Chapter 4

The terrace door swung open, and I saw my boyfriend kissing my best friend.

Evan had Brooke pressed against the railing. One of her hands was buried in his hair; the other gripped his shirt.

His gray hoodie had slipped from her shoulder. His hand rested on the bare skin above her swimsuit bottoms.

I recognized the small scar across his thumb.

Brooke opened her eyes and shoved him away. Her hip struck the railing, rattling an empty wineglass on the table.

“Natalie,” Evan said.

My hand stayed on the door handle.

“How long?”

“This is the first time,” Brooke said.

“It only started a few weeks ago,” Evan said.

They looked at each other.

“Tonight was the first kiss,” Brooke added quickly. “Before this, we were just talking.”

Evan dragged a hand across his mouth.

I waited for him to confirm her version. He looked down at the deck boards.

“When were you going to tell me?”

“After the trip,” he said.

Brooke turned sharply toward him.

“After I drove everyone home?”

“That isn’t what I meant.”

“You let me book the boat. Plan her dinner. Pack your bag.”

“I wasn’t planning to break up with you.”

Brooke went still.

“You told me your relationship was already over.”

“I said we were having problems.”

“You asked me to renew our lease last week,” I said.

Brooke stared at him. He picked up his camera from the table, then put it down again.

“I forwarded an email. That’s all.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Brooke turned back to me.

“I didn’t plan to fall for him.”

“You planned the bedrooms.”

She pulled the hoodie closed.

Evan reached for my arm. I stepped back before his fingers closed around it.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Let’s wait until we’re back in Boston,” he said. “We can talk without everyone listening.”

I left the terrace and entered the ocean suite.

My charging cable hung from the side pocket of his duffel. A pale blue bra strap lay across the open top.

It wasn’t mine.

I pulled out the cable. My hand shook badly enough that the plug caught on the zipper.

“Nat.”

I freed it and walked past him.

He followed me downstairs. In the twin room, I sat on the bed and reopened the hotel page.

The room was still available. I checked the address, entered my card number, and pressed Book Now.

The confirmation appeared as Evan reached the doorway.

“What are you doing?”

I put my laptop in its case. “Leaving.”

“Tonight? You can’t drive when you’re this upset.”

“The inn is twelve minutes away. I haven’t had a drink.”

I packed my medication and toiletry bag, then checked my purse for my wallet and keys.

“At least wait until morning,” he said. “We’ll sleep, and then the three of us can talk.”

My hand stopped over a clean shirt.

“The three of us?”

He closed his eyes.

Brooke appeared behind him, still wearing his hoodie. Her gaze moved from the suitcase to the keys beside my purse.

“What about the rest of us?”

“Brooke,” Evan said.

“We still have dinner and the next grocery run. There isn’t enough room in Paige’s rental for everyone.”

I folded the shirt and placed it inside.

“Discuss it in your group chat.”

She stepped closer, watching me tuck the last sleeve beneath the lid.

“You can’t leave,” she said. “The house is in your name.”

I pulled the zipper around the final corner.

“I know.”