The plane landed in Florida at two in the afternoon.
The sun was blazing.
Olivia wore a huge wide-brimmed straw hat. Squinted.
“So hot. Nathan, let’s hurry to the hotel.”
Nathan pushed Olivia’s suitcase with one hand. Called a car with the other.
“Booked a business van. It’s coming.”
Finn and Lucas followed behind, carrying her snack bags.
I pulled my own carry-on. Walked three meters behind them.
No one turned to check if I was following.
—
At the ocean-view hotel, the front desk took Finn’s driver’s license.
“Hello. I see one ocean-view king room, and two standard doubles.”
Finn nodded.
Olivia leaned on Nathan. Brow furrowed slightly.
“Nathan. My nerves have been bad lately.”
“I sleep too light. If I share a room, I’ll wake up all night.”
Nathan looked down at her. His voice softened on instinct.
“Then you take the king.”
He turned to Finn.
“Finn, you and I share a double. Lucas, sorry, you’re on your own.”
Lucas waved it off.
“Fine. Sleeping alone is quieter anyway.”
When it was done, the clerk laid out three key cards.
None of the four looked twice. Like this was the perfect arrangement.
I stood beside them. Watched the cards get divided.
The clerk looked at me. Then at them.
“And this lady…”
Only then did Nathan turn. Like he’d just remembered I existed.
“Chloe, squeeze in with Olivia. The king’s wide enough. You girls fit.”
Olivia looked troubled. Bit her lip.
“Chloe. You don’t snore, right? I’m really sensitive to noise.”
Lucas laughed.
“Olivia, don’t worry. Chloe sleeps like a log. A board.”
I looked at Nathan’s matter-of-fact face.
My grip on the suitcase handle tightened.
“I don’t sleep well with others.”
Nathan’s brow snapped together.
“Chloe. Are you starting again? It’s a holiday. Hotels are full.”
“If you don’t share with Olivia, you want to sleep on the beach?”
Finn’s face darkened too.
“Chloe. Be sensible. Don’t ruin the trip for everyone.”
I didn’t argue. Just pushed my ID toward the clerk.
“Check if there’s any room left. Anything.”
She tapped the keyboard. Looked up.
“One windowless budget room. The farthest corner. Near the elevator.”
“Might be noisy. Want it?”
“I’ll take it.”
I paid with my phone.
The whole time, the four of them watched me pay for the worst room in the hotel.
Not one stopped me.
Nathan sneered.
“Fine. Suffer if you want. You’re paying.”
Olivia took his arm.
“Let it go, Nathan. Chloe’s just too independent.”
“Let’s go drop our things. I’m sweating.”
They took the VIP elevator.
I dragged my suitcase. Walked to the other elevator.
The room was tiny. Besides the bed, barely any space for the suitcase.
I sat on the edge. My phone buzzed.
A screenshot of a four-person group chat. One without me.
Olivia sent it to our five-person group. Then deleted it fast.
One second. But I saw.
Lucas, [What’s for dinner?]
Olivia, [Seafood! I heard there’s a great place nearby.]
Nathan, [Booked it.]
Finn, [What about Chloe?]
Lucas, [Same as always. Let her guess. If she can’t, good.]
[Teaches her a lesson. Who told her to pull that face at the hotel.]
I looked at the deleted-message notice. Smiled faintly.
Ten minutes later, Nathan’s message in the group.
[Seven p.m. Meet at the usual place.]
No location. No hint.
“The usual place” was just another guessing game they wrote for themselves.
I didn’t reply.
I opened my email. An unread message sat in the inbox.
The French design firm. Second interview passed. Confirmation.
Three years ago, I got the same email.
Then, Nathan held my hand. Eyes red. Begged me to stay.
“Chloe. Don’t go. I’ll give you a home.”
For that promise, I gave up Paris.
I stayed in this city. Watched him climb from junior manager up.
Three years later.
The home he gave me always had a guest room reserved for Olivia.
I opened the email. Clicked “Accept Offer.”
I turned off my phone.
I changed into comfortable clothes. Walked out of the hotel alone.
Evening in Florida. The sea breeze was humid.
I didn’t go to any market. Didn’t guess which restaurant they were at.
I found a small place on the street. Ordered a steak.
Halfway through, the group chat blew up.
Lucas, [Chloe, where are you? It’s 7,30.]
Olivia, [Is Chloe lost? Should we send her the location?]
Nathan, [Don’t. If she can’t even guess where we are, let her starve.]
I read the messages. Finished the last of my soup.
Paid. Bought a lemon water on the street. Walked back along the water.
Their dinner.
I wasn’t interested anymore.