I Was His To-Do List

Jacob texted back instantly:

[Of course. I'd never fall for some girl who only knows how to act innocent.]

[Don't worry, Sabina. I'm gonna finish all seventy-seven. You have no idea how pumped I am to finally be with you.]

He sounded thrilled.

I snapped the laptop shut. No way I was reading another word of that garbage.

Tried to breathe. Tears still came.

I actually loved him—back then, and stupidly, maybe even now.

***

On the way to the party, my phone buzzed—Linda again.

This time, it was a pic of her all cozy with Jacob, looking way too close.

Then poof—she deleted it, like it was some "oops" moment.

Please. I knew what she was pulling. I didn't bother clapping back.

Jacob wasn't into her. She was just another check on that list. Sabina was the real prize.

The room was packed when I walked in. Eyes cut toward me, then away fast.

"Why is she even here? If Jacob wasn't around, I'd bounce."

"Sabina and Gabriel were goals. She ruined it. Thank God he dumped her."

They weren't even trying to whisper.

Sabina had always been their golden girl. Never mind that I wasn't the reason she and Gabriel split—everyone still took her side.

Jacob strolled in, acting like he was stepping up.

Handed me a glass of juice and leaned in. "You don't do well with alcohol. Better not."

Normally, that would've felt sweet. Now? Just another setup.

Right on cue, Sabina walked in.

Wearing the same red dress.

Someone near me snorted, loud enough to sting.

"Wannabe swan look. Zero shame."

"Total copycat."

A girl near me let out a smug little giggle.

I gripped the hem of my dress, face burning.

Then Jacob, all smiles: "Sabina, your skin's so fair—this color's perfect on you. Honestly, no one wears it better."

Sabina turned with a sugar-sweet smile, eyes daring me to react.

"Guess Yuna and I have the same taste."

At the party, everyone was buzzing about Sabina and Gabriel getting back together.

"Wild, right? Yuna was left at the altar, then locked down with someone new. Girl was probably juggling both."

Panic hit.

Yeah, I'd had feelings for Jacob while I was with Gabriel—but our whole thing was arranged by our families. Gabriel had just been dumped, I was numb. We settled.

But in my heart? It was always Jacob.

I snuck a glance at him, worried he'd catch something in my face. But he wasn't even looking at me—his eyes were glued to Sabina, cuddled up with Gabriel. Frown locked in place.

Then someone threw a spotlight on me.

"Yuna, didn't you do ballet in college? Show us something!"

"Yeah! Do the Dance of the Little Swans. Perfect for a duck pretending to be a swan."

Laughter exploded.

I tried to brush it off, but two girls yanked me to my feet.

Before I could shove them off, Jacob pulled me into his arms. His voice cut clean through the noise.

"Quit messing with her. She's my wife. She only dances for me."

"Buzzkill," one of them muttered, rolling her eyes as they slinked back to Sabina.

Didn't expect that.

I looked over—Sabina was glaring daggers.

Later, I slipped away to pay the bill.

When I came back, the room was half-empty.

I grabbed my bag, but paused near the restroom.

Voices.

"What was that? Saying she only dances for you?" Sabina snapped.

"What, jealous?" Jacob's voice was cold. "I did it on purpose. You spent the whole night clinging to Gabriel like I wasn't even there. Thought you were over him? So why haven't you ended it?"

A shuffle. Clothes maybe.

"I'll dump him once you finish the task. But don't watch her dance again," Sabina said, breathy and sharp.

Jacob laughed low. "Please. I'm not into that flat body. So what if she dances? That scar on her leg grosses me out. Drop it. Let's just enjoy ourselves."