My sister kissed my husband in front of thirty people at her own anniversary party and called it a joke. kertati Her husband had a wrapped present in his hands and an envelope she had never opened.

In front of her husband.

Callan saw me.

His entire body changed.

He pulled away so quickly that Sasha stumbled backward.

“Bryony—”

I couldn’t hear anything after that.

My hands were shaking.

I was still holding the dish.

Sasha looked at me.

And smiled.

“It was a dare.”

Nobody moved.

She stepped closer.

“Sorry, sis.”

Then she shrugged.

“He kisses better than Bram.”

Someone gasped.

My mother whispered, “Sasha.”

Bram stood perfectly still.

I looked at Callan.

He was white.

“Bryony, please.”

I couldn’t speak.

Sasha reached for the serving dish.

“Give me that before you drop it.”

She took it from my hands.

“It’s a joke.”

She placed it on the table.

Thirty people.

Nobody spoke.

Then I heard a strange sound behind me.

A laugh.

One short laugh.

Empty.kertati

I turned.

Bram was standing there.

He wasn’t looking at Sasha.

He was looking at Callan.

And then Bram said something that made my stomach drop.

“Actually…”

He reached underneath the table.

“I’ve got a present for you.”

---

PART 2 — THE PRESENT

The gift bag had been under the table since eleven that morning.

I found that out later.

At the time, all I knew was that Bram was holding a small black bag in one hand and looking at Sasha like he’d finally stopped trying to protect her.