Chapter 4

Ethan hesitated. For a split second, I thought he might say yes.

Then he looked away.

"Brooke, stop. We can't do this to June. Besides, this is the last time we'll get to go on a trip like this together."

I stood still in the shadows, listening.

So this wasn't the first time they'd met up behind my back.

They'd been sneaking around together while pretending everything between the three of us was normal.

And somehow, I was the only one who hadn't known.

I didn't have the courage to confront them. I quietly turned around and went back to the hotel room.

Once inside, I took out my phone and messaged Dana.

[I can come to the lab tomorrow.]

Her reply came almost immediately.

[I'll arrange the earliest flight I can. Send me your location, and I'll let you know where to meet the person picking you up.]

The next morning, Brooke glanced at me from across the room. Something about her expression seemed off.

"June, did you sleep okay last night? You didn't wake up at all, did you?"

I lied without hesitation. "Nope. I slept like a rock."

Brooke visibly relaxed. "I knew you'd sleep well at the hotel I picked."

Just then, the door opened.

Ethan wheeled in a small cart with a birthday cake on top. A few candles were stuck into the frosting.

"June, come make a wish!"

He smiled at me as if everything were perfectly normal.

I stared at the cake, confused. "It's not my birthday."

Ethan chuckled softly.

"Silly girl. Last year, you wished you could see the ocean in winter. I'm making that wish come true for you this year."

He leaned closer, his smile warm. "Come on. Make another wish."

I froze.

Now I remembered.

At my birthday dinner the year before, Brooke had jokingly made a wish of her own while I blew out my candles.

My real wish had been simple.

I wanted to be the first to know.

I wanted to be the person they told things to, instead of the last one to find out. I wanted to feel like I mattered to the two people I cared about most.

But Ethan had remembered Brooke's wish about seeing the ocean in winter and somehow mistaken it for mine.

He'd spent the past year holding on to a wish that wasn't even mine.

I looked at his affectionate smile and took a deep breath.

I wanted to tell him I knew about Brooke. I wanted to ask how long they'd been lying to me.

But the words never came.

Instead, I closed my eyes and made a wish.

"I hope everyone finds happiness."

We ate the cake for breakfast, then headed out together.

Brooke had booked a scuba-diving excursion for the day. She came over and took my hand, practically bouncing with excitement.

"June, come on! Let's go diving. The underwater views are supposed to be amazing!"

I instinctively stepped back. "I'm scared of water. You both know that. I almost drowned when I was a kid."

Ethan came over and patted my shoulder.

"Don't worry, June. I'll be right there. I won't let anything happen to you."

Brooke nodded eagerly.

"Exactly. We'll both keep an eye on you. You'll be fine."

I knew I shouldn't go. But this might be the last day we ever spent together, and some part of me still wanted to make it a good one.

"Okay," I said quietly. "I'll go."

The dive boat took us out to the designated site.

The instructor had just jumped into the water to demonstrate the equipment when the wind picked up.

The waves grew rougher, and the boat began rocking harder beneath our feet.

My stomach lurched. I gripped the railing and waited for the nausea to pass.

Brooke had already put on her fins and mask. Ethan crouched beside her, checking the straps on her gear.

"All set?" he asked with a smile.

"Ready!" Brooke replied.

She shuffled forward, then glanced back at me. "June, hurry up! Stop taking forever."

I bit my lip and crouched to fasten my own fins. My fingers were trembling so badly that I couldn't get the buckle to click into place.

I tried again. Still nothing.

I bent down for a third attempt.

The boat suddenly lurched hard to one side.

White water rose in the distance. The instructor looked toward the approaching waves and shouted, "Get back inside the cabin! A strong current's moving in!"

Everything happened at once.

The deck tilted beneath me, throwing me forward. I reached out instinctively and grabbed for Ethan's shirt.

My fingertips barely brushed the fabric before he jerked away.

I looked up in shock.

Ethan had turned toward Brooke and wrapped both arms around her as she stumbled.

With one hand, he held her steady. With the other, he grabbed the railing to keep them both from falling.

I was left grabbing at empty air.

A huge wave slammed into the boat.

Cold seawater rushed across the deck. My feet slipped out from under me, and before I could grab the railing, I went over the side.

The ocean closed over my head.

Panic took hold immediately. The childhood memories I'd spent years trying to bury came rushing back.

I was underwater again, unable to breathe, unable to get away.

I kicked toward the surface, but the waves kept pushing me around. I couldn't tell which way was up.

Through the churning water, I managed to look toward the boat.

Ethan was still holding Brooke, guiding her toward the cabin.

He must have heard me fall, because he looked down.

For one brief moment, our eyes met through the moving water.

I waited for him to reach for me.

He turned away. Still holding Brooke, he pulled her into the cabin and shut the door behind them.

The last thing I saw was the door closing.

I tried to keep my head above water, but the waves kept dragging me under. I was exhausted, and I couldn't get a full breath.

My vision blurred.

I sank farther beneath the surface.