Updated Mar 21, 2026 • ~8 min read
MONDAY
SUMMER – 7:00 AM
I wake up in Jax’s bed.
Arms around me. His breath warm on my neck.
I need to leave.
Get back to Manhattan. Change clothes. Become the other Summer.
“Stay,” he murmurs. Half-asleep.
“I can’t. I have work.”
“Call in sick.”
“Jax—”
“Five more minutes.”
I give him ten.
Then I slip out. Grab my bag. Kiss his forehead.
“I love you,” he whispers.
“Love you too.”
The words are true.
That’s what makes this so terrible.
SUMMER – 8:30 AM
I change in the train bathroom.
Ripped jeans and leather jacket into the bag.
Cream blouse and pencil skirt on.
Red lipstick off. Nude gloss on.
Hair down becomes hair in a bun.
Five earrings become pearl studs.
I watch myself transform in the dirty mirror.
Two different people.
Neither one real.
SUMMER – 10:00 AM
Theo’s office. Midtown.
I bring him coffee. He thinks it’s sweet. Girlfriend duties.
Really, it’s guilt.
“How was your weekend?” he asks.
“Quiet. Family dinner. You?”
“Golf with Dad. Boring.” He pulls me into his lap. Kisses my cheek. “Missed you, though.”
I feel nothing.
He’s attractive. Successful. Kind.
And I feel absolutely nothing.
“Missed you too,” I lie.
His phone rings. Work call.
I slip out while he’s distracted.
Text Jax: Miss you already.
His response is immediate: Come back.
Can’t. Soon though.
Friday is too far away.
My chest aches.
I know.
THEO
Summer’s different on Mondays.
Distracted. Distant.
Adrian says I’m paranoid.
But I notice things.
The way she checks her phone constantly. The way she flinches when I touch her. The way she’s… somewhere else.
“Everything okay?” I ask during lunch.
“Fine. Just tired.”
“You’re always tired on Mondays.”
“My parents’ place is exhausting. My mother has opinions about everything.”
It makes sense.
I let it go.
But doubt lingers.
WEDNESDAY
SUMMER – 2:00 PM
Wedding dress shopping with Theo’s mother.
Astrid has opinions. Strong ones.
“This one,” she says. Pointing to a ball gown. Massive. Princess-style.
It’s hideous.
“It’s… a lot,” I say carefully.
“You’ll be marrying into the Lancaster family, dear. A lot is appropriate.”
The salesperson brings it out. Size six.
I’m a size two.
It swallows me.
“Perfect!” Astrid claps. “We’ll have it tailored.”
I stare at myself in the mirror.
I look like I’m drowning.
“What do you think, Summer?” the salesperson asks.
I think I want to run. Disappear. Never come back.
“It’s beautiful,” I lie.
Astrid beams. “We’ll take it.”
SUMMER – 6:00 PM
I’m crying in a Starbucks bathroom.
This is my life.
Wedding dress I hate. Wedding I don’t want. Future planned by other people.
My phone rings.
Jax.
“Hey, baby,” he says. “Bad time?”
I wipe my eyes. Try to sound normal. “No. What’s up?”
“I miss you. That’s all. Wanted to hear your voice.”
I break.
Start sobbing.
“Summer? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Everything. I don’t know.”
“Talk to me.”
“I can’t. Not over the phone.”
“Then come here. Right now. I don’t care if it’s not the weekend. Come here.”
I want to.
God, I want to.
“I can’t. I have… family stuff.”
“You always have family stuff.”
There’s frustration in his voice.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just… let me help. Let me be there for you.”
“You are. You have no idea how much you help.”
Silence.
Then: “I love you, Summer. Whatever’s going on, we’ll figure it out.”
More lies he believes.
“I love you too.”
We hang up.
I splash water on my face. Fix my makeup.
Go meet Theo for dinner.
Pretend everything’s fine.
FRIDAY – 6:00 PM
SUMMER
I burst into Jax’s apartment.
He catches me. Kisses me.
“You’re here.”
“I’m here.”
“I was starting to think you were a figment of my imagination.”
“It’s only been five days.”
“Five days too long.”
We don’t even make it to the bedroom.
After, we lay on the floor. Breathless.
“I’m never letting you leave,” he says.
“I have to leave Sunday.”
“What if you didn’t? What if you just… stayed?”
“Jax—”
“I know, I know. Family. But Summer, this is torture. Two days a week isn’t enough.”
“For me either.”
“Then change it.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
Because I’m engaged. Because I’m lying to you. Because I’m the worst person alive.
“It’s complicated.”
