Updated Mar 21, 2026 • ~8 min read
SUMMER – SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Jax wants to go to the Brooklyn Museum.
“There’s a new contemporary exhibit,” he says. “I think you’d love it.”
My heart sinks.
The Brooklyn Museum.
Where I told Theo I’d be today.
With my “art consultant colleagues.”
“Can we do brunch instead?” I try.
“We literally just ate.” He studies my face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just… museums are my weekday thing. Work. I want the weekend to be about us.”
He softens. “Okay. What do you want to do?”
“Prospect Park? We could walk. Get coffee.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Relief floods through me.
Crisis averted.
SUMMER – PROSPECT PARK
We’re walking hand-in-hand when my phone rings.
Theo.
Panic.
“One sec,” I tell Jax. Step away. Answer. “Hey.”
“Hey! Where are you?”
“Out. Why?”
“I’m at the Brooklyn Museum. You said you were coming here for that work thing, right? I thought I’d surprise you. We could grab lunch after.”
My blood turns to ice.
“I… the event got canceled. Last minute.”
“Oh. That’s annoying. Where are you now?”
“Heading back to my parents’. Family lunch.”
Lying. Always lying.
“Want me to drive you?”
“No! I mean, no thanks. I’m already on the subway.”
“Okay. Dinner tonight instead?”
“I can’t. My mom’s making this whole thing—”
“Summer, I haven’t seen you all week.”
Guilt crushes me.
“Tomorrow. Brunch. I promise.”
He sighs. “Okay. Tomorrow.”
I hang up.
Jax is watching me.
“Work?” he asks.
“Family.”
“They call you a lot.”
“They’re… intense.”
He doesn’t look convinced.
But he lets it go.
THEO
I’m standing alone in the Brooklyn Museum.
Summer was supposed to be here.
But the event she mentioned? I asked the front desk.
There is no corporate event today.
She lied.
Why would she lie?
Adrian’s voice: If she’s hiding something, there’s a reason.
I call my assistant. “Check Summer Chen’s social media. Everything. Instagram, Facebook, all of it.”
“Sir?”
“Just do it.”
Twenty minutes later, she calls back.
“Her Instagram is private. Only posts family photos and art. Nothing suspicious. Facebook is the same. She’s not very active online.”
“What about tagged photos?”
“None recently. She seems… offline. Which is unusual for someone her age.”
She’s hiding.
But from what?
Or from who?
SUMMER – SATURDAY NIGHT
I’m back in Brooklyn. Jax’s place.
We’re watching a movie. His arm around me.
My phone keeps buzzing.
Text after text.
I ignore them.
“You gonna check that?” Jax asks.
“It’s just my mom.”
“About?”
“Wedding stuff.”
His body tenses.
“Your sister’s wedding?”
Right. The lie I told him. Rose’s fake wedding.
“Yeah. She’s very… involved.”
“When is it?”
“Eight weeks.”
“Maybe I could come. Meet your family.”
My heart stops.
“It’s immediate family only. Very small.”
“Summer—”
“Let’s not talk about my family right now.” I climb into his lap. Kiss him. Distract him.
It works.
It always works.
But I can see it in his eyes.
He’s getting tired of the excuses.
JAX
Something’s wrong.
She’s lying about something.
I know it.
Marco’s words echo: If she won’t let you in, she’s keeping you out for a reason.
After she falls asleep, I check her phone.
I know I shouldn’t.
But I can’t shake the feeling.
It’s locked.
Obviously.
I try her birthday. Her mom’s name. Random combinations.
Nothing.
I put it back.
Feel disgusted with myself.
This isn’t me.
I don’t snoop. Don’t distrust.
But Summer makes me crazy.
The secrets. The distance. The constant feeling that I’m missing something huge.
SUNDAY MORNING
SUMMER
I wake up to seventeen texts.
Twelve from my mother about wedding flowers.
Three from Astrid about the menu.
Two from Theo.
THEO: Missing you. Can’t wait for brunch.
THEO: Should I pick you up from your parents’ or meet you there?
Oh god.
Brunch.
I promised Theo brunch.
But I’m in Brooklyn. In Jax’s bed.
“Morning, beautiful.” Jax kisses my shoulder.
“I have to go.”
“Already? It’s eight AM.”
“Family thing. I’m sorry.”
“Summer, it’s every weekend. Every single weekend you run back to them.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing and change it.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
Because I’m living two lives. Because I’m engaged. Because this is all a disaster.
“It’s complicated.”
