Chapter 2

A notification suddenly popped up at the top of the phone screen.

Dean Sullivan was a travel blogger who'd amassed a small amount of fame, and he liked to post about his travels regularly. This time, he'd posted nine photos, all taken at the beach.

His shoulder was slightly dipped to shield Aimee from the sea breeze. She was beaming as she held a glass of cold beverage with a slice of lemon on the rim.

Dean's fans had since taken over the comment section by storm.

"Is this a hard launch, Dean? The lady next to you has a gorgeous side profile!"

"That figure is perfect! I need to see her full face."

Dean only replied to those with a grinning emoji.

It wasn't long before Aimee's name appeared in the comment section, too. "Don't run off on your own, or you'll get lost in this unfamiliar place."

Dean replied to her instantly, "I'm not too worried about that. You'll find me if I'm really lost."

I stared at the screen, my fingertips spasming.

I clicked on Dean's profile and scrolled down until I reached the timeline from last New Year's Eve.

Aimee had told me she was working overtime at the company because of a year-end audit, so I microwaved a frozen pasta meal in my rental unit and watched TV as I counted down to the new year.

The photo Dean had posted last New Year's Eve had been taken by the river. His and Aimee's hands were intertwined as they watched the dazzling fireworks light up the sky. The photo was captioned, "Kicking off the new year with the most reliable person by my side."

This Valentine's Day, Aimee had given me a projector that displayed a starry sky. She told me she'd had the device specially made for me, but I wasn't all that keen on starry skies.

Half a year ago, Dean had posted about the same projector and written above the photo, "She always knows what I want."

I closed my eyes. A coppery taste rose in my throat.

Raising my wrist, I felt for the silver bracelet that came with a tracking function. When Aimee clasped it around my wrist, she'd told me it was her way of knowing where I was and that she'd find me wherever and whenever.

I forcefully tugged at the bracelet until it snapped, then tossed it in the trash.

Three days later, the dressing on the wound on my ankle had been changed, but it still hurt a little when I walked.

Mom had headed off to the education consultant's to ask about expediting my application to study abroad. Aimee had the spare key to my house, so she let herself in. She'd brought a delicately packaged black forest cake with her.

"Is the fever gone?" she asked.

"Yeah."

She set the cake down on the coffee table and reached out to ruffle my hair out of habit. "Janice only lashed out because she was worried sick. I already apologized to her."

I dodged Aimee's touch, but that only earned me a sigh of exasperation from her. "Are you still upset?"

"No."

I wasn't a big fan of sweets. Dean was the one who loved cakes.

"Get changed. I'm taking you out."

"To where?"

"A new immersive escape room just opened in Southdale. Dean wants to go, so you'll come with us," Aimee replied casually.

"I'm not going," I refused outright.

Aimee's voice turned icy. She practically dragged me out the door. "Dean even saved you a ticket. He's trying to make up for what he did the other day. If you don't come with us, who'll want to invite you in the future?"

Dean was already waiting at the escape room lobby when we arrived. Upon seeing me, he immediately came over and tried to wrap an arm around my shoulders. "Nathan! I've missed you, man. I was bored out of my mind during the trip without you to hang out with me. Aimee left me high and dry, the traitor."

Aimee shielded me. "His ankle's hurt. Don't touch him."

Dean made a funny face. "Got it. Trust you to fuss over Nathan, Aimee."

"Well, of course. Who will fuss over my boyfriend if not me?"

The escape room attendant handed us blindfolds. We put them on and shuffled to enter the escape room.

I brought up the rear of our little group and clapped a hand on Aimee's shoulder. Through the fabric of the blindfold, I could sense her holding Dean's hand as she led him forward.

"Mind the step," she said quietly to the person ahead of me.

I tripped and nearly fell, but she didn't look back.