Chapter 1

“You couldn’t help telling her, so you lost.” Chloe tapped Ethan’s shoulder. “You’re officially my personal servant for the next two months.”

She pointed at the nachos between them.

“Well? Extra jalape?os, please.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “What was I supposed to do? Let Clair move three thousand miles away and do long distance? It was a joke.”

He picked up a chip, piled it with cheese and jalape?os, and held it to her mouth.

Chloe leaned forward and took a bite, smiling at him as she chewed.

I sat across from them with my phone beside my plate. Eastmere University was still listed as my first choice.

Ethan glanced at me.

“It’s a bet, Claire. I’m just holding up my end. Don’t read into it.”

When I said nothing, he reached for another chip.

“Want one? I’ll make you one, too.”

I tightened my grip on my fork.

But as I looked at the chip he held out to me, piled with extra jalape?os, a sharp ache spread through my chest.

“No, thanks. I don’t like spicy food.”

He frowned. “Since when? You always ask for extra jalape?os—”

“That’s Chloe.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Ethan opened his mouth, then set the chip on his plate.

Chloe reached over and ate it.

After dinner, Chloe suggested a walk along the waterfront.

Ethan agreed, and I followed them out.

We hadn’t gone far when I noticed my shoelace dragging. I crouched beside a bench to tie it.

When I stood, they were already thirty feet ahead.

Chloe had her hand hooked around Ethan’s arm. He bent his head to hear whatever she was saying, then laughed.

Neither of them looked back.

I stayed beside the bench, the tightness in my chest growing harder to bear.

My parents had always called me the easy one.

I could carry my own bags, handle a scraped knee, and walk into a new classroom without crying.

Chloe was the opposite. She got overwhelmed easily, needed constant reassurance, and always wanted someone by her side.

We’d been born six minutes apart, but whenever I complained, Mom reminded me that I was the older sister.

“You’re tougher than she is, Claire. Let her have this.”

Ethan used to hate that.

We’d grown up next door to each other. He’d seen me bring home a certificate from school only to find everyone fussing over Chloe’s bad day.

Once, Mom had missed my debate competition because Chloe had decided at the last minute that she didn’t want to go, and Mom had stayed home with her.

Ethan was waiting outside when it was over.

“How’d it go?”

“We won.”

His face lit up. “Then we’re celebrating.”

He’d bought me hot chocolate that afternoon and listened while I talked. When I apologized for complaining, he shook his head.

“You never have to walk on eggshells around me, Claire. I’ll always be on your side.”

For years, I’d believed him.

Then Chloe transferred to our school at the beginning of senior year.

At first, they argued about everything—homework, music, whose turn it was to drive. I used to get between them, worried they’d ruin every afternoon we spent together.

Eventually, their arguments started making them smile.

They could spend an entire lunch teasing each other while I sat there with nothing to say.

Somewhere along the way, Ethan had stopped being on my side.

Ahead of me, Chloe shoved Ethan’s shoulder. He caught her wrist, laughing.

Usually, I would have hurried to catch up.

Tonight, I took out my phone.

Ethan had created a WhatsApp group for our tutoring sessions.

A few weeks ago, my phone had been stolen. While I waited for a replacement SIM for my old number, I’d used a temporary number.

They never added my new number to the group. I’d wondered why.

Three days ago, I’d finally gotten my old number back and logged in.

Neither of them knew.

The messages hadn’t stopped.

They talked in the morning, during lunch, late at night. Chloe sent pictures of her outfits. Ethan sent photos from the gym. Between the jokes and dares, they occasionally remembered that the group had once been for helping me.

I’d read everything.

Now I opened the chat again.

Ten minutes earlier, while I’d been paying my share of dinner, Chloe had sent a message.

Let’s ditch Claire on the walk. Don’t answer when she texts. I bet she cries before she finds us.

Ethan’s response came a minute later.

No. She hates being alone after dark.

Relax. We’ll be right there.

Then another message.

Besides, you’re my servant now. You don’t get to say no.

He’d answered with three dots.

Nothing else.

I looked up.

They’d disappeared around the bend.

I stared at his three dots until the screen dimmed.

They were probably waiting just beyond the bend, checking their phones, expecting me to call.

I could already hear what they’d say afterward.

“We were right there. You were never in any danger.”

Then I would have to forgive them, or spend the rest of the night being told I couldn’t take a joke.

I’d had enough of their bets. I wasn’t playing along anymore.

I booked a ride home without sending either of them a single message.

Then I loaded the application portal.

Changes accepted until 11:59 p.m. tonight.

Eastmere University was still my first choice.

I clicked Confirm.

This would be the last summer we were together.

Ethan and Chloe could keep making their bets.

I already had a departure date.