The Rumor That Set Everything on Fire

If there was ever a morning that felt too bright, too loud, too revealing… it was this one.

The Hawaiian sun was blazing over the resort, but inside me everything felt cold and trembling. My lips still tingled from the near-kiss with Alan on the beach. My body still felt the imprint of his hands. And my mind—God—my mind wouldn't stop replaying his whisper against my lips:

"This isn't over."

I walked into the conference lounge trying to pretend my heart wasn't a wild animal beating against its c