Chapter 1

The day after we announce our engagement, my fiancé calls my sister his fiancée.

There's a photograph.

Chloe is pressed against Julian's side, his hand resting on her waist. Beneath it, from his verified account, are two words.

My fiancée.

By morning, strangers are calling me the woman trying to steal my sister's man.

The families' announcement mentioned the Bennetts and the Hayeses. Mine included a picture of Julian and me.

Apparently, his comment settles which sister he actually wants.

I send him a screenshot.

Explain this.

It's evening by the time he replies with two voice messages.

"Chloe was crying after your post. I was comforting her. I didn't know someone was taking pictures."

Then:

"The comment was just to cheer her up. You're the one I'm marrying, Audrey. Don't make it a thing."

I play the second message again.

Five years together.

Two months asking when we could finally announce the engagement.

Five years of hearing that Chloe was sensitive, that she'd feel left behind, that waiting a little longer wouldn't hurt me.

Now he's made an announcement of his own.

I type:

Then marry her. Our engagement is over.

He calls immediately.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"You've upset Chloe."

I look at the photograph on our side table.

It was taken after he proposed.

Chloe wanted one with us. Then she wanted another because she didn't like her hair.

In the picture Julian chose to frame, she's holding his arm.

Only half of me is visible in the frame.

"Did you read the comments?" I ask.

"It's the internet."

"They're calling me a homewrecker."

"And you know you're not."

Chloe's voice comes through the phone.

"Can I talk to her?"

There's a rustle.

"Audrey? Please don't fight because of me."

I close my eyes.

"I'll ask him to delete it if it bothers you."

"You don't need to ask him anything."

"Oh. So we're okay?"

"No."

She goes quiet.

I hear Julian ask what I said.

Then he's back.

"She's your sister."

"I know who she is."

"Then act like it."

A sharp crack sounds behind him.

Fireworks.

I recognize the music that follows. The waterfront festival. We'd planned to go together last summer.

Chloe had a bad breakup that week.

Julian took her instead.

"You're out with her."

"She didn't want to sit at home."

"But I should?"

"Audrey, please. We'll talk when I get back."

"What is there to talk about?"

"Our engagement party is in six weeks. Both families have invited people."

"Then tell them it's canceled."

His voice hardens.

"You don't cancel a wedding over a comment."

"It isn't a wedding. And it isn't just a comment."

Another firework explodes.

"What?"

I speak slowly.

"I'm not marrying you."

The call ends.

A message follows.

Couldn't hear you. We'll talk at home.

I stare at it.

He heard enough to call me unreasonable.

Apparently, he missed the rest.

I open the post again.

The photograph has been copied onto three society gossip accounts.

Someone has placed my announcement beside it.

Two sisters. One fiancé. Awkward.

Below, a woman I've never met writes:

Her own fiancé won't claim her. Take the hint.

There's a small heart beside the comment.

I tap the list of people who liked it.

Julian Hayes.

For a moment, I can't feel my fingers.

Then I take another screenshot.

I save the voice messages, too.

When I call my mother, she answers with a sigh.

"I've seen it."

"Then you know why I'm calling."

"Your sister's been crying all evening."

I look at the framed photograph again.

"I'm ending the engagement."

"Don't say things you can't take back."

"I mean it."

"Your father and I have known the Hayeses for thirty years. There's a venue booked, Audrey. Invitations."

"I'm aware."

"What am I supposed to tell people?"

For once, I don't help her find a gentler version.

"Tell them Julian announced he was marrying Chloe. Tell them I'm no longer available."

"Audrey—"

"Cancel my place at the party."

I take the photograph out of its frame.

For the first time, I see the full picture.

There was room for me.

He'd folded my side of the photograph out of sight.