Chapter 2

I bought my own coffee.

At the café beside the departure board, Ethan's friends had assembled around two small tables.

“Where's Cass?” someone asked.

“Breaking up with me.”

A laugh. “Already? We haven't even left.”

Poppy was smiling again. Apparently she'd recovered faster with Ethan comforting her.

He told them about the seat. One friend said he'd trained me to be demanding. Another said girls like Poppy were easier to spend time with.

“What kind of guy do you like, Poppy?” Ben asked. “Someone like me?”

Ethan kicked his chair.

“Stay away from him. He collects girlfriends.”

Everyone laughed.

“You bring her on our trip, but nobody else can flirt?”

Poppy looked down.

“Don't embarrass me. I could like a guy like Ethan. That doesn't mean he'd ever look at me.”

Ethan smiled.

“I didn't say that.”

I set my coffee down on the counter harder than I intended.

Poppy looked up, saw me, and suddenly remembered the hotel.

She counted on her fingers, then checked her phone.

“Oh, no. I only booked three rooms.”

Six people plus me. Another tiny omission.

She came over.

“The hotel is sold out now. There's another one nearby, but it costs a lot more. You could afford it, couldn't you?”

“Why am I the person without a room?”

“It was an accident.”

“I sent you my share.”

“I know. I'll send it back. I just can't pay the difference. I'm still an intern.”

Ethan joined us.

“We'll book another room. Problem solved.”

“Then solve it without charging me for being left out.”

He sighed.

“You're twenty-five. You're capable of adapting.”

“To a trip that keeps losing my reservation?”

“She's not trying to exclude you.”

My phone rang before I could answer.

I picked it up and walked away.