Chapter 1Dinner with my boyfriend and my best friend. They start up with the Spanish shit. Again.
Back in college, they both took Spanish. Begged me to join.
I said no. Wasn't into it.
Ever since? Every time I'm around, they pull this crap.
Act like Spanish is their little secret code. Like I'm too stupid to notice.
They've always got SO much to say too. Inside jokes for days.
I asked him once why they do this.
He said it was practice. Said his company's biggest clients speak Spanish.
So I asked what they were saying.
He got all pissy. "You wouldn't get it anyway. Should've taken it when we told you to."
Sutton? Just smiled. Hand over her mouth.
"You sure it's fine?" she said in Spanish. "That night she had a fever and you bailed on her? Spent the whole night FUCKING me instead? What if she catches on?"
Caspian looked at me. Laughed.
"So what? Think she'd last a week without me?"
My fork almost hit the floor.
They had no idea.
My mom was Spanish. Spanish? That's my first language.
I looked up. Smiled real sweet. Said in Spanish:
"Pobrecito. Sin ti, solo viviría MEJOR, cariño."
(Poor thing. Without you, I'd only live BETTER, sweetheart.)
Their face went white.
I stood up. Walked out.
Best damn dinner I ever had.
---
"Harlow? Hello? You still with us?"
Caspian drops a piece of fish in Sutton's bowl. Then looks back at me with that fake-ass smile.
"If the food sucks, just say so. Want me to grab the waiter? You can get something else."
I don't say anything.
Everything on this table is stuff Sutton likes.
Five years, and he probably couldn't name one thing I like to eat.
Sutton says something in Spanish. "She really doesn't get it, right? You're not worried?"
Caspian laughs. "Relax. This girl sucks at languages. No way she knows Spanish."
I keep my head down, eating my rice. Tastes like shit.
Sutton's staring at me now. "Harlow, we're just practicing for work. Don't read into it, okay? Most of our clients speak Spanish."
I nod. "Yeah. I know."
Caspian looks happy. Reaches over and pinches my cheek. "See? Told you my girl's chill. You're the best."
Yep. That's me. Chill. Easy. Quiet.
Food tastes like trash? I'll eat it anyway. Won't say a word.
Waiter brings dessert. Two bowls.
Caspian slides one to Sutton—some warm pudding thing.
The other one—frozen mango smoothie—he pushes at me.
"Sutton can't handle cold stuff. Hurts her stomach. You take this one."
I look at the smoothie. Don't touch it.
Cold stuff messes me up too. He knows that.
Guess he forgot when Sutton's around.
Sutton takes one bite, then grabs her stomach and hunches over.
"Ow... I feel sick."
Caspian freaks. "What happened? That iced coffee at lunch?"
"Maybe. I'm just... cold."
He snaps his fingers at me. "Harlow, you got a heating pad in your bag, right? Give Sutton one. Now."
I do. Keep them for myself.
He used to rag on me about it—said it was annoying carrying that stuff around.
Guess it's not annoying now.
I pull it out and hand it over.
Sutton takes it. Her fingers touch Caspian's hand.
Neither of them moves.
The way they look at each other?
Yeah. I see it.
My whole body goes cold.
I stand up. "Bathroom."
In the mirror, I look like hell.
Suddenly remember that Instagram post from the night I had a fever.
Caption said: "My girl's sick and I'm dying. Getting out of work ASAP to take care of her ❤️"
Fifty likes. Everyone saying he's boyfriend goals.
Nobody knew he never came home.
When I get back, Caspian's peeling shrimp for Sutton.
Every single one. Perfect. All lined up on her plate.
Five years together. Never peeled one for me.
I sit down. He doesn't even look up.
"Harlow, just grab an Uber. I'm driving Sutton home. She feels like crap."
I squeeze my fork. "Yeah? Well I feel like shit too."
He looks up, annoyed. "What now? You were fine two seconds ago."
Sutton says something in Spanish, all sweet. "She's jealous. Fighting for attention."
Caspian laughs. Answers in Spanish. "Ignore her. She always does this."
Chapter 2
I stare at those shrimp. Then say it.
"Caspian. What'd you just say?"
His smile dies.
"What?"
"What you just said. To her."
He drops his fork. "Harlow, we're talking work. Client pricing stuff. You wouldn't get it anyway."
"Then tell me what you said."
"Tell you what?"
His face goes tight. "What's your deal today? Why are you acting like this?"
Sutton jumps in fast. "Harlow, don't be upset. This is my fault, okay? We shouldn't talk Spanish when you're here. I get it—it sucks feeling left out..."
She sounds so sorry. Caspian backs her up right away.
"Don't blame yourself. I don't know what's up with Harlow today."
He looks at me. Voice cold. "Sutton just said sorry. Can you drop it? We won't talk Spanish around you as much. There. Happy? Stop being so dramatic. You didn't want to learn it—that's on you."
