At Our Engagement Party, My Fiancée Gave My Seat to Her Male Best Friend

At the engagement party, the genius brother struck up yet another discussion of hydrological data with Harper Mason.

I trailed behind them, carrying both their coats.

The seats of honor my in-laws had set aside for Harper and me were already arranged.

I tugged lightly at Harper's hand.

Let's sit down first. You can talk about this in a bit.

"Ken."

The brother pressed my hand down.

"We're in the middle of the data. Could you not break Harper's train of thought and mine?"

Harper kept her eyes on the test report, not lifting her head.

"Go on, say what you were saying. Don't mind him."

The brother went on talking.

Harper pulled out the chair meant for me.

"Sit. Take your time."

I gripped the brother's coat tighter.

"Then where do I sit?"

Harper stalled.

Only then did she remember that was the seat of honor for her and me.

She jerked her chin toward a chair in the corner.

"There's still a spot over there, isn't there?"

That chair sat right by the trash can.

The brother looked up.

"Ken, go sit down for now. Once Harper and I finish going over this data, we'll deal with whatever you need."

They took the seats meant for the engaged couple.

Absorbed, poring over the hydrological charts.

Everyone crowded in, keyed up and eager.

As if no one saw anything wrong with two geniuses talking academics here.

I turned and set both their coats on the chair in the corner.

Then I went out and hailed a cab home.

If even something like an engagement could be given up for this.

Then this marriage.

There was no need to go through with it either.

When Harper came home.

It was already eleven at night.

The door at the entryway woke me.

I opened my eyes on the couch.

"You're back."

I was the first to break the silence.

"You're angry?"

She could tell.

I lowered my eyes.

Said nothing.

A sigh.

She sat down beside me.

"I let Charlie take your seat for a bit today. That was careless of me."

It was rare for Harper to apologize.

I opened my mouth without thinking.

"It's fine, I"

"But Ken, that's no reason for you to leave without a word."

I stalled.

Her eyes on me were nothing but disapproving.

"Just because Charlie sat in your seat for a while, you walked out on a room full of guests.

"Don't you think you took the sulking too far?"

I froze.

"You mean, because I couldn't stand watching someone take my seat to talk about things that had nothing to do with the engagement, that makes it my fault?"

"Ken."

Harper sighed.

"You studied accounting, you're a humanities guy. You can't even follow what Charlie and I were discussing.

"What would be the point of explaining it to you?"

"I"

My throat worked.

"Talking about academics is a perfectly normal thing. Are you going to throw a fit every single time?

"Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed Charlie by just walking out?

"And on your way out you left his coat down in that corner. Isn't that just telling everyone you've got a problem with him?"

Under Harper's tightly drawn brows was a look of pure displeasure.

So this.

This was what she was really angry about.

"Harper"

I clenched my fists.

The words I'd been building up in my chest all day finally came out.

"Let's call off the engagement"

"Harper!"

The keypad door was shoved open.

I stared blankly at the brother, Charles Delgado, standing there in our home.

"Harper, you gave him the door code?"

"Charlie has questions for me sometimes. They're hard to explain online, easier in person."

"But"

Charles cut my words off.

He came over with his files, shoulder to shoulder with Harper.

"That fitting problem you couldn't solve, I found it. The error here never cleared. Look."

Harper's eyes lit up.

"Yes! Let's do it your way! We'll run the fit again!"

"Har"

I reached out to stop her.

Charles pressed my hand down.

"Buddy, we've got an important problem to work through. Whatever you want to say, save it until we're done."

"Leave him. Come on."

Harper pulled the study door shut from the inside.

I heard the lock click home with a snap.

I stood at the door, dazed.

But Harper.

You said this was our love nest.

That code, 5203344.

Was a secret only you and I knew

I drew in a deep breath.

Clenched my fists hard.

It's fine.

Either way.

I wasn't getting married.

I turned to go.

But the study door opened again from the inside.

"Ken, Charlie and I will probably be at this all night.

"Go make two cups of coffee.

"Charlie's needs to be hot, with two sugar cubes."

With that said,

Harper moved to shut the door.

The way she had a thousand times before.

It never occurred to her that I might say no.

"Harper."

I called after her. "I'm going to bed."

She blinked.

"You can't make the coffee first, then sleep?"

"No."

I'd grown up on the legend of these two prodigies.

Even my parents used to say,

"Don't keep hanging around when Charlie and Harper are talking shop.

"If you can lend a hand with the little things, do it.

"Once they've made a name for themselves, they'll bring you along too!"

And so it went.

They talked as they walked; I trailed behind carrying the bags and their coats.

They planned the trips; I booked the tickets a day ahead.

They discussed hydrological data at my own engagement party; I was supposed to give up my seat too.

"Ken, Harper and I really can't step away right now."

