The Night That Wasn’t Mine Novel – time. His smile didn’t falter, not even a crack. “Ava. You made it.” “I made it?” I echoed. “What… what is this party?” Tessa turned too, her glossy lips curled into a practiced smile. “Oh my God, Ava, hi!” she gushed. “I didn’t know you were invited.” I blinked. Invited? Jake stepped in, his voice smooth. “It’s a celebration for Tessa’s brand partnership announcement,” he said. “Big opportunity.
She signed with LuxeGlow. They’re flying her to Paris for a campaign.” LuxeGlow. The brand I had been trying to get a contract with for the past six months for an event planning deal. I had mentioned it to Jake over dinner multiple times. He had nodded, pretended to listen. “Tessa’s doing amazing things,” he added. And then, just like that, he turned back to her, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear with a familiarity that made my stomach twist.
The room tilted slightly. My feet felt anchored in wet cement. “But… you said tonight was special,” I said, louder now. “You said you had a surprise planned for us.” Tessa’s face faltered just a bit. Jake looked at me like I had lost my mind. “I don’t think I said that,” he replied lightly. “You must’ve misunderstood.” “No,” I said firmly. “You’ve been distant for weeks. You kept hinting that something big was coming. I thought—” “You thought wrong,” came another voice. I turned. Lena. My best friend since college.
She wore a coral-red dress and a necklace I helped her pick out two weeks ago. Her arms were crossed, expression unreadable. But there was no concern in her eyes. No solidarity. “I didn’t know you were still under the impression this was your night,” she said coldly. My heart dropped lower, a freefall I couldn’t stop. “I planned this whole thing,” she added, lips curled. “With Jake. For Tessa.” It was a punch. Not to the face—but to something deeper. My lungs seized.
My hands went cold. Lena. My best friend. The one who cried with me over breakups, who binge-watched shows with me while we ate frozen pizza in our pajamas, who once promised she’d be my maid of honor if I ever got married. Jake still hadn’t said a word. He looked… serene. Detached. “You knew,” I whispered. “You both knew.” Lena shrugged. “You weren’t happy. You were… clinging. Everyone could see it.” A laugh bubbled up in my throat—not out of humor, but disbelief.
I took a step back, eyes scanning the crowd. People I knew. People I had worked with, dined with, celebrated birthdays with. Coworkers. Mutual friends. Some looked away. Others watched like they were waiting for the next twist in a Netflix drama. No one stood up for me.