The Group Chat Without Me That Decided Everything Chapter 03

The Group Chat Without Me That Decided Everything Chapter 03

The next morning, the pounding of the elevator woke me.

I checked my phone. The group chat already had today’s plans.

Nathan: [Crescent Key today. Meet in the lobby at nine.]

By the time I’d washed up and gone downstairs, it was exactly eight fifty-five.

The four of them sat on the lobby couches. Anna held an iced Americano.

Ethan’s expression darkened when he saw me coming from the regular elevator.

“Where were you last night? You didn’t answer your phone.”

I walked up to them, keeping my voice calm.

“My phone died. I grabbed something to eat and went to bed.”

Lucas snorted.

“Must be nice to be so carefree. We waited ages in the private dining room. Anna was so hungry her stomach hurt, but she still wouldn’t touch her food.”

I looked at Anna’s healthy, glowing face.

“Well, I’m sorry about that.”

No explanation. No guilt. Not even an extra word to ask how she was feeling.

That clearly wasn’t what they’d expected.

Ethan frowned and was about to snap when Nathan stood and cut him off.

“Enough. We’re on vacation. Don’t start a fight. The car’s here. Let’s go.”

The ferry to Crescent Key was packed shoulder to shoulder.

Anna wanted to stay out of the sun. Ethan and Nathan stood on either side of her, shielding her from the other tourists with their bodies.

Lucas went ahead to clear a path.

I trailed alone at the back. Waves of tour groups pushed between us, gradually leaving me farther behind.

By the time I stepped ashore, the four of them had disappeared into the crowd.

My phone buzzed.

Lucas had sent a voice message to the group chat.

“Cee, since you couldn’t figure out where we were eating last night, let’s make today a little more exciting.”

“This is our second test of how well we know each other. We’re waiting at one of your favorite places on the island. Let’s see if you can find us before dark.”

Anna followed it with a cute GIF.

[You can do it, Claire! But if you can’t find us, we’re leaving without you.]

I looked at the messages and almost laughed.

Somewhere I loved?

Did they even know what I liked?

When Ethan and I first got together, I’d mentioned wanting to visit the piano museum on Crescent Key.

The five of us had come to Miami once before, but Anna wanted to try some frozen lemonade she’d seen online, so the museum visit was put off indefinitely.

I pocketed my phone and followed the signs straight to the piano museum.

Sunlight washed over the island. Tree shadows dappled the old buildings.

I toured the museum alone, listened to the guide, and even mailed myself a postcard from a little post office along the road.

No arguments. No giving in. No tiptoeing around them just to fit into their plans.

It was the most relaxed afternoon I’d had in years.

At four, the group chat came alive again.

Ethan posted a photo.

In it, a sparkling pearl bracelet circled Anna’s wrist.

Behind her was an ocean-view cafe.

Lucas: [Cee, how can you be this clueless? We’ve already had three coffees here, and you’re still nowhere in sight.]

Nathan: [Did you get lost? Want me to pick you up?]

Ethan: [Pick her up? She’s just being dramatic to get our attention. Once she’s too tired to keep walking, she’ll call and beg for help.]

I sat on a bench by the water, watching the ferries in the distance.

I typed a short reply and sent it.

[No need.]

The chat went quiet for a few seconds.

Then a private message from Ethan popped up.

[Claire Bennett, what is your problem? All I did was buy Anna a bracelet. Do you have to be so passive-aggressive?]

I didn’t answer. I simply put my phone on silent.