Chapter 3

I used to do whatever my parents asked, hoping they’d spare some love to me.

Give Chloe the bigger room. Cancel my plans because she didn’t want to go alone. Let her choose where we ate on our birthday.

“That’s my girl,” Dad would say.

Mom would squeeze my shoulder. “Thank you for being so understanding.”

Those scraps of affection used to keep me going for days.

Now Mom stood with Chloe, and Ethan waited beside them with a cake I couldn’t eat.

The three of them waited for me to make everything comfortable again.

“I’m tired,” I said. “I’d like to be alone.”

“Don’t walk away while I’m talking to you,” Mom snapped.

I stepped into my room.

Dad’s voice carried up from the stairs. “What’s her problem now?”

“She can’t stand being told she’s wrong.”

“Then she can stay in there until she learns some respect.”

I closed the door and leaned against it.

My eyes burned. For a moment, I wanted to open the door and make them listen.

Instead, I swallowed and crossed to my desk.

I couldn’t stand another day in this house.

I opened Eastmere’s email, accepted the summer program offer and chose the earliest available move-in date.

One more week.

Then I’d never have to put up with any of this again.

The next morning, a message appeared in our senior class group chat.

One last dinner before everyone leaves. Seven at Mason’s. Who’s in?

By six thirty, I’d almost talked myself out of going.

Then I remembered how many things I’d already stopped doing because I didn’t want to deal with Ethan and Chloe.

Chloe had already left with a few friends. I put on a dress and went downstairs.

Ethan was waiting outside.

He pushed away from his car. His smile was hesitant, his voice gentle.

“I was hoping I could drive you.”

“I can get there myself.”

“I know.” He glanced down, then back at me. “You’ve barely said two words to me since last night. Are you really that mad?”

I tightened my grip on my bag.

“I needed some space.”

“Okay. But shutting me out isn’t going to fix anything.” He held out his hand. “Come on. Let me take you. I miss you.”

That last part was sweet.

I hated how easily it reached me.

Before I could find something firm enough to say, he took my hand and opened the passenger door.

I got in.

Dinner was loud and crowded. Someone had pushed several tables together in the restaurant’s back room, and everyone kept getting up to switch seats.

For the first half hour, Ethan stayed beside me.

Then Grandma called.

I stepped into the hallway to answer. She wanted to know whether I’d eaten and if I needed anything before college.

By the time I came back, Chloe had taken my chair.

She and Ethan were arguing over whose fries were whose. He stole one from her plate. She slapped his hand, laughing.

I said nothing and found an empty seat.

“Perfect timing,” Mason said, holding up his phone. “We’re playing. Truth or dare. Ethan, you’re up.”

“Truth.”

“Is there someone here you like?”

Ethan looked at me and opened his mouth, but someone beat him to it.

“It’s Chloe, isn’t it?”

A few people turned.

“Oh, obviously. Those two never stop bickering.”

“That’s called flirting.”

Chloe ducked her head, smiling.

“Oh my God, stop. You guys are making it weird.”

But she didn’t move away from him. Her hand stayed on his arm.

“Look at her blushing!”

“Come on, Ethan. Just admit it.”

I waited for Ethan to correct them.

He glanced at Chloe, then down at the table. Said nothing.

A small smile was all it took.

The teasing grew louder. Then someone looked at me.

Everyone knew Ethan and I had grown up together. They’d seen him waiting outside my classes, saving me seats, walking me home.

One by one, the others remembered, too.

A girl across the table stopped laughing. The boy beside her followed her gaze, then quickly looked away.

I sat there while their excitement turned into something much harder to bear.

Pity.

My face burned with humiliation.

I grabbed my bag, stood up, and walked out.

Ethan caught up with me near the front entrance.

“Claire. Wait.”

His fingers closed around my wrist.

“It’s not what you think.”

“Then what is it?”

“Everyone put Chloe on the spot. You saw how embarrassed she was. I didn’t want to make it worse by rejecting her in front of everybody.”

You could have told them the truth.”

He dragged a hand through his hair.

“Claire, that would have humiliated her. She isn’t like you. She’s a delicate girl…”

He’d let my sister hold his arm while everyone teased them about liking each other. Smiled and let them believe it.

Then watched them turn to me with pity in their eyes.

All so Chloe wouldn’t feel embarrassed.

I pulled my wrist free.

“Ethan, we’re done.”

His face changed.

“What?”

“I’m breaking up with you.”

“Claire, come on. You can’t mean that. Let’s just—”

His phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

Chloe.

He answered before I could say another word.

“What happened?”

I watched his expression sharpen.

“Don’t move. I’m coming.”

He lowered the phone.

“She twisted her ankle. I need to go help her. Can you get a ride home? I’ll call you later and we’ll talk.”

“Ethan—”

But he was already turning.

I stood by the door as he hurried down the hallway toward my sister.

A small, bitter laugh escaped me.

He probably thought I was just upset. A few sweet words later, and I’d get over it. Chloe needed him more right now.

He hadn’t understood a word I’d said.