Chapter 3

I got back to town past midnight and checked into a motel near the bus terminal.

While the front desk verified my ID, Ethan called on FaceTime.

I ignored the video and texted back that I was in the shower.

He immediately sent a voice note with Juliet’s laughter echoing in the background.

"Get some sleep. Take a shared shuttle down the highway tomorrow.

"We're heading to the canyon first. When you get here this afternoon, go straight to cooking. Juliet wants that beef stew you make."

Before the note ended, Juliet leaned close to the mic.

"Easy on the pepper. My throat hurts."

I muted my phone and unzipped my backpack.

The spare RV key, the campground reservations, and our travel stamp journal were tucked in the inner pocket.

This trip was supposed to be a graduation promise between Ethan and me.

On our first date in freshman year, we lost our way on rental bikes and took shelter at a gas station convenience store half the night.

Ethan bought a blank journal and promised we would stamp a page every time we traveled somewhere new.

In four years, we only filled six pages.

He promised to complete the rest of the book after graduation.

He said I could choose the very first stop.

Then Juliet showed up with a thick binder of travel plans.

Ethan praised her for being thorough, and the route shifted entirely toward her wishlist.

My choice was crossed off.

The coastal town I actually wanted to visit was cut for being too out of the way.

I didn't object back then.

I thought having three people just meant a noisier trip.

As long as Ethan and I ended up together at the end, the route didn't matter.

Now the journal lay open on the bed. The empty pages dwarfed the few we had stamped.

I tore a piece of notepad paper and wrote down that the RV key would be returned to my parents, and they would repossess the vehicle.

Midway through writing, my mom called.

I left out the night at the gas station. I only asked if she and Dad could drive down to town tomorrow.

"The RV isn't right for that mountain route. I want to give it back to you guys."

Mom didn't push. She just said they would come tomorrow afternoon.

Once that was set, I called my high school friend, Maya.

She had asked me weeks ago to stay at her grandmother's place down south for a while. I had turned her down twice because Ethan hated humid weather.

"Aren't you on your graduation trip?" Maya asked when she picked up.

"It's over."

She paused for a second, sensing the tone. "I'm taking the train to my grandma's place the day after tomorrow. Want in?"

I agreed and used my own savings to buy a ticket on the same train.

By noon the next day, Ethan sent a photo with a message from a local butcher shop.

“Got the beef. Waiting for your signature dish.”

I didn't reply.

After Mom arrived, she accompanied me to the local DMV office to file the vehicle authorization papers.

The RV was registered under my dad's name.

Ethan always knew that, which was why he usually drove it with extreme care.

Yet when he drove off yesterday, he didn't even ask how Mr. Lloyd's daughter was getting anywhere.

Dad booked a tow truck to pick up the RV from their camp the next morning.

I handed him the key. I didn't ask my parents to confront anyone on my behalf.

That night, Ethan called again.

"Diana Thomas, how much longer are you going to throw this tantrum?"

I stood at the end of the motel hallway, watching long-distance coaches pull into the bays below.

"Keep the beef cold so it doesn't spoil."

He assumed I was worrying about dinner. His tone softened.

"Got it. Just get here early tomorrow."

After hanging up, I canceled every double campsite reservation booked under my name.

In Juliet’s master plan, these logistics were always left for me to manage.

I forwarded the cancellation receipts to her with a short line. “You'll need to arrange your own lodging from here on out.”

Her reply came back instantly.

“Diana, don't take your frustration out on the whole group.”

I didn't argue. I pulled the curtains shut and started packing my bags for the south.