Chapter 2

The four of them sat on the mats they'd laid out, waiting for the sun to come up.

I sat alone in the car with the heater on, drying my wet hair and shirt.

Today was the first day of my period.

I'd taken painkillers before we left, but between the cold sea wind and being soaked with water, I couldn't stop shivering.

As the sun rose, Andrew and Minnie struck one couple pose after another, holding up a phone to take selfies.

Quinn spoke up.

"The scenery's so good right now. You two should take some kissing photos."

His girlfriend, Elisa Fox, egged them on from the side.

"Right, I remember the mission sheet says you have to take ninety-nine kissing photos to complete the task."

Minnie glanced shyly at Andrew.

"That doesn't seem right..."

The next second, Andrew slid his arm around her waist and bent down to kiss her.

Elisa covered her mouth and squealed.

Quinn held up his phone, moving around for every angle.

That one kiss lasted a full five minutes.

I watched them with no expression at all.

The four of them were a tight little group that had gone from grade school all the way through high school together, while Andrew and I had only been college classmates.

Every single time Andrew met up with them, he refused to bring me along.

"We grew up together. You wouldn't get half of what we talk about. You'd just sit there."

Even at our own wedding reception, he sat at a table alone with his little group and left me, the bride, off to the side.

"Queenie, you'll just be bored with them. Sit with your girlfriends instead."

I really used to believe Andrew was looking out for me.

But now I understood.

If I joined them, I'd throw off the balance between the four of them. I'd be taking Minnie's place.

Once my hair and clothes were more or less dry, I got out of the car and walked toward the little grove nearby.

On the way here I'd seen a puppy playing over there.

I love dogs.

But Andrew was allergic to dog hair, so he never let me have one.

I'd barely crouched down when the puppy trotted over and nudged my hand with its nose.

Some of the ache inside me eased.

Just then, footsteps came up behind me.

Minnie ran over and scooped up the puppy.

"Andrew, this puppy is so cute. Let's take it home and keep it, okay?"

The words came out of me before I could stop them.

"He's allergic to dog hair. He can't keep it."

Andrew took the puppy from Minnie's arms.

"We can keep it."

Minnie shot me a look.

"Who said Andrew was allergic to dog hair? We even raised a dog together back in grade school, our little dog son."

Quinn laughed.

"I still remember you two saying you'd raise eight dogs once you grew up and got married."

Andrew's mouth curved.

"She can't even take care of herself. How would she take care of a puppy?"

I opened my mouth to ask Andrew whether the allergy had been a lie.

But Minnie was already carrying the puppy toward the car.

"The puppy looks hungry. Let's take it back to the villa for something to eat. I'm hungry too, actually."

The four of them left all at once.

I swallowed the words back down and followed after them.

Just as I was about to get in, Minnie put out a hand to stop me.

"There's no more room. The puppy needs a seat."

Andrew looked at me.

"Don't you like hiking? The scenery along this road is pretty nice, and it's not dangerous. You can just walk back, take your time."

I pressed a hand to my stomach.

"I'm on my period and I don't feel well. I can't walk that far."

"I can squeeze in the back with the puppy in my lap."

But Quinn cut in.

"Queenie, we all know when your period is. Every month around the end, Andrew has to stay home to take care of you and skips our dinners."

"Though this whole act suits your part as the mistress pretty well. Playing pitiful on purpose so Andrew feels sorry for you."

A few days ago, for the wedding, I'd taken medicine to push my period back on purpose.

I'd just started to explain.

Andrew hit the gas and drove off.

Three hours later, I finally made it back to the villa.

My white pants were soaked red with the blood that had come through, impossible to miss.

The moment Andrew saw it, the color drained from his face.

"Queenie!"