Secretly Yours, But Not Mine

Prologue

I'm the worst. Like, the absolute worst. Who even does this—falling for their best friend's husband? It's not like I planned it. It's not like I want to feel this way. But here I am, trying to keep my stupid heart in check every time Henry smiles at me.

It's ridiculous. I know that. He's not mine. He'll never be mine. He's Sienna's—my best friend, my ride-or-die since middle school. And yet, whenever he looks at me with that easy grin or shares something he's passionate about, it's like my brain short-circuits. My heart does this annoying flip thing, and suddenly I forget how to be a normal person.

This trip to the Spanish Riviera was supposed to be an escape—a chance to soak up the sun, drink sangria, and maybe flirt with some ridiculously hot locals. But instead, I feel like I'm walking on a tightrope over a pit of bad decisions. Every day, the weight of my feelings feels heavier, like the humid ocean breeze pressing against my skin.

I try to distract myself. The sunsets here are stunning, all fiery orange and gold bleeding into the deep blue sea. The air smells like salt and citrus, and the streets are alive with the buzz of music, laughter, and clinking glasses. There are so many other people I could focus on. People who aren't married. People who aren't Henry.

But then he does something small—a laugh, a thoughtful gesture—and I'm back where I started, hopelessly tangled in a web I've spun for myself.

Standing on the balcony of our villa, I let the sound of the waves calm me, but my thoughts race. I can't keep doing this. It's not fair to me, to Sienna, or even to Henry. I need to figure out what I want—what I need—before I mess everything up.

There's a choice to be made. I can keep drowning in this mess of unspoken feelings, risking everything I care about, or I can pull myself together. I could focus on living my own story instead of wishing for one that doesn't belong to me.

As the sun dips below the horizon, I take a deep breath and make a promise to myself. Whatever happens this weekend, I'll find a way forward. Whether that's letting go or facing the truth, I owe it to myself—and Sienna—to stop letting my heart call the shots.

This is my chance to start over. I just hope it's not too late.