Chapter 4

Dr. Marsh had seen those posts and would usually leave a like.

Then Evan got close to Claire, and pictures of the two of us slowly disappeared from my feed. There were group shots of all four of us, or shots I'd taken of the other three.

Claire was always in the middle.

When it was clear that Evan hadn't caught the hint, Dr. Marsh shook her head and asked the two of them to wait outside.

She kept me back a moment.

"Nina, if a relationship isn't nurturing you—if it's only draining you—then you need to think hard about whether it's worth continuing."

Through the glass door, Claire said something and burst out laughing.

Evan watched her, and his eyes warmed.

I looked at them for a while, then let out a slow breath.

I smiled at Dr. Marsh. "I understand. Thank you."

When I came out, they were already gone.

I looked down at my phone. Evan had sent three messages.

Claire wanted to go feed the stray cats, so I took her there first.

Remember to book your flight to New York. Claire and I are both on the nine o'clock. Get that one too. We'll meet at the international terminal—don't be late.

I smiled, oddly relieved, and replied, Okay.

The morning of my flight was brilliantly sunny.

I dragged my heavy suitcase into the airport and didn't see Evan anywhere. A little while later, his message came in.

Nina, Claire's stomach is bothering her, so I took her aboard first.

When we land in New York I'll take you out for pizza. Be good and catch up with us.

I didn't answer. I deleted him from my contacts instead.

I had never wanted to be good for him.

And I was never going to stand still and wait for him to turn around again.

I put my phone away and walked toward international departures for my flight to London.

Evan and Claire landed in New York at three that afternoon. Liam was already waiting.

"You two took forever," he complained. "I said we should all book the same flight, but Claire insisted that she couldn't get up that early."

Claire pouted. "Do you have a problem with that?"

Liam laughed and took her suitcase. "I wouldn't dare, princess. You're the one person in this group nobody can afford to upset."

Evan came up behind them and held up his phone. "The car's here. Let's go."

"Wait." Liam looked around. "Where's Nina?"

Only then did Evan register that one of the four was missing.

He scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed, and lowered his head to call her.

"I'll find out where she is. Nina's always so slow."

Claire rubbed her sleepy eyes. "She's probably still inside. Nina isn't a child. She's not going to get lost.

"Can't we just go? I'm exhausted."

Evan held the phone to his ear and gave her a helpless smile.

"We already left her behind at the gate because of you. If we do it again, she really will pick a fight with me."

Claire made a face. "I wasn't feeling well. If she gets mad, I'll smooth it over for you."

Liam laughed too. "Fine, fine. When Nina gets here I'll talk to her for you."

They waited at the airport for an hour.

At last Liam frowned. "Why isn't she out yet? Weren't you on the same flight?"

"Nina's always slow," Claire said. "What's the rush?"

"Her phone's off." Evan stared at the screen. "I'll call her mother."

When Mrs. Quinn answered, he made his voice warm.

"Mrs. Quinn, did Nina call you before she left? We're at the airport and we can't find her."

There was a brief silence. Then she said, "Nina didn't go to New York. She's gone abroad. You didn't know?"