Charles poked his head out.

"Just go make us two cups. For your buddy's sake."

"No."

I swallowed.

Two refusals in a row, both without precedent.

My heart was pounding.

Charles's smile froze.

Harper pulled the door open.

"Forget it. I'll go."

As she passed me,

she shot me a look.

Something dark and unreadable in it.

None of my business.

That was what I told myself.

I went into the bedroom and slid under the covers.

When I woke the next morning,

the two of them had already finished breakfast in the living room.

Only two plates.

Clearly nothing had been set out for me.

"Nothing for me?"

I couldn't stop myself from asking.

Because back when I was the one making the meals,

it was always three servings.

Harper wiped her mouth.

"Want some, make it yourself."

There was an edge of impatience in her voice.

And resentment.

What was she angry about?

Then I saw the coffee cup knocked over beside the coffee machine.

And I understood.

I was always the one who ran the appliances at home.

She'd botched it.

"Watch your attitude!"

Charles pinched Harper's cheek.

Then grinned at me.

"Harper didn't get her coffee last night, toughed it out till morning, so she's in a mood. I've told her off for you!"

I said nothing.

Their breakfast was fried eggs.

And a glass of milk.

A lot simpler than the meals I usually put together for them.

But also the easiest thing to copy.

Even so,

Harper had left out my share.

"Let's go, Charlie."

Harper stood. "Finish running the flow simulation from yesterday. We submit the report tonight."

"Sure."

Charles rose to follow.

As he passed me,

Harper glanced my way.

Then shut the study door.

I rubbed my empty, hungry stomach.

I let out a sigh.

Turned and headed for the kitchen.

After I'd made myself a sandwich,

I tossed my clothes into the washing machine on the way.

Loaded the mountain of cups and dishes into the dishwasher.

That evening,

Harper, after a full day's work, came into the bedroom.

Not to sleep, though.

"I'm going to set boundaries for where people can go in this house.

"From now on, the three rooms around the study you stay out of them."

I froze.

"Why?"

"You're loud."

She lay on the bed.

Pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Charlie and I need a quiet atmosphere to work in."

"But you two could talk it over at the company."

I wasn't happy about it.

"Sometimes there isn't time to get to the office.

"Ken, you can't really help with much anyway. At the very least, I'm asking you.

"Just don't get in the way, okay?"

Watching her brows knit together,

I gripped the blanket tight.

That night,

we slept back to back.

I thought Harper was only talking out of anger.

But when I got up the next morning,

the three rooms near the study

really did have a temporary wire fence strung across them.

On it was written:

Kenneth Not Allowed

I reached out, not quite believing it.

There was a sharp crackle.

The current on the door jolted me and I dropped hard to the floor.

The study door opened.

Charles came out.

"Oh. I forgot to tell you."

He cut the power.

Opened the wire fence.

Stepped forward and helped me up.

"That thing's live. Careful."

"Let go of me!"

I jerked back from him.

Charles froze.

He turned to look at Harper.

Harper's voice was cold.

"Don't be difficult. Once Charlie and I are done running the simulation, we'll take it down."

"But this is my home!"

There was a hurt edge in my voice.

"Why do I need a security fence strung up just to move around my own house?"

Charles reached out a hand.

"Ken..."

"Get away from me!"

I shoved his hand off.

Charles cried out.

And fell to the floor.

"Charlie!"

Harper rushed over.

Charles let her prop him up.

He cupped the hand I'd shoved, and looked at me like I'd wounded him.

"Ken, don't get the wrong idea.

"If you don't want this, I'll go."

And he actually picked up the document bag.

Loaded the data files into it one by one.

"Harper, from now on let's just talk about this at the office.

"Ken's already misread us."

Harper called out to him.

She looked at me.

She sighed.

The wire fence came down.

Harper never again discussed any of that impenetrable work with Charles at home.

At the office too.

They kept a certain distance.

But then came this day.

A rainstorm trapped me at the office.

I stood in the doorway, checking my watch over and over.

At last, Harper came toward me with her car keys.

My eyes lit up.

"Harper!"

"Move aside."

She pushed past me.

I blanked.

Charles came out of the building with a folder in his arms.

Long strides.

"Harper?"

I stood there, stunned.

Harper opened the passenger door for Charles.

"I have to take Charlie home first. Wait here a minute."

I went stiff.

"Isn't there still room in the car?"

She got into the driver's seat.

Lowered the window.

"Weren't you the one who wouldn't let Charlie talk business at home?

"His place isn't on the way home.

"So wait."

"Harper!"

I stepped forward, wanting to say something.

She'd already rolled the window up.

Not caring that my hand was still on it.

The tires threw up a spray of water and soaked me head to foot.

I stood in the wind and rain.

The rain on my face was like tears.