He sits up. “That’s your answer for everything.”
“Jax, please. Not today.”
“Then when? When can we talk about this? About how you keep me in a box? About how I don’t exist in your real life?”
“You do exist—”
“Where? Show me. Introduce me to one person. One friend. One family member. Anyone who knows about us.”
I can’t.
Because no one does.
Except Melody.
And she thinks I’m insane.
“After the wedding,” I whisper. “After Rose’s wedding, I’ll tell everyone. I promise.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I mean it.”
He looks at me. Really looks at me.
“Do you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Then choose me.”
The ultimatum.
Again.
“I am choosing you. I just need time—”
“Time to what? Work up courage? Figure out how to tell your parents? Summer, we’re adults. At some point, you have to stand up for what you want.”
“I know.”
“Do you? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you don’t want me enough.”
The words shatter me.
“That’s not true.”
“Prove it.”
I don’t know how.
So I kiss him instead.
And once again, I run away.
SUMMER – MANHATTAN, 10:00 AM
I make it to brunch.
Barely.
Changed in the train bathroom. Fixed my hair. Applied different makeup.
Theo’s already at the restaurant.
With Adrian.
Great.
“Summer!” Theo stands. Kisses me. “You remember Adrian.”
“Of course. Hi.”
Adrian’s eyes are cold. Assessing.
“Summer.”
We sit.
Order.
Theo talks about work. Wedding plans. His parents.
I nod. Smile. Respond at appropriate times.
My mind is in Brooklyn.
With Jax.
Wondering if I just lost him.
“Summer?” Theo’s voice breaks through.
“Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you wanted to go to the Hamptons next weekend. My parents’ place.”
“Oh. Um. I can’t. Family thing.”
Adrian raises an eyebrow. “Another one?”
“My family’s very close.”
“Clearly.” His tone is sharp.
Theo shoots him a look. “Summer’s family is traditional. They expect her presence on weekends.”
“Every weekend?” Adrian presses.
“Not every weekend.”
“Seems like it.”
“Adrian.” Theo’s voice is warning.
But Adrian leans forward. “I’m just saying. It’s interesting. How we never see you on weekends. How you’re always ‘with family.’ How you’re never on social media. How you’re basically a ghost.”
My pulse races.
“I value my privacy.”
“Or you’re hiding something.”
“Adrian, enough.” Theo’s angry now.
“I’m looking out for you, man. After Blake—”
“Summer is not Blake.”
They stare at each other.
I want to disappear.
Dissolve into nothing.
“I should go,” I say quietly.
“No.” Theo grabs my hand. “Stay. Adrian’s leaving.”
Adrian stands. Throws money on the table.
“For what it’s worth?” He looks at me. “I don’t trust you. And I’m going to find out what you’re hiding.”
He leaves.
Silence.
“I’m sorry,” Theo says. “He’s protective. After Blake, he—”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not. You didn’t deserve that.”
But I did.
Because Adrian’s right.
I am hiding something.
Something that’s going to destroy everyone.
THEO
Adrian texts me after.
ADRIAN: She’s lying to you.
THEO: You don’t know that.
ADRIAN: I’m hiring a PI.
THEO: Don’t.
ADRIAN: You want to be humiliated again? Like with Blake?
THEO: Summer isn’t Blake.
ADRIAN: Prove me wrong then. But I’m looking into her.
I stare at the text.
Part of me wants to stop him.
But another part…
Another part wants to know.
What is Summer hiding?
SUMMER – SUNDAY NIGHT
I’m alone in my apartment.
The one I barely use. The one that’s just a staging ground for my double life.
Two phones.
Two worlds.
Both about to collide.
I text Melody: I think Adrian suspects something.
MELODY: Of course he does. You’re being obvious.
SUMMER: What do I do?
MELODY: Tell the truth.
SUMMER: I can’t.
MELODY: Then you’re going to lose everything. Both of them.
I know.
I’ve always known.
But I keep hoping for a miracle.
Keep hoping I can fix this without anyone getting hurt.
But that’s impossible.
Someone’s going to get hurt.
Everyone’s going to get hurt.
Including me.
Especially me.
My phone buzzes.
Jax.
I’m sorry about this morning. I just love you. And I’m scared I’m losing you.
Tears stream down my face.
You’re not losing me. I promise.
Another lie.
To add to the pile.
Because the truth is…
Everyone’s losing me.
I’m losing myself.
And I have no idea how to stop the crash that’s coming.
Reader Reactions