They Left Me Behind on the Road Trip, So I Got on a Better Ride Chapter 02

They Left Me Behind on the Road Trip, So I Got on a Better Ride Chapter 02

It was past seven p.m. when the bus pulled into the station.

I dragged my suitcase over to the Airbnb we’d booked ahead of time.

The host tapped at his laptop for a while, then looked up.

“Your reservation got canceled this afternoon.”

I blinked. “Canceled?”

“Yep. They said your plans changed and you weren’t coming.”

I opened our group chat.

The last post was still Chloe’s Bryce Canyon photo from earlier.

Nobody had mentioned rerouting.

I called Ethan. He picked up on the second ring.

The background was loud, and I could hear Chloe singing faintly.

“You made it?”

“Yeah. Where are you guys?”

“Next town over.” Ethan’s tone was casual.

“We met some travelers this afternoon; they said there’s a music festival tonight, so we switched plans last minute.”

My fingers tightened around the suitcase handle. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

He paused for two beats. “No one told you?”

Then Mason’s voice cut in from the background. “I thought Liam told her.”

Liam shot back immediately. “I figured Ethan filled her in.”

The four of them laughed together on the other end of the line.

It was always like this.

On New Year’s Eve sophomore year, they’d switched restaurants without telling me. I sat waiting alone at the original spot for forty minutes.

The excuse back then was the same: I thought you knew.

I’d blown up at them that night.

They bought me dinner to smooth things over.

After that, when things like this happened again, I got used to it and stopped asking so many questions.

Ethan said, “Sorry we forgot about you. Find somewhere to crash tonight, and we’ll come pick you up at nine tomorrow morning.”

“Okay.”

I hung up.

The host asked, “Still looking for a room?”

I nodded. “If you have one.”

I couldn’t end up stranded on the street.

Not that I was helpless—I knew how to defend myself.

In the end, I only found a motel in the old town. No elevator.

I hauled my suitcase up the stairs to the second floor, my palms raw from gripping the handle.

As soon as I got into the room, our group chat lit up.

Chloe posted a photo of a full barbecue spread: [Too bad Ava isn’t here.]

Mason replied: [We’ll make it up to her tomorrow.]

Liam: [She’s chill. Anything works for her.]

Ethan sent a laughing-crying emoji.

I set my phone on the table and hopped in the shower.

It wasn’t until right before bed that Ethan messaged me.

[Send me your location.]

[We’ll pick you up at nine tomorrow. Wait out front. Don’t sleep in.]

I replied with a simple okay.

The next morning, I checked out by eight forty.

Nine o’clock rolled around. No sign of them.

Nine thirty. Still nothing.

I sat on my suitcase waiting until 10:07, when Ethan finally answered my call. His voice was thick with sleep.

“What’s up?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be here at nine?”

There was a short silence.

“Shit, we forgot.” He yawned. “Chloe’s stomach was acting up last night. We were up till three with her.”

My first instinct was to ask, “Is she okay?”

“She’s better now.” He paused. “Hey, actually—we aren’t coming to get you.”

“The spot we’re visiting today is way closer to where we are. Picking you up would add two hours of extra driving. See if you can grab an Uber. Tons of tourists around here.”

Chloe’s quiet voice drifted over in the background. “Maybe we should still go get her. She’s been waiting so long.”

Mason cut her off instantly. “Your stomach just calmed down. Don’t risk getting sick again from all that driving.”

Liam agreed. “She can make it on her own.”

I stared at the traffic light across the street.

“Got it.”

Ethan hesitated. “You mad?”

“No.”

“Good. Call when you get there.”

The line went dead.

I sat back down on my suitcase.

This time, I didn’t send my location to the group chat.