Chapter 1

My boyfriend, Adrian Cole, had promised to take me to Sedona to watch the moon every year on Harvest Moon weekend.

But every year, he broke that promise for his best friend, Vanessa Reed.

The first year, Vanessa said she wanted to go camping in Joshua Tree, so Adrian canceled our tickets.

The second year, Vanessa said she wanted to watch the meteor shower in Death Valley, and Adrian placated me with the same promise.

"Next fall. I promise I'll take you."

This year, I booked our flights to Arizona and our hotel in Sedona well in advance.

The day before we were supposed to leave, Adrian bailed on me again.

"Vanessa wants to go to Santa Catalina Island to watch the moon rise over the ocean. Ethan Blake managed to get four ferry tickets."

Four tickets.

The four of them, as always.

I looked at him.

"What about Sedona? You promised me."

Adrian kept typing in the group chat, barely paying attention.

"Can't we just go next year?"

"Vanessa hardly ever gets excited about something like a moonrise over the ocean. Don't make such a big deal out of it."

Next year.

I was so tired of hearing those words.

With that, he turned around and left.

Three hours later, I saw Vanessa's post on social media.

In the group photo, she and Adrian stood side by side in the center, grinning.

The caption read:

【Another Harvest Moon with the four of us.】

I stared at that line for a long time, then canceled our flights to Arizona.

The airline representative asked:

"Would you like to cancel both tickets?"

I paused.

"No. Keep one."

He already had someone to share every moon with.

Starting this year, it was time I found out what life looked like without Adrian.

...

I had packed for Sedona once before, three years ago.

That year, I spent two full months preparing for the trip.

Three days before we were supposed to leave, Vanessa posted a photo of a campsite in their private group chat.

【I don't feel like going anywhere crowded this year.】

【Suddenly in the mood to watch the stars.】

By the time I found out, Adrian had already canceled both tickets to Arizona.

It was the first time I had ever fought with him over his friends.

"You didn't even ask me."

Adrian was looking up Joshua Tree camping guides for Vanessa. He didn't even raise his head.

"Ask you what?"

"We can always buy new tickets. Sedona isn't going anywhere."

"But they all want to go camping. I can't make everyone change their plans just for you."

I stood there for a long time.

It had been our plan to begin with.

Somehow, it ended with me being the one demanding that everyone accommodate me.

I didn't go camping with them.

But that night, Vanessa video-called me.

"You're really not coming? Adrian says you're still upset."

Before I could answer, she laughed and turned the camera around.

"Look what he made me."

Adrian was crouched beside the campfire, toasting a marshmallow for her.

When Vanessa complained that the surface was slightly burnt, he threw it away and started over.

He kept at it until one came out almost perfectly golden, then held it up to her lips.

The other two were egging them on from the side.

"Since when did Mr. Perfect get so good at taking care of people?"

"Vanessa really has Adrian wrapped around her finger."

Adrian aimed a kick at them.

"You act like you don't know how picky she is about food."

Vanessa seemed to suddenly remember that I was still on the call.

"Don't read too much into it."

"The four of us have always been like this."

"Adrian's just used to taking care of me."

Before I could respond, Adrian walked over and took the phone from her.

"They're just joking around. Don't start looking upset again."

My eyes stung.

"Adrian, today was supposed to be our trip to Sedona."

The smile faded from his face.

"Not this again. Didn't I already promise to take you next year?"

"Everyone is having a good time. Do you really have to bring this up right now?"

Then he ended the call.

After that, I started making an effort to attend their get-togethers so Adrian wouldn't think I resented his friends.

That was how I became their permanent photographer.

"Take a picture of us."

"Same spots as always."

Adrian stood in the middle, with Ethan and Noah Carter on either side.

Vanessa was always next to Adrian.

I was always behind the camera.

One New Year's Eve, I finally handed the camera to Ethan.

"Can you take a picture of me and Adrian?"

"I feel like we haven't had one together in ages."

Vanessa immediately squeezed between us.

She linked one arm through Adrian's and the other through mine.

"Why take one with just the two of you?"

"Let's all be in it."

For the first time, I didn't go along with her.

"I only want one with Adrian."

Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second.

Then she let go.

"Fine. Go ahead and take one without me."

She stepped aside and looked down at her phone.

The mood shifted instantly.

Ethan and Noah didn't say a word.

Before I could process what had happened, Adrian was already frowning.

"Vanessa only wanted to be in the picture with us."

"Was it really necessary to embarrass her in front of everyone?"

My eyes burned.

"I only wanted a picture with my boyfriend."

"How does that embarrass her?"

Adrian's expression turned cold.

"Lily Bennett, don't bring your irrational possessiveness into our group."

Vanessa grabbed his arm, her eyes turning red.

"Adrian, let it go. Don't fight with Lily because of me."

But Adrian pulled her back to where she had been standing.

"You didn't do anything wrong."

He later pinned that photo to the top of his social media profile.

The camera screen dimmed for a moment.

I blinked back to the present.

The same photo was still on the display.

Adrian and I had been together for five years.

His camera held hundreds of group photos of the four of them.

There were only seventeen of the two of us.

Vanessa was in eleven of those.

I tapped Select All.

A prompt appeared on the screen.

【Delete 683 photos?】

I pressed Confirm.

At last, there was room for the Sedona moon I hadn't gotten to photograph three years ago.