They Buried A Promise For Ten Years, They Broke It In Ten Minutes Chapter 04
“Ava, try the tiramisu I made. I bought the mascarpone from that specialty market.”
Lily pushed a fancy glass container toward me, smiling sweetly.
I glanced at it, then picked up my fork and reached for a piece of grilled meat.
Ethan said, “Just try a bite. Lily worked on it all afternoon.”
“I don’t like sweets.”
I’d said that at least ten times.
Ethan nodded and pulled the tiramisu back toward Lily. “We’ll eat it, then.”
He took a spoonful, put it in his mouth, and gave a thumbs-up. “Delicious. Better than any restaurant.”
Lily tilted her head. “Really? Then I’ll make extra next time and bring some for Owen too.”
Owen immediately said, “I want double.”
The three of them laughed.
I sat at my end of the table, cut into my steak, and listened to it sizzle.
The meal lasted two hours. Lily talked about her new cat, her flower-arranging class, and the guy at her company who had a crush on her.
Ethan and Owen kept every topic going.
I didn’t say more than ten sentences the entire time.
No one asked how I’d been.
No one noticed I’d lost five pounds.
No one noticed I was wearing makeup.
Near the end, Lily suddenly pulled out her phone. “Let’s take a picture!”
She squeezed between Ethan and Owen and hooked her arms around both of them.
Then she looked at me.
“Ava, could you take it for us? Your phone takes great photos.”
I looked at her.
She smiled, innocent and sure of herself.
Four people at dinner, three in the photo, and I was always the one holding the camera.
I picked up my phone and aimed it at them.
Through the frame, the three of them pressed close together, laughing like a perfect little group.
Like they couldn’t function without each other.
But the one always missing was me.
The shutter clicked.
“Thanks, Ava! The angle looks great.” Lily checked the photo and nodded.
I put my phone down. “I’m going to head out. I have things to do tomorrow.”
Ethan looked up. “So early? It’s only eight.”
“I’m tired.”
“Want me to walk you out?”
“No.”
He didn’t push. His fork was already reaching toward Lily’s tiramisu.
I stood up and grabbed my coat and bag.
As I reached the door, I heard Owen say, “Ava’s been acting so weird lately. She never used to be like this.”
Lily said softly, “Maybe she’s just stressed from work. Ava’s really nice, though.”
Ethan just hummed.
Really nice.
Right.
Ava’s really nice, so you can treat her however you want.
Ava’s easygoing, so you don’t have to care about her feelings.
Ava will always be there, so you don’t have to appreciate her.
I pushed open the door, and the night air hit me.
I walked to the corner and hailed a cab. I gave the driver the airport address.
He glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Airport this late? Red-eye?”
“Early morning.”
“It’s still early. Want to stop somewhere first?”
“No, straight there.”
As we merged onto the highway, my phone buzzed.
Ethan posted a photo in the group chat—him, Lily, and Owen.
Caption: Friends for ten years. We’ll get Ava in the next one.
I looked at it for three seconds and closed the app.
I didn’t leave the group. I just stopped looking.
We reached the airport at ten.
I dragged my suitcase into the terminal, checked in at the kiosk, and printed my boarding pass.
While waiting, Ethan sent me a private message.
Ethan: [Home yet? Why aren’t you saying anything in the group?]
Ava: [Home. Get some sleep.]
Sent.
Then I put my phone on airplane mode.
The boarding announcement echoed through the gate.
I grabbed my backpack and got in line.
A couple stood in front of me. The girl leaned on the guy’s shoulder while he adjusted the fringe on her scarf.
I looked away and down at my boarding pass.
Destination: London Heathrow.
Seat: 42A, window.
The gate agent scanned my ID and smiled. “Have a good flight.”
As I stepped onto the jet bridge, my phone lit up in my backpack.
I didn’t see it.
And I didn’t need to.