Chapter 2

Nora was still holding the phone between us.

“When did Brooke create this group?” I asked.

“Two weeks ago. She said it was for birthday surprises.”

I scrolled past messages about candles and decorations. Below them were grocery lists, departure plans, and room assignments.

Whenever someone asked about me, Brooke answered.

Natalie won’t mind taking the downstairs room.

Natalie likes getting up early.

Natalie said she’d make breakfast.

“Did anyone actually hear me agree to this?”

Nora shook her head. “Brooke said you didn’t want to be added because you hate group-chat notifications.”

We had another trip chat on my phone. That morning, I had posted the packing list there.

“Send me screenshots,” I said. “Include the dates.”

Nora took back her phone. Mine vibrated a moment later.

I checked that the messages had arrived, then unlocked the bedroom door.

Evan leaned against the kitchen counter, drinking one of the beers I had bought. Brooke stood beside him, squeezing a lime into her glass.

I placed my phone between them.

“Why did you tell everyone I asked for that room?”

Brooke glanced at the screen. “We were trying to get everything arranged before we arrived.”

“Show me where I agreed.”

Evan looked toward the deck. Paige and Luke were sitting just beyond the open door.

“Nat, can we do this privately?”

“You discussed me with everyone else. They can hear my answer.”

Brooke put down the lime.

“We thought you’d be reasonable.”

“Then you could have asked me.”

Evan reached for my phone, but I picked it up first and opened his reply.

“What did you mean by ‘I’ll handle her’?”

“That I’d talk to you.”

“Before or after I carried my suitcase downstairs?”

He set his beer down hard enough to leave a wet ring on the counter.

“Why does everything have to become a record with you?”

“You wrote it down, Evan.”

“What you packed. What you booked. What you paid for.” His voice sharpened. “You always need everyone to acknowledge how much you do.”

My fingers tightened around the phone. I wanted to remind him how many times he had asked for my help that week. Instead, I kept the screenshot open.

“I asked why you lied about what I wanted.”

“Can’t you do one nice thing without demanding credit for it?”

On the deck, Luke lowered his glass. Paige came inside carrying two empty plates, then hesitated beside us.

Brooke took the plates from her and stacked them next to my hand.

“Could you load these when you’re done? We want to get down to the beach before dark.”

I slid the stack back across the counter.

“You used them. You load them.”

Brooke caught the top plate. “Excuse me?”

I took my phone and walked away.

Behind me, Evan said, “Are you seriously punishing everyone over a room?”

I stopped at the hallway.

“Tell them I never agreed to it.”

He looked toward Paige, then picked up his beer.

I waited long enough to see that he wasn’t going to answer.

Back in the twin room, I locked the door. Their voices continued until the back door closed and laughter drifted toward the beach.

Later, I lay beneath the thin sheet, listening to the pipes click whenever someone used the sink upstairs.

Footsteps entered my hallway and stopped outside the door.

The handle moved once.

I waited for Evan to knock.

Instead, the footsteps retreated across the kitchen and climbed the stairs.

They stopped on the floor where Brooke was sleeping.