Jake smiled, kissed her cheek like a brother would, and walked away.
Lena watched Jake slip the ring onto Mia’s finger. Mia beamed. And in that moment, Lena understood the difference between her and her sister. Mia believed in love. Lena believed in being wanted. cheatingsis
The first time Jake kissed her, it was a rain-soaked Tuesday. He’d come over to pick up a casserole dish Mia had left at his place. Lena answered the door in an oversized hoodie, hair a mess. “Mia’s still at work,” she’d said. He lingered. He always lingered. And then his hand was on her cheek, and she didn’t pull away. Jake smiled, kissed her cheek like a brother
Lena didn’t go to Portland. She went home, packed a bag, and left her phone on the kitchen table—unlocked, open to her forum DMs. The last message was a draft she’d written to Mia but never sent. She hit send now. And in that moment, Lena understood the difference
Inside the church, the organ started. Lena slipped into the back pew just as Mia began her walk down the aisle. Their eyes met for a second—Mia’s full of happy tears, Lena’s full of something else. Guilt. Fear. A sick, thrilling secret.
“A technicality.” His hand brushed her lower back for half a second. “The plan hasn’t changed. Give me six months. I’ll leave her. We’ll go to Portland. Just like we said.”
At the reception, Lena danced with a distant cousin, drank two glasses of champagne too fast, and avoided the head table. Jake found her by the dessert bar, pretending to study a chocolate fountain.