Chapter 3

I didn't go after them.

I tried to get a ride home myself, but we were in such a remote area that even after twenty minutes, no driver accepted my request.

The midday sun made me dizzy.

Then Adrian's car pulled up in front of me.

"Get in. It's hard to get a ride out here."

I didn't move.

"Come on. It's too hot outside. You'll get heatstroke."

Adrian got out and opened the passenger door for me.

He still remembered that I always sat in the front passenger seat.

I looked up at the scorching sun and finally got in.

The moment I reached over to turn up the temperature, Adrian changed it back while we were stopped at a light.

"Chloe gets hot easily. If you turn it up too high, she'll sweat."

He remembered that Chloe hated the heat.

But he'd forgotten I was on my period.

The cold air left my hands and feet freezing, and even the passenger seat was uncomfortable.

I reached down to adjust it.

Chloe immediately stopped me.

"Don't."

"I'm only letting you borrow my seat for now. If you move it, I'll have to adjust it all over again next time."

I turned toward Adrian.

"You're the one who told me to get in."

Without looking at me, he said,

"Chloe gets carsick and can't drive herself. She's also used to sitting in the front."

"She's tired today, so she's lying down in the back. You're only sitting there this once. Just deal with it."

I pressed my lips together and stopped touching the seat.

My lower abdomen cramped, and eventually my hands and feet became so cold I could barely stand it.

Adrian reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a blanket.

"If you're cold, use this."

For a moment, warmth stirred in my chest.

I was just about to take it when Chloe suddenly spoke from the back.

"Adrian, I'm cold too."

Without hesitation, Adrian turned and handed the blanket to her.

"I told you not to wear such a short dress. Now you're cold, aren't you?"

Chloe stuck her tongue out at him.

"But you're here. I knew you wouldn't let me get cold."

"You've always got an excuse."

He turned back and finally noticed my hand still hanging in midair.

"Chloe bought that blanket and keeps it in the car. It belongs to her."

"If you get cold, you can buy one yourself and leave it in here next time."

I lowered my hand.

"No need."

I had only myself to blame for being stupid.

I'd softened just because he'd remembered that I liked the passenger seat.

That was my mistake.

I could live with the consequences.

By the end of the ninety-minute drive, my hands and feet were almost completely numb.

When I got out, the heat that had felt unbearable earlier now felt warm and comforting.

Adrian carefully opened the back door and held his hand above Chloe's head so she wouldn't hit it on the frame.

Only then did I realize we were outside a restaurant.

"I want to go home."

Adrian turned toward me.

"Stop making a fuss."

"You rushed out this morning, so you must be starving."

"Chloe said the buffet here was really good. She specifically asked me to make a detour to pick you up so you could come with us. Don't be ungrateful."

My stomach was already aching with hunger, so I stopped arguing.

Fine.

I could sit separately from them.

But Adrian shamelessly brought Chloe over and sat directly across from me.

"We came together. There's no reason to take up two tables."

Chloe raised an eyebrow at me.

"What? Elena doesn't want to look at us?"

Neither of them bothered lowering their voices.

The diners around us immediately looked over.

I didn't want to become the center of attention, so I stopped arguing.

After a few bites of beef, my face started itching more and more.

Then Chloe suddenly pointed at me and burst out laughing.

"Look at her! Her face is all red and swollen. Doesn't she look like an ugly old frog?"