Chapter 2

He probably thinks my reaction is too calm. “Come on. Eat breakfast first. We're hiking to Butterfly Valley after that.”

Jake calls from nearby. “Nora, where's Ava's coffee? She needs her morning cup.”

I point at the storage box without looking up. “Get it yourself.”

Mason takes a sip and frowns. “Why's this coffee so sour?”

I sit by the campfire on a small folding stool, scrolling through the cancellation confirmation on my phone.

I don't bother responding.

Jake purses his lips and casually sets his cup down on the table.

“Nora, can you get dark-roast beans next time?”

“Ava can't stand fruity light roast.”

I lock my phone and look up. “I bought those for myself.”

Jake blinks.

I used to keep careful track of everyone's tastes, just to fit in with them.

I was like a perfect personal assistant, trying to win Ethan's friends over with all those little details.

In the end, they just took it for granted.

Ethan walks out of the tent, holding Ava's insulated tumbler.

He notices the tension and frowns. “What's going on?”

Jake gives a sarcastic laugh. “Nora says the coffee is hers. Guess we're not good enough for her coffee.”

Ethan looks at me. “It's one cup of coffee. Do you really have to make a thing out of it?”

“I'm just stating a fact.”

The mood shifts.

Ava wanders over, sticking one foot out in front of her. “Ethan, my shoe's untied.”

Ethan turns away from me at once, crouches in front of her, and ties her shoe as naturally as breathing.

He has never done that for me.

I turn away, giving myself a bitter smile.

Whatever.

Who Ethan wants to take care of is none of my business anymore.

He finishes tying her shoe and claps his hands.

“Okay, everybody, get your stuff together. We're heading to Butterfly Valley.”

We start getting our things together.

Mason pushes a cooler bag toward me.“Nora, carry the cooler bag with the sandwiches and fruit, yeah? We'll take the canopy and the stove.”

I look at the bag. It has to weigh at least ten pounds.

I give a small smile. “I can't carry that.”

Mason stares at me. “You always carry it.”

I look him straight in the eye. “I don't want to carry it today. Is that a problem?”

Ethan walks over and lowers his voice.

“Everyone's helping out. Do you really have to make this difficult right now?”

I almost laugh.

I've been taking care of them like a maid, and they just take it for granted?

The second I say no, I'm the difficult one.

I look at Ethan. “I got soaked last night. I have a fever.”

Yet my actual fiancé doesn't say a single word of concern.

After staring at me for a few seconds, Ethan finally sighs.

“Since when are you this fragile? ”

“Fine, I'll take it. You can walk empty-handed. Happy now? ”

He swings the bag over his shoulder. Then he takes Ava's small water bottle from her.

“Ava, stay close. The trail's rough.”

She smiles sweetly. “Thanks, Ethan.”

Everyone starts up the mountain.

I walk at the back, watching them laugh and talk together.

They've always been a closed circle.

And I'm the clown who kept trying to squeeze in and got bloodied for it.

At least now I've finally woken up.

My phone buzzes.

It's a message from the campground.

[Your refund has been returned to the original payment method.]

[We'll be there at 2 p.m. to collect the tents and the remaining gear.]