me? I'd always been outside.
Chapter 3
Night ended. Everyone poured out, waiting for their Ubers.
I walked toward Grayson's car naturally.
Reached for the passenger door handle.
Then—
Blair hurried around from the other side, practically shoved me out of the way.
She smiled. "Kira, let me take the front."
"I get carsick. Can't handle the back."
Before I could say anything, she already pulled the door open and slid in.
Then she turned to Grayson.
"Let's go!"
Grayson glanced at me. Tone casual as ever.
"Blair gets really carsick. You sit in back."
I pressed my lips together and silently opened the back door.
The car pulled out.
Blair casually opened the glove box. Pulled out a bag of almonds.
She peeled a few for herself, then held one up to Grayson's lips.
"Open up."
Grayson leaned over and ate it right from her fingers.
His lips touched her fingertips.
"Grayson, you going to that new camping spot next weekend? The one Mason's organizing?" Blair asked.
"Yeah, haven't been out in a while," Grayson nodded.
"Then I'm going too! You're driving this SUV, right? I'll ride with you."
"Sure. I'll pick you up."
Blair smiled. "You better not bail on me again."
She poked his arm playfully.
I sat in the back, listening to them plan next weekend. My nails dug into my palms.
Camping trip. I had no idea.
Grayson never mentioned it.
At a red light, Blair pulled out her phone and showed Grayson.
"Ugh, my boss's hounding me for this proposal again!"
"Look at these revisions. Is he insane?"
Grayson glanced over.
"Just write it logically. Don't let him throw you off."
Blair put her phone away, sighed.
"You always get me."
"I tell other people and they don't even understand what I'm stressed about."
As we got closer to Grayson's place, Blair suddenly started coughing.
Light at first.
Then it got worse. Sharper.
She clutched her chest and slumped against the seat, her voice weak.
"Grayson... I can't breathe..."
Grayson immediately slowed down and pulled over.
His tone changed in an instant.
"Where's your inhaler? Did you bring your spray?"
She shook her head, struggling for air.
"I... I forgot..."
Grayson reached over and patted her back.
Movements practiced. Familiar.
After a few ragged breaths, Blair suddenly turned to me in the backseat. Frowning.
"Did you spray perfume or something?"
"I really can't handle that smell..."
"I'm not wearing perfume," I said.
Blair ignored me. Just coughed harder. Curled up in the seat.
Grayson looked at me.
His eyes said: Why are you being so difficult right now?
"Kira, are you sure you didn't spray anything?!"
"I DIDN'T."
He didn't ask again.
Looked out the window. Quiet for a few seconds before finally speaking.
"We're not far from my place. Kira, you can walk back from here."
Before I could even process it, he got out of the car. Opened my door from outside.
The night wind rushed in, hit my face. Cold as hell.
I got out and stood on the sidewalk.
The second the door shut, Blair's weak voice came from inside.
"Grayson... we need to go to the ER... I really can't breathe..."
I watched the SUV disappear down the street.
It all felt absurd.
Late at night, the street was empty.
My thin jacket did little against the cold wind.
I didn't wanna go to his place anymore.
But that property contract was still on his desk in the study.
Mom'd driven to the notary office twice to get the original copy sent over.
The only copy.
If I didn't go get it, all that effort would be wasted.
No chlice. I flagged down a cab and gave the driver Grayson's address.
