Chapter 3
At noon, Evan asked to meet me.
The place was the coffee shop we used to frequent.
He arrived before me, and there was a glass of warm water in front of him, the way I liked it.
After I sat down, he pushed the glass toward me.
"Still mad?" he asked.
Whenever he asked me that before, I'd always try to justify myself, afraid he'd think I was being unreasonable, and worried that problems at home would come between us.
"When did you find out the draw was fake?" I asked.
Evan was silent for a few seconds.
"Two years ago," he said.
I didn't say anything.
Evan hesitated and then added, "Maybe earlier."
"When was the first time you went on a trip with them?" I asked.
"Three years ago."
"Did you know back then?"
Evan frowned. "Your parents said the draw would sometimes go easy on Claire.
"She's always been sensitive, and if she lost, she'd cry forever. You're more grounded, so one trip wouldn't mess up your life.
"And they always said you didn't like going out."
I shot back, "If I supposedly hate going out, why am I always the one planning where we're going?
"I'm the one who picks the hotels, books the tickets, and even reminds them what to wear depending on the weather.
"If I didn't want to go, why have I had a photo of the beach on my bedroom wall for ten years?"
Evan didn't answer.
He lowered his gaze and absently spun the glass in his hand.
"That was before," he said. "This time, Claire got her heart broken.
"The guy she liked is already engaged, and she hasn't been able to eat or sleep for days.
"She's always seen me as a big brother. I promised I'd go with her, so I can't back out now."
My eyes fell on his hand.
Yesterday, it was the same hand that slipped a piece of paper into Claire's sleeve.
I replied, "Now you know there was never a 'Travel' slip on the table.
"You also know I haven't been picked once in the past ten years.
"Are you still going on this trip?"
Evan looked up. "Summer, are you seriously making me choose between you and Claire?"
"I'm not making you pick sides," I said. "I'm asking whether you're going or not."
"I already promised her," he replied.
"So that's a yes," I said.
Evan sounded a bit frustrated. "It's just a few days.
"We're about to get married. I'll be able to go anywhere with you after that.
"Claire's got nothing to hold onto right now."
To him, since I had a wedding lined up, I was expected to step aside and let Claire have everything for now.
She cried, so her feelings had to be handled immediately.
I didn't cry or throw a fit, so my feelings could be pushed aside, over and over.
He and my parents promised to make it up to me later, or next time, or after the wedding.
That had been their line for ten years.
I took the ring out of my bag.
It was the one we bought when we got engaged.
It wasn't expensive, but we picked it out together.
I used to wear it while spending hours online searching for all the places we could go for our honeymoon.
Later, Mom said it'd be nice to take her and Dad on a trip before the wedding.
Evan agreed.
He said my parents had spent half their lives working hard, so they deserved to enjoy themselves.
I ended up footing the bill.
I also mapped out the whole trip.
And the one who got left behind? It was still me.
I set the ring down in front of Evan. "The engagement's off."
He stared at the ring, but didn't pick it up. "Are you threatening me by breaking off the engagement?"
"It's not a threat," I said. "You've already made your decision."
"I didn't choose her!" He raised his voice. "Claire's your sister. I'm going with her because I want to help you take care of her."
Then, his phone rang.
The screen showed Claire's name.
Evan glanced at me and then answered, his voice softening. "What's wrong?"
He listened for a moment and stood up. "Don't cry. I'll be there right away."
After hanging up, he grabbed his coat.
"Claire said your parents were arguing again over the tickets.
"I'll go see what's going on. We'll talk when I get back," he told me.
He took a few steps outside and suddenly remembered the ring on the table.
"Hold onto it for now," he said. "Don't make any decisions while you're upset."
He left, and the ring stayed on the table.
I left it there.
Before I left, I asked the waiter for a small paper bag, put the ring inside, and gave it to the front desk.
"If the man who was sitting across from me comes back, please give this to him," I said.