Chapter 3

Seeing me there in Hawaii, the two of them, who'd been walking hand in hand from the beach, froze.

Claire recovered first and let out a couple of awkward laughs.

"Enzo, I didn't realize you were that clingy. You bought a last-minute ticket and chased us all the way here. Fine, fine, go ahead and get this stuff sorted out."

She shoved a tent bag straight into my hands and told me to go set it up.

I stood there, not moving an inch.

"You've got it wrong."

"I just happened to be in Hawaii, that's all."

I wasn't following them. I wasn't here for them.

I turned and walked toward another tent that was already set up nearby.

Claire's face dropped instantly. She marched over.

"Enzo, come on. So I didn't buy your ticket yesterday—big deal. You still showed up in Hawaii, didn't you? So why are you giving me the cold shoulder?"

"All I asked was for you to pitch a tent. There's no need to get all frosty on me."

I looked up at her, expression cold. The kind of cold that made men twice my size back down.

Before I could say a word, Ryan jumped in, playing peacemaker.

"Hey, hey, bro, you're here now, so no hard feelings, right?"

He grinned. "Claire and I made this pact back in college—we promised we'd come to Hawaii together one day as best friends!"

"Don't get all bent out of shape just 'cause I'm a guy, okay? We're seriously just friends. Nothing more."

He patted Claire's shoulder. "See? Your husband still cares about you. He chased you all the way here."

Claire didn't say anything, but her expression softened a little.

She glanced at me, her tone a notch milder than before.

"Alright, you're here now, that's what matters. You set up the tent. I'll take Ryan for a walk on the beach. We'll be back in a bit."

She turned to leave.

"Claire."

She looked back, surprised. "What?"

"I didn't say I chased you here,"

I said, word by word, my voice like ice. "I came to Hawaii because I wanted to be here three years ago."

"Not because you're here."

"As for your tent—whoever wants to set it up can set it up. Don't come to me."

The air went quiet for a few seconds.

Ryan bit his straw, glancing between me and Claire, his smile starting to waver.

Claire stared at me for a long moment, then let out a laugh.

"Fine,"

She nodded, her voice laced with a certain impatience.

"You're not chasing me. You just happened to show up in Hawaii today, just happened to land on this beach, just happened to run into us. You really expect me to buy that, Enzo?"

Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but I just replied flatly.

"Believe it or not, I don't care."

I turned to walk away. Claire looked around, then her eyes landed behind me.

"Where's your luggage?"

Claire frowned. "You came to Hawaii alone—without even a suitcase?"

I was carrying nothing but a backpack, way too light for someone on vacation.

"Enzo, can you not be so reckless for once?"

"You didn't even tell me you were coming to Hawaii, you haven't replied to my messages since yesterday,"

"And now you don't even have luggage. You just showed up out of nowhere, and you're expecting me and Ryan to be prepared for this?"

My eyes landed on the white tux and wedding dress behind Ryan, and I smirked.

"Prepared for what?"

"Am I interrupting your destination wedding here?"

"Enzo!"

Claire cut me off coldly. "Can you stop talking like that—all snarky and bitter?"

"Then what's with the tux and the wedding dress?"

"You said Ryan's your best friend. Since when does a vacation in Hawaii require a tux and a wedding dress?"

Claire looked exasperated. "Ryan saw other people's wedding photos and wanted to try it for fun. It's just a photo shoot, Enzo. Do you have to blow everything out of proportion?"

"Why are you two even fighting over me?"

Ryan frowned as he fiddled with the tent, then chimed in with an oh-so-helpful tone.

"Bro, if you don't wanna set up the tent, I can have Claire do it for you."

"But you know how she is—clumsy as hell. Last time she helped me put together a bed at my place, she put the headboard on backward. She'll probably mess up the tent even worse."

His words sounded casual, but every syllable was a needle.

I didn't respond. I just pulled out my AirPods and put them in.

Claire scoffed.

"Fine. Let's just ignore him. Let's see how long he lasts on his own."

"Ryan, let's go take those photos."

4:30 PM.

The sea breeze rolled in, salty and warm.

The beach was filling up—people splashing in the water, groups playing Spikeball, families building sandcastles.

And there were Claire and Ryan, dressed like a bride and groom about to tie the knot.

Ryan in a white tux, Claire in a wedding gown, smiling at each other.

The photographer called out, "Perfect, hold that pose! Look at me! Yes, gorgeous!"

I watched for two seconds, then looked away.

I walked over to a woman in a red dress.

"Hey, got a light?" I pulled a pack of cigarettes from my jacket.

She looked up, studied me for a second—her eyes flickered with recognition, like she knew exactly who I was—then pulled a lighter from her purse and handed it over.

I lit one, took a drag, and let the smoke drift out.

It curled in the sea breeze and vanished into nothing.

"And here I thought you were the good-guy type."

She smiled, watching me smoke. "Wouldn't have pegged the Moretti heir for a smoker."

"Can't judge a book by its cover."

I exhaled another plume of smoke, my gaze drifting lazily toward the couple nearly wrapped around each other by the water.

The woman followed my line of sight, landing on Claire, and her smile grew more knowing.

"That your girlfriend?"

"Wife. Soon to be ex."

She let out a laugh.

"Interesting."

"Watching her draped all over that guy—kind of gives off trashy vibes. Good riddance, honestly."

She turned and extended a hand, smiling.

"I'm Sienna. Nice to meet you, Mr. Moretti."

I studied her without speaking.

I'd noticed her earlier—she'd been watching me ever since I got here. That kind of observation wasn't casual. She knew who I was.

She'd overheard every word between me, Claire, and Ryan. That's why she'd come over.

Now, looking at her face, I frowned slightly.

"You look familiar. Have we met before?"

Sienna gave me a mysterious smile, then—

"Enzo!"

Claire walked over, her expression sour.

She stared at the cigarette in my hand, her brow furrowed.

"Since when do you smoke?"