A Seven-Seat Suv Couldn’t Fit Five People. So I Stopped Being Their Tool Chapter 02

A Seven-Seat Suv Couldn’t Fit Five People. So I Stopped Being Their Tool Chapter 02

Noon the next day. Third call to Dante.

First two, no answer.

Third one rang five times before he picked up.

“Where are you?”

“Almost there. One more hour.”

Background noise. Like a shopping street.

I heard Mila. “Does this color look good?”

Dorian: “Just buy it. Stop dithering.”

Dante pulled the phone away for a few seconds.

His voice distant,

“Mila, try it on. Let me talk to Elara.”

Then back. “We made a quick stop. Leaving soon.”

“You said you’d be here by morning.”

“Traffic.”

“Navigation shows no traffic on your route.”

A pause.

Dante laughed. “You checked the navigation?”

His tone wasn’t harsh. But that light, casual question made my throat tighten.

Like I’d made a big deal out of nothing.

“I have the luggage. Your spare clothes.”

“Yeah, yeah. Two at the latest. Wait a bit longer.”

Wait. Again.

I waited from 9 PM last night until 2 PM today.

2:30. Finally, a car downstairs.

I stood at the second-floor window. The SUV pulled in.

Mila hopped out first. Two shopping bags.

Dorian stretched as he got out.

Julian quietly went to the trunk.

Dante came out last. Looking at his phone. Shouted up.

“Elara. Come down and help Mila with her stuff.”

By the time I got down, Mila had already rushed into the living room.

“So hot. Elara, is there cold water?”

“In the fridge. I bought it last night.”

“You’re the best.”

She drank half the bottle. Then opened my gray suitcase.

“Is my sunscreen in here? And the portable fan…”

Dorian leaned in too. “Elara. You brought my power bank?”

“Front pocket of the black suitcase.”

Julian stood at the door. Glanced at me. Quiet.

“Waited long?”

I looked at him.

He looked away. Sat on the couch.

Mila finished digging through my things. Organized hers. Checked her phone.

“Oh, Dante…”

Dante walked in. Car keys in hand. “What?”

“I just saw. Forty kilometers from here, there’s a new canyon glass walkway.”

“All over Instagram.”

“Let’s go there first? Elara’s itinerary can shift a day.”

She turned to me. Sweet smile.

“Elara, you don’t mind? You made the itinerary. Easy to switch the order.”

Before I could speak, Dorian was already searching.

“Two-hour line minimum. We have to leave now.”

Dante nodded. “Perfect. Not far. Elara, pack up. We’re leaving.”

“But the glass walkway isn’t in the itinerary.”

“This afternoon was supposed to be—”

“The itinerary isn’t set in stone.”

Dorian didn’t look up.

“Traveling should be spontaneous.”

“You’re always watching the clock. So exhausting.”

Mila cut in. Softer than Dorian.

“Elara. I want to do the thing you planned too.”

“But the walkway’s so popular right now. If we wait, more crowds.”

“Let’s do the walkway first. Then your itinerary. Okay?”

She tugged my arm. Gently.

Dante glanced at me.

“Settled. Don’t always…”

He stopped. Swallowed the rest.

But I knew what he meant.

Don’t always ruin the mood.

I closed the document.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

Every time. They chose her first.

And I planned everything. Cleaned up everything.

Suddenly. It felt pointless.