All that was left was a bitter smile.

Step by step.

I fought the wind back to the office door.

My coworkers had all gone.

The building's lights were off.

I stood under the awning by the door.

Waited until midnight, and that familiar car never came.

My phone buzzed.

It was Charles.

"Ken, catch a ride home with a coworker.

"Harper and I found a new problem. She probably won't make it over to get you tonight.

"Don't wait."

The hand holding my phone stayed frozen a long time.

I didn't lower it even after he'd hung up on the other end.

The cold wind lifted the hem of my clothes.

Snapping in the gusts.

I turned.

And walked alone into the pitch-dark office building.

Curled up at my desk.

Wrapped a coat around myself.

And closed my eyes in the dark.

It was the sound of the current that woke me.

By the time I made it down to the underground lab with a flashlight, the water was already up over everything. The gauges on the panel were swinging wildly, and the ground-fault breaker was switched off.

There was no time to think. I threw myself at it and flipped the breaker on, then slammed the drainage system into gear.

Something must have gone wrong somewhere. The cantilever beam overhead let out a shrill hum, and then, with a heavy crash, it came down on me.

When I came to, my head was still wrapped in gauze.

The door opened. Harper appeared in the doorway, out of breath.

"Where's Kenneth?"

My eyes went red in an instant. "Harper!"

Crack.

A slap knocked me sideways to the floor. My battered forehead rang.

"What are you even good for anymore?" Harper stared at me, her eyes red. "Why did you shut off the ground-fault breaker? Do you have any idea what you did? Charlie's experiment data is all gone!"

I was shaking. "I didn't! It was already off when I got there. All I did was turn it on!"

"Ken..."

Only then did I notice Charles standing in the doorway. His eyes were red too.

"So you're saying it was me who left the breaker off?"

I clenched my teeth to stop the trembling. "When I got there... the breaker was already off..."

"Enough!" Harper looked at me. "Only an amateur like you makes a rookie mistake like that.

"How many times did I tell you? Do not touch anything that belongs to Charlie and me!

"You don't understand any of it. Why do you always think you know better?"

I stared at her, stunned.

The argument had drawn coworkers over, and they crowded in, trying to talk Harper down.

Harper gave me one cold look, then turned to go.

"Ms. Mason, where are you going?"

"Back to write the report. This accident is serious. It has to be sent up to headquarters.

"Kenneth is the one primarily responsible."

"Harper!" My eyes went wet.

"Wait, Ms. Mason." Someone stepped in front of her. "If this goes up the chain, he'll never find work again.

"And the compensation would start at seven figures.

"You know how expensive that equipment is.

"You two are still supposed to get married."

Harper's fist tightened. She looked at me.

"I don't need some arrogant idiot.

"Useless at getting anything done, good only for wrecking it!"

Those last words came out through her teeth.

I braced myself where I stood, dazed, watching the way she looked at me.

Like she was looking at an enemy.

The accident was major. In the end, the higher-ups decided to send down an investigation team. They restored the lab's surveillance and the entry logs.

"The records show only one person in the lab that day: Charles Delgado," the investigator said. "After that, in the early hours of the next morning, Kenneth James went in with a flashlight."

My forehead was still wrapped in gauze. I sat in the front row of the conference hall, head down, listening to the investigator lay it out.

Harper spoke up. "So the person who shut off the ground-fault breaker was either him or Charlie.

"I'd like all of you to think about that."

Harper stood and pointed at the surveillance footage on the big screen. It still showed me heading down into the lab with a flashlight. This was the only camera the storm hadn't destroyed, and it caught only the doorway. The breaker wasn't in frame.

Harper's voice went cold. "So do you think our company's top marine-science expert would make a mistake like that?

"Or that a jealous little salesman who knows nothing about any of it would?"

For a moment the whole hall, the investigators included, frowned.

"I switched the breaker off that day!" Charles put in right on cue. "I'm certain of it!"

"Whew, if Charlie says so, then it's probably true."

People traded glances. "Right, a rookie mistake like that, no way Charlie makes it."

"Kenneth too. What's a salesman doing in the lab? Ruined Charlie's life's work and nearly got himself crushed to death on top of it."

"Serves him right."

The team lead nodded. "As it stands, there's no one this could be but Kenneth."

Harper nodded. "Thank you, Team Lead."

They pulled me to my feet. Two of them took me by either arm and led me out.

As we passed Harper, she said quietly, "You really went too far this time.

"A little hard lesson will do you good."

I didn't answer.

Not long after, a member of the investigation team got in touch with me.

"That thing you asked us to look into, we actually turned up something. Sending it over for you to confirm."

I hurried to open the zip file. The moment I saw the photos inside, my heart pounded.

Harper.

This time, you and Charles really are going to lose everything you've built over these years.