Chapter 1 — Invitations and Reservations

Liana Carter

The email arrived in Liana's inbox with a cheerful subject line that felt almost accusatory: *“Paradise Awaits!”* It was from Cara, which made it simultaneously less alarming and infinitely more dangerous. She clicked it open reluctantly, her finger hovering over the mouse as if touching the screen would somehow pull her into whatever scheme Cara had concocted.

The email contained an image of a postcard-perfect beach—a crescent of white sand cradled by cliffs draped in emerald greenery. The water was so impossibly turquoise it looked unreal, the kind of place travel bloggers captioned with words like “heaven” or “bliss.” Beneath the photo was Cara’s message, far too energetic for a Tuesday morning:

*Liana! You NEED this trip, and I won’t take no for an answer. Nathan and I are hosting the ultimate getaway at Crystal Bay. You’re coming. Period. Pack your cutest sundresses and be ready to unwind. Trust me—you’ll thank me later!*

Liana stared at the screen, her mouse hovering over the “delete” button. It was so typical of Cara. Her best friend always had a knack for pushing her to do things she’d rather avoid, but this? A group vacation? And at a luxury resort she couldn’t possibly afford without Cara and Nathan’s subsidizing? Every rational part of her said to close the email, shut her laptop, and forget it ever existed.

But then the second email arrived. The one that froze her in her chair.

*Oh, by the way, James might be there.*

It was almost comically understated, as if Cara thought slipping that information in after the fact would soften the blow. As if James Bennett’s name alone didn’t hit her like a punch to the gut.

Liana’s chest tightened, and she sat back in her chair as the weight of the name settled over her. James. She hadn’t seen him in over three years, not since the moment her world had splintered into pieces so sharp she wasn’t sure she’d ever fully put herself back together again.

Her mind flashed to the first time they'd met—his easy charm, the way he made her laugh when she felt invisible to the world. Then, unbidden, came the memory of the news article, the grainy picture of his face, and the cold, sinking feeling as she read the details of the scam. Her parents’ financial ruin had been just one of many casualties in the scheme that had upended so many lives. And James—her James—had been involved.

The sharp ache of betrayal resurfaced, as vivid as the day she’d confronted him. She could still hear the crack in his voice when he tried to explain, to justify. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like that, Liana. I never meant for anyone to get hurt.”

She’d walked away that day without looking back. Or at least, she’d told herself she had.

Her eyes drifted to the faint scar on her wrist, a relic of childhood clumsiness, and then to the corner of her desk where a small wooden box rested. Inside were the letters, the mementos she hadn’t been able to throw away. Proof, perhaps, that she hadn’t fully let go of him, even when she knew she should. She’d once sat with the box in her lap, contemplating tossing it into the fireplace. But she hadn’t. Why? Because a part of her wasn’t ready to let go of the person James had pretended to be.

Cara’s email still glowed on the screen, waiting for a response. Liana’s fingers hovered over the keys. *No. Absolutely not,* she typed, then deleted it.

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen to find Cara’s name popping up. Sighing, she answered.

“You didn’t even give me a chance to say no,” Liana said by way of greeting.

“Because you’re terrible at saying no to me,” Cara replied, her tone so bright it was almost blinding. “And because this isn’t just about you. We all need a break, Liana. You’ve been working nonstop, and I know you’re going to say that’s what you want, but come on. You deserve an escape. Crystal Bay is that escape.”

“You conveniently left out the part about James,” Liana said, her voice sharper than she intended.

A pause. Then, quieter, “I know. I was going to tell you, I swear. But I knew you’d shut it down before even considering it. Look, I’m not saying you have to talk to him, but don’t you think you’ve been avoiding this long enough? He’s not the same person he was back then.”

Liana laughed bitterly, though there was an edge of sadness to it. “Forgive me if I’m not totally convinced. The last time I saw him, he was wearing a suit and spinning lies.”

“I get it,” Cara said earnestly. “I do. But people can change, Liana. And maybe—just maybe—this is your chance to find closure. You don’t have to forgive him. Hell, you don’t even have to like him. Just... don’t let him keep holding space in your head rent-free.”

Liana opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. Cara’s optimism had a way of worming past her defenses, and deep down, Liana hated that she wasn’t entirely wrong. James was there, always, like a shadow at the edge of her thoughts. And maybe this trip would be a chance to finally exorcise him. To look him in the eye and feel... nothing.

“I’ll think about it,” she said finally, though her tone betrayed a reluctance that even she didn’t fully understand.

“Good,” Cara said, and Liana could hear the victory in her voice. “That’s all I’m asking. Think about it. And maybe think about how good a piña colada would taste on a beach where no one expects you to answer emails.”

They hung up, and the silence in her apartment was deafening. Liana stared at the box on her desk again before pulling it open. She didn’t need to look inside to know what was there—a pressed flower, a crumpled concert ticket, and the letters. So many letters, filled with promises and plans that had turned to ash.

The resort brochure attached to Cara’s email still sat open on her screen. Crystal Bay did look beautiful, in a too-perfect, almost artificial way. There was something disconcerting about it, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. Maybe it was the way the cliffs seemed to loom over the water, their shadows darkening the shoreline. Or maybe it was the idea of being trapped on an island with James Bennett.

As she stood and paced to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of wine, Cara’s words lingered. *You don’t have to forgive him. Just don’t let him keep holding space in your head rent-free.* She sipped the wine, the bitterness of it grounding her as she tried to imagine the trip. Would James try to talk to her? Would he apologize? Would she let him? The weight of her own emotions felt like too much to carry, but something else stirred underneath it—something sharper, more defiant.

By the time she finished the wine, her mind was made up. She wouldn’t let James win, wouldn’t let him dictate her life from afar. If this trip could give her even a shred of peace, it might be worth it.

She sat back down at her laptop and opened her reply draft. Her fingers hovered over the keys.

*I’ll come,* she typed. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she added, *But don’t expect miracles.*

With a deep breath, she hit send.

The confirmation came within minutes: *“Fantastic! You’re going to LOVE it. I’ll take care of everything. See you soon!”*

Liana closed her laptop and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the stillness, each passing second carrying her closer to the inevitable. She had made her choice.

But as the tropical image of Crystal Bay lingered in her mind, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this trip would be anything but relaxing.