Eva finally left the apartment on Tuesday afternoon. It was the first time in over a week she’d gone anywhere without Logan. She said she had an “errand” and slipped out with her bag slung over her shoulder, no explanation beyond that.

The moment the door clicked shut, I counted to thirty, just to make sure she was gone. Then I moved.

I didn’t even try to pretend I was doing something else — I went straight for the guest room.

Her scent was there immediately. Sweet. Sharp. Expensive. It clung to the pillows, to the throw blanket folded at the foot of the bed.

The leather notebook sat in the same spot I’d seen it last — on the desk by the window. My hands itched to grab it, but I made myself look around first.

Her suitcase was half open. Inside, clothes folded too neatly, a small velvet box, a bottle of perfume I’d never seen before. On top of it all, a photo — Logan and Eva, years younger, at some campus event. His arm around her. Both of them smiling like they belonged to each other.

My stomach turned.

I shut the suitcase and picked up the notebook.

The first few pages were the same: names, dates, short notes beside each. Some were crossed out.

Daniel – 2018 – Moved away

Clara – 2019 – Too risky

Julian – 2020 – Success

The handwriting was neat, controlled.

Halfway through, I found my name again.

Ariella – 2023 – Pending

My breath caught. Pending. Like I was… some kind of task she hadn’t finished yet.

I flipped another page. That’s when I saw his name.

Logan – 2023 – In progress

The sound of a key turning in the front door jolted me.

I shoved the notebook back into place, pushed the chair in, and stepped into the hallway just as Logan came in with a bag of groceries.

“Hey,” he said, surprised. “You’re home.”

“Yeah. Took the afternoon off.” I forced a smile. “Where’s Eva?”

“Ran to get coffee. Why?”

“Just wondering.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, like he could sense something under my voice. But he didn’t push.

That night, I couldn’t stop staring at them.

Eva sat across from me at dinner, telling a story about some “funny thing” she’d seen on her way back. Logan laughed like she was the best part of his day.

I picked at my food, the words Pending and In progress flashing in my mind over and over.

The next morning, I tried a different approach.

Over coffee, I said casually, “Eva, I didn’t know you kept a journal.”

Her eyes flickered, just for a second. “Oh. Yeah. Helps me keep track of things.”

“What kind of things?”

She smiled, the kind that didn’t reach her eyes. “Just… memories.”

I sipped my coffee, pretending I believed her. “I used to keep one too. Maybe I’ll start again.”

Her smile tightened. “Maybe.”

Two days later, I got my chance again.

Logan had left for work. Eva said she was meeting a friend for lunch. As soon as she left, I went back to the notebook — this time with my phone.

I flipped through page after page, snapping photos quickly.

Halfway through, I froze on a name I didn’t expect.

Marissa – 2022 – Accident

Something about the way it was written — no details, no smiley marks, just cold — made my skin prickle.

I was still holding the notebook when I heard the front door open.

“Hey,” Eva’s voice called. “Forgot my—”

She stopped in the doorway, her eyes dropping straight to my hands.

For a second, the room was silent.

Then she smiled. Slow. Controlled.

“Curious, aren’t you?”

I put the notebook down carefully. “You left it out.”

Her gaze didn’t leave mine. “Some things are better left unread.”

I didn’t answer.

She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

“Tell me,” she said quietly, “what did you see?”

I met her eyes. “Enough.”

Her smile widened, but it didn’t touch her eyes. “Good. Then you know it’s better if you stay out of my way.”

That night, Logan was unusually affectionate. Cooking dinner, brushing my hair off my face, kissing my temple.

I couldn’t tell if it was guilt… or if Eva had already told him I’d been snooping.

Lying in bed beside him, I realized something: the game had shifted.

And now she knew I was playing too.