Chapter 3

Strong winds blew across Crescent Lake that night. The road around the lake was closed. Whatever we were supposed to do the next day had to be canceled.

Jacob moved his laptop into the living room. "Since we can't leave, let's figure out what we're doing after graduation."

He opened up his business plan along with the apartment floor plan. "The landlord is bugging me about the lease. Let's sign it when we get back and move in. No more waiting around."

Susie reached over and took the laptop before I could. She started going through the floor plan like she was the one moving in.

"The living room looks plain with all that natural wood. A cream-colored style would look better in photos. And this second bedroom gets the best light. We should use it for livestreaming."

Jacob nodded. "Sure, change it however you like."

I looked at Susie. "That's the apartment Jacob and I rented. Why should we decorate it based on what you like?"

Susie seemed to realize she'd said too much and quickly explained, "Hannah, don't get the wrong idea. I just graduated and haven't found a place to stay. Jacob said the apartment has three bedrooms, so he said I could stay with you guys for a while."

Jacob was unfazed. "It isn't safe for her to live alone. We have empty rooms anyway. Why not just let her stay with us for a while?"

He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. It was as if I were the outsider here.

I closed the laptop. "No."

Jacob clearly wasn't expecting that.

I'd rarely said no to him during our four-year relationship. When he wanted to start a business, I gave up the job I wanted and helped him put the team together. When Andy needed equipment, I lent him my spare camera. When Susie wanted to join a project, I rewrote her résumé three times.

They were used to me saying yes. When I finally said no, they acted like I was the problem.

Andy frowned. "We've been friends for so long. She's only staying for a few months. Do you have to be so petty?"

Susie stood up, clearly upset. "It's okay. I'll find a place of my own. Don't let this affect your relationship."

That was what she said, but her eyes were glued to the second bedroom, the brightest room in the place.

Jacob touched her shoulder. "You don't need to leave."

He stared at me coldly. "You're not the only one paying rent. Why should it be up to you to decide whether she can stay?"

I didn't answer him.

Noticing the tension between us, Andy pulled out his phone. "Let's look at the video of the place first. You can figure out the living arrangements once you actually move in."

He connected the phone to the TV and pulled up the video they'd taken when they viewed the apartment.

The camera moved from the entryway into the living room. The couch hadn't arrived yet, but there were already a few pairs of slippers on the floor.

The camera panned past the master bedroom. I saw Susie sitting cross-legged on the window seat, eating cake. She had Jacob's white shirt on, her hair was wet, and two wine glasses were sitting on the coffee table.

Jacob came out of the bathroom with a blow-dryer and started drying Susie's hair.

The video was only a few seconds long, but all of us went silent. Andy hurried to stop the screen share, and Jacob snatched the phone away.

"We were just there to check the water and electricity."

Susie's face went pale. She quickly explained. "It suddenly started raining outside, and my clothes were soaked. So I wore Jacob's shirt. Hannah, there's nothing going on between us. Don't overthink it."

I stared at the paused video. Susie sat on the window seat while Jacob stood behind her, drying her hair. They looked so at ease together, like they'd been living there for ages.

I'd searched half of the city to find that apartment. From the location and natural light to the kitchen and balcony, every part of it held something I'd imagined for our future.

I hadn't even moved in yet, and they'd already drunk there, showered there, and even worn each other's clothes.

Honestly, I didn't even want to know what happened that night.

I pulled out my phone and called the real estate agent, Agatha Litt. "Agatha, I don't want to rent that apartment anymore."

Jacob reached for my phone. "Hannah, enough!"

I pulled my hand back. "I signed the lease and paid the deposit. Why do I need your permission to walk away?"

His face hardened. "You're going to mess up all our plans after graduation over this? You're taking this jealousy thing way too far."

Susie lowered her head, tears falling onto the back of her hand.

Andy immediately handed her a tissue. "Hannah, Susie already explained everything. What else do you want?"

I looked at the three people I'd known for ten years.

I used to think we were close enough that we could share everything. They could use my connections, take my equipment, and even take up my time and energy.

But I never thought they'd treat my boyfriend like a shared resource too.

I left our group chat and withdrew everything I'd brought to the project, from filming locations and equipment suppliers to the clients I'd secured.

Jacob's phone kept buzzing. He looked at the notifications, and his expression finally shifted. "You're risking your future just to spite me? Forget the apartment. Get our partnerships back first."

I looked at him. "That's your future, not mine."

My phone lit up with a message from Scott.

"The project team can pick you up a day early. Send us your location before tomorrow morning."

I signed my name on the contract and sent them the hotel address.

Jacob was still pestering me to reinstate the lease and secure the partnerships again.

I asked him one last question. "If Susie and I both needed you at the same time, who would you choose?"

He rubbed his brow impatiently. "She has asthma, and she's not in good health. Why do you have to compare yourself to her?"

I nodded and didn't ask anything else. He'd already given me my answer.