He sits up. Frustrated. “It’s always complicated. You know what? I don’t care anymore. About your family’s approval. About tradition. I want you. All of you. All the time.”
“Jax—”
“Move in with me.”
“I can’t.”
“Meet my family.”
“I will. Soon.”
“Meet my friends.”
“I’ve met Felix.”
“Once. Two years ago.” He runs his hands through his hair. “Marco thinks you’re ashamed of me.”
The words hit like a punch.
“I’m not. God, Jax, I’m not.”
“Then prove it. Let me into your life. The real one. Not just these stolen weekends.”
Tears stream down my face.
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder.”
He’s never been this angry.
Never pushed this hard.
The walls are closing in.
JAX
I hate pushing her.
But it’s been two years.
Two years of hiding. Disappearing. Excuses.
I love her.
But I’m starting to wonder if she loves me back.
Or if I’m just her escape. Her rebellion. Her secret.
“I need more than this,” I say quietly. “More than two days a week. More than being your secret.”
She’s crying.
I pull her close.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I don’t mean to pressure you.”
“You’re not. You’re right. You deserve more.”
“So give it to me.”
She looks up. Eyes red. “What if I can’t?”
“What does that mean?”
“What if my family never accepts you? What if choosing you means losing them?”
“Then you choose.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is. You either choose me, or you don’t.”
The ultimatum hangs between us.
She goes pale.
“I need time.”
“You always need time.”
“Please, Jax. Just… a little more time.”
I should walk away.
Protect myself.
But I’m weak for her.
“How much time?”
“Two months. After the wedding—” She stops. Goes white.
“After what wedding?”
“My sister’s. She’s… she’s getting married. After that, everything will calm down. I’ll tell my parents about you. I promise.”
It’s a lie.
I can feel it.
But I want to believe her.
“Two months,” I say.
“Two months.”
She kisses me.
And I let myself believe it.
Even though I know better.
SUNDAY MORNING
SUMMER
I wake up early. Start packing.
Jax watches from the bed.
“Don’t go.”
“I have to.”
“What if you didn’t? What if this time, you stayed?”
“Jax—”
“I’m serious. What would happen? Would the world end?”
Yes.
My parents would disown me. Theo would be humiliated. My entire life would implode.
“My family would never forgive me,” I say.
“Maybe they don’t deserve forgiveness.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Summer, they’re controlling your entire life. When does it end?”
“After I figure things out.”
“You keep saying that. But nothing ever changes.”
He’s right.
Nothing changes.
Because I won’t let it.
I cross to him. Cup his face.
“Two months. I promise. After Rose’s wedding, I’ll tell them. About you. About us. I’ll deal with the consequences.”
He wants to believe me.
I can see it.
“Okay,” he whispers.
I kiss him.
One last time.
Then I leave.
Like I always do.
SUMMER – SUNDAY EVENING, MANHATTAN
Dinner with Theo’s family.
His mother discusses the wedding timeline.
“Twelve weeks until the big day!” she chirps. “Can you believe it?”
I can’t.
Twelve weeks until I marry Theo.
Eight weeks until Rose’s gallery opening.
The one where both lives collide.
Theo squeezes my hand. “You’re quiet.”
“Just thinking about everything we need to do.”
“Nervous?”
“A little.”
“Don’t be. It’s going to be perfect.”
Nothing about this is perfect.
Nothing about this is right.
But I smile. Nod. Play the role.
Because I don’t know how to stop.
THEO
Summer’s slipping away.
I can feel it.
She’s here physically. But mentally? Emotionally?
She’s somewhere else.
Or with someone else.
The thought hits like ice.
No.
Summer wouldn’t cheat.
She’s not Blake.
She’s modest. Traditional. Loyal.
Right?
Adrian’s words echo: You sure about this?
I push them away.
Summer loves me.
She said yes.
She’s wearing my ring.
Everything’s fine.
Everything’s fine.
SUMMER – LATE SUNDAY NIGHT
I lie in bed. Staring at the ceiling.
My phone has two separate message threads.
JAX: Missing you already. Can’t wait for Friday.
THEO: Sweet dreams, beautiful. Love you.
I love one of them.
I’m lying to both of them.
And in eight weeks, they’re going to meet.
At Rose’s gallery opening.
The event I can’t avoid.
The collision I can’t stop.
Melody was right.
This is going to explode.
But I’m still hoping for a miracle.
Still praying I can keep both plates spinning.
Still too much of a coward to choose.
The clock ticks.
The deadline approaches.
And I do nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Except watch my own life become a ticking bomb.
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