Chapter 2The Third Wheel's Departure

"Chloe, what do you think of this outfit for today?"

Early the next morning, Maya pushed my door open, holding up two jackets.

One was her own white windbreaker, the other was Ethan's navy blue fleece jacket.

"I feel like wearing Ethan's jacket for the pictures gives off a better vibe. Like, a cute 'boyfriend jacket' aesthetic, you know?"

She quickly added, "Oh, I mean, the colors just coordinate better."

I sat under the covers. My hair was still a mess. I glanced at her.

"You look good in anything."

I genuinely meant that.

Maya was 5'6", had gorgeous long hair, perfect cheekbones, and dimples when she smiled.

For the last four years of college, the guys chasing her could form a line around the library.

Me? I was 5'3", had a short bob, a round face, and features that people politely described as "approachable."

Which usually means no one notices you at first glance.

"You're always so sweet!" Maya sat on the edge of my bed and naturally picked up my hairbrush to start brushing.

She was brushing her own hair.

"Oh right, Chloe, make sure you bring your telephoto lens for the hike today, okay? I saw online that the shots of the mountain peaks from that trail are incredible."

I said, "That lens is really heavy."

"It'll be fine! You've got great stamina."

She checked her reflection in the small mirror in my room, looking very satisfied as she slipped Ethan's jacket on.

The navy fleece hung loosely on her frame. The sleeves were too long, so she rolled them up, exposing her slender wrists.

"I'm gonna head down for breakfast! Ethan's probably already in the dining area."

The door closed.

I slowly got dressed and shoved the heavy telephoto lens into my backpack. The straps dug painfully into my shoulders.

When I got downstairs, I saw Ethan and Maya sitting across from each other by the window.

Two coffees, two plates of eggs and bacon.

I walked over and sat down.

Ethan looked up. "I didn't know what you wanted, so I didn't order for you."

Maya chimed in, "Chloe, your taste is so hard to guess. Every time we ask what you want, you just say 'whatever'."

I said, "It's fine, I'll go grab something myself."

When I walked up to the breakfast buffet, the hot food was almost entirely gone. All that was left were a few slices of cold toast and some butter packets.

I grabbed two slices of toast and walked back.

Ethan looked at my plate and frowned slightly.

"That's all you're eating?"

"It's enough."

Maya reached over with her fork and picked up a piece of bacon from her own plate. "Here, have a piece of mine."

She wasn't putting it on my plate. She was reaching across the table to put it on Ethan's plate.

"Oh, oops, my bad! Ethan, pass that to Chloe."

Ethan paused for a second, then pushed the piece of bacon across the table toward me.

I didn't eat it.

On the shuttle bus to the trailhead, I sat alone in a single seat near the back window.

Two rows ahead of me, Maya and Ethan sat shoulder-to-shoulder, sharing a pair of AirPods.

She laughed out loud occasionally, turning back to tell me, "Chloe, you have to listen to this song later, it's so good."

But she never offered me an earbud.

When we arrived at the scenic overlook, the wind was fierce.

I walked behind them, carrying my heavy camera bag, watching the two of them stand side-by-side at the railing.

Maya was wearing Ethan's jacket. The wind whipped her hair across her face, and Ethan reached out to gently tuck a strand behind her ear.

The movement was incredibly natural.

Like he had done it a thousand times before.

I pulled out my camera. No one had asked me to take a picture yet, but I knew that in a few seconds, Maya would turn around.

Three, two, one.

"Chloe! Quick, take a picture! The background is gorgeous!"

The shutter clicked four times.

As I lowered the camera, a guy wearing a heavy hiking pack walked up to me and asked in perfect English, "Excuse me, are you a professional photographer?"

I froze for a second.

He pointed at the heavy camera strapped around my neck and the massive backpack I was hauling.

"You just look very official."

I offered a bitter smile. "No, I'm just their friend."

He smiled politely, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes, and walked away.

Ethan heard the exchange.

He glanced at me. His lips parted as if to speak.

I waited for three seconds.

He said nothing.

Maya chimed in instead. "Haha, see Chloe? You look so professional even strangers think you're a hired photographer."

"You should totally start a travel photography business. I'd be your first client!"

The mountain wind scattered her words slightly, but I heard every single syllable perfectly clearly.

I raised the camera again.

Through the viewfinder, the snow-capped mountain peak looked brilliant. Blindingly white.

But my fingers were so numb from the cold I could barely feel them anymore.