I start to say something. Stop.
Not yet.
I wanna know when it started. How long they've been doing this.
Caspian sighs. Voice goes softer. "Harlow. I know you get insecure. But when you act like this? It's exhausting. You get that?"
"I'm busting my ass all day at work. Then come home to this. Can you just... chill?"
"Sutton's your best friend. You gotta trust us."
I've heard this a thousand times.
Every time, I end up saying sorry.
I'm too sensitive. Too clingy. Too dumb to know Spanish.
I think back to when we started dating. Staying up late cooking for him while he studied.
He hugged me once. Said, "One day I'm gonna spoil you. You won't do anything. Just be my pretty little wife."
Then he did stop letting me do things.
Including knowing what's going on in his life.
The check comes. Caspian walks out with Sutton.
I pay.
Funny. Every time the three of us eat out, I'm the one paying.
Outside, Sutton gets in the passenger seat. My seat. Like it's hers now.
Caspian rolls down the window. "Grab an Uber. I'm taking Sutton home first. Be safe."
Right before he drives off, I hear Sutton. Spanish again. "When are you gonna dump her already..."
Caspian starts the car. Laughing. "Soon. Just put money down on the place. Having her split costs helps. Plus Mom's hospital bills keep coming. Let her help pay for now..."
The car drives off.
I just stand there. Watching it go.
Feel cold everywhere.
The condo we live in—$500K down payment. I paid half. He paid the other half.
Or so I thought.
When the paperwork came? My name wasn't on it.
He looked right at me. Said he forgot. Said he'd add it later.
I believed him.
Look at my card. The one I just used for dinner. Their dinner.
God, I'm such an idiot.
To him? I'm just someone who helps pay rent.
Not that the money matters. I've got more than enough.
But this?
Disgusting.
My phone buzzes. Text from Caspian.
"Lemme know when you're home. Be good. Back soon ?"
I don't answer.
Just pull up my contacts. Stop at one name.
Grandpa Daniel.
My finger sits on the call button.
Don't press it.
Caspian's got this huge meeting Wednesday. Executives from Soraya Group flying in from Spain.
He's been freaking out about it for weeks. This thing could get him promoted.
He has no idea.
Soraya Group? That's my grandpa's company.
Chapter 3
I don't go back to our place.
Go to my apartment. The one Caspian doesn't know about.
He thinks I'm just some regular girl. Struggling alongside him.
Has no clue how many zeros are in my account.
I lie in bed. Pull up my medical records from three months back.
That night my fever hit 103. Dragged myself to the ER.
Checked in. Paid. Got an IV.
All alone.
Didn't get home until almost 3 a.m.
I called Caspian eleven times.
Nothing.
Twelfth time? He picks up. Sounds rushed.
"Harlow, I'm slammed. Can't leave."
"Just drink some water. Get in bed. I'll be home soon as I can."
Woman's voice in the background.
Thought it was someone from work.
Now I know.
Sutton.
Next morning he comes home. Scratch on his neck.
I asked him what happened.
"Oh, coworker caught me with a folder. Accident."
I believed him.
Still burning up. But I dragged myself out of bed. Made him soup.
Didn't want him hungry after "working all night."
He ate it. Smiling at me the whole time. Kissing me.
"Harlow, you're the best thing that ever happened to me."
I was so happy. Thought I found my person.
Until today.
I know.
He wasn't working. He was at Sutton's.
That scratch? Not from a folder.
And why he hasn't dumped me yet? Because I'm useful.
Thought I'd cry.
But nothing comes out. Not a single tear.
That part of me that used to feel things? Dead.
My phone rings. Video call from Caspian.
I decline.
He texts right away.
"Why didn't you pick up? Where are you? You're not home."
"Work."
"They got you working this late? Or you still pissed about Sutton?"
"I'm not."
"Then get home. I'm waiting."
I stare at his profile pic. He's hot.
Too bad he's trash.
"Caspian. I need to ask you something."
"That night I had a fever. Where were you?"
Typing bubble pops up. Gone. Then back again.
Finally: "Work. Told you already."
"Who was with you?"
"Babe, that was forever ago. How'm I supposed to remember everyone? Why?"
"Just asking."
He sends a smiley face emoji.
"Ohhh. You're still mad about today. Me and Sutton speaking Spanish. Me driving her home."
"Harlow... you're jealous of HER? She's my oldest friend. And YOURS."
"We won't talk Spanish around you. Happy now?"
Same old script.
He always has an answer. Always sounds legit.
I used to buy it.
Not anymore.
"Fine. Night."
I close the chat. Open my email.
Top of my inbox—message from Soraya Group.
Subject: To Special Board Advisor, Ms. Harlow Vaughn
From Grandpa.
One line. Spanish.
"Harlow, you choose the U.S. partner this time."
I type back. Spanish.
"Got it, Grandpa."
That night?
Best sleep I've had in months.
