In fact, one of the original things my friend group had been resistant to regarding Drea was because she came across as helpless.
And she had helplessed herself right tomytrip to Bali–and my boyfriend.
Tears pricked my eyes as I screenshotted everything.
What did I do? Obviously, I couldn’t go on the trip anymore, since she’d taken my plane ticket and seemed to be on their way. Did I buy myself another and show up at the hotel? The reservations were still all in my name, held bymycredit card.
I’d really been looking forward to this trip, too.
Opening up my banking app, my heart fell. A large amount had been sent to Logan’s account this morning.
What? How was that even possible, because I’d done no such thing.
Then again, I had a vague recollection of him handing me my phone this morning on my way out to lecture, him going,“Hey, don’t forget your phone.”
That asshole. He used my account to send himself money for the trip he’d uninvited me on. Immediately, I changed my password and did the same thing for the airline app.
Now what?
Normally I’d call my best friend, but obviously she wasn’t that anymore. Most of my other friends had already left for spring break or were in class.
My phone rang. For a moment I thought maybe it was him.
It was my Auntie Kiki.
I wasn’t actually sure how Auntie Kiki was related. She’d always beenAuntie Kiki,but I’d grown up in a home where anyone old enough to be your parents wasauntieoruncle.She lived here on the Big Island with her pack, ever the eccentric, wealthy, overbearing-but-loving, beta auntie.
When I moved to Hilo for college from Los Angeles, she and her pack gave me a place to do laundry on the weekends, fed me, bought me groceries, and reminded me to have fun, but work hard.
And constantly lectured me on how Logan was not a good life choice and I should be focused on getting someone better. Thinking Logan was my forever alpha, I always waved her off.
Maybe she had a point.
“Auntie?” My voice broke as I answered.
“Checking in before you leave. Is there anything you need? I’ll be in Nashville but call me if you need me. Do you have enough money? What about the oversized bag charge for your surfboard?” she asked me.
“I don’t think I’m going to Bali.” Tears fell down my face.
“What happened?” she demanded.
I told Auntie everything, sobbing. How could he betray me like that? I thought he was my boyfriend. These people were supposed to be my friends.
“That is not okay. Cancel that bitch’s return ticket. Cancel the hotel if they’re not there yet. Change all your passwords. File fraud with the bank. Don’t let that asshole have anything. Throw his things out the window,” she listed with rapid fire precision of somebody who may have done this before.
Or simply had a contingency plan for everything.
“Maybe it’s all a misunderstanding,” I breathed. It had to be. How else could I explain that? They wouldn’t actually try to steal my trip, would they? Who even did that?
My phone buzzed with a text from Drea. It was a photo of her kissing Logan, followed by a photo of everyone on a plane holding drinks.
Drea
Don’t wish you were here. Thanks for the free trip and the boyfriend.
No, not a misunderstanding. I’d been replaced.
I screen-shotted everything, then blocked her.
