TYSHA “So, you’re going for a work conference?” Papa asked, his eyes peering over his glasses. I nodded, avoiding eye contact. Gosh! How many lies do I have to make in this lifetime? “Yes, a very important one,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t betray my nervousness. Since I couldn’t go without talking to my kids and securing them first, I told my parents about the three-day trip. But I didn’t tell them I would be with Rue because for sure, they would be fuming mad at me. Mama set down her cup with a clink. “We’re happy to watch Aiden and Addison, Tysha. You go and focus on your work.” I smiled, grateful for their understanding. It made me feel relief. I was really worried about my kids. Even when I left them in my parents’ house for a day, I missed them right away. What more if I wouldn’t be able to see them for three days and two nights? Gosh! I would lose my mind! Actually, I’m already losing some screws in my head. “Thank you, both of you. I’ve wrttien a list of their favo
TYSHA The day before my island trip with Rue, I decided to finally drop my kids at my parents' house. The car ride was filled with the twins’ excited chatter about their upcoming stay with their Granny and Pops. As we pulled into the driveway, I could see my parents peeking through the curtains, their faces lighting up at the sight of their grandchildren. “We’re here!” I announced, as Aiden and Addison unbuckled their seatbelts and scrambled out of the car, their small feet hitting the pavement with eager thuds. My mother opened the door before we could even knock, her arms wide open. “Come here, you two!” she exclaimed, as the twins rushed to hug her. “Be good for Granny and Pops,” I said, kneeling down to hug them both. “And don’t give them too much trouble, okay?” Aiden looked up at me, his eyes serious. “We’ll be super good, Mommy. Promise.” Addison nodded in agreement, her arms still wrapped around my mother. “We’ll help Granny with the cookies,” she added. I stood up, m
TYSHA What just happened? Up until now, I still couldn’t process what I just experienced. The engine hummed softly in the background as Fred, Rue’s trusted driver, glanced at me through the rearview mirror with concern etched on his face. “Miss Tysha, are you alright?” Fred’s voice was laced with worry. “Isn’t that Sir Charles? Did he hurt you?” I leaned back against the leather seat, my heart still racing from the escape. I checked my arms if I got any cuts from jumping out the window. Fortunately, I only ruined my shirt. “Just drive faster, Fred,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremor I felt. He nodded quickly, putting the car into gear. “And not a word of this to Rue,” I added which made his eyes widen. I could see the questions bubbling behind his lips, the curiosity that came with being privy to the private lives of the city’s elite. “But, Miss—” he started, only to be cut off by my sharp gaze in the mirror. “No excuses. Just drive,” I insisted, my fingers gripping
RUE Before our trip, I had to tell my son about it first. To be honest, if Tysha just agreed to bring her twins, I would have brought Henry with me too. But since she refused to, it would be awkward to bring him with me. “Hey, son,” I said to Henry the night before I go, trying to keep my voice light. “I’ve got to tell you something.” He climbed onto the bed, right next to the suitcase I prepared, and looked up at me. “What’s up, Dad?” I took a deep breath. “I have to go away for work for a few days. It’s just for three days, and I’ll be back before you know it.” Henry’s eyes got a little wide, but then he nodded. “Okay, Dad.” I hated that I’d miss him, but I nodded back. “I’ll be back in time, I promise.” He seemed to think about it for a second, then gave me a brave little smile. “It’s okay, Dad. I’ll tell you all about my tutoring sessions with Ma’am Celeste when you get back.” I ruffled his hair, feeling a mix of proud and sad. “You’re the best, Henry. I’ll miss you a ton.
TYSHA After only less than an hour, we finally landed in Isla Llevaste. The helicopter’s landing was smooth as if like we were just hopping off a bus. As I stepped onto the soft sands of the island, a sense of surreal calm washed over me. Gosh! After everything that happened with Rue, I never thought I’d set foot here again. Yet, here I was, and surprisingly, it felt right. It felt like coming home. Despite the awkwardness of being with Rue again, I couldn’t help but smile, feeling the gentle breeze. It was as if the island itself was whispering a welcome back. As I stepped out, the familiar faces of Isla Llevaste greeted us. There was Cecilia, who looked like she had a few more laugh lines since the last time I saw her. She had that same welcoming smile that made you feel like you were coming home. “Welcome back,” she said, and it felt like no time had passed at all. Gosh! I missed them! After Rue and I broke up, I never imagined I would be able to come back here. But I did an
RUE I woke up with the sunrise, the salty sea breeze mingling with the scent of fresh-cut grass Isla Llevaste. It was a perfect morning for golf, and I had the perfect plan to add a twist to the game. I turned to Tysha, her hair was blown by the wind while she had a questioning look in her eyes. "Today, you're my caddie," I declared, a mischievous glint in my eye. "But not just any caddie—you're on ball duty." Tysha's brow furrowed, her lips parting in disbelief. "You want me to chase after your golf balls?" she asked, couldn’t believe what I just said. I nodded, barely containing my chuckle. "Most people bring their exes to their islands to sip cocktails, not to play an upscale version of fetch," she called out, her voice laced with obvious annoyance. Poor her, I’d like to see her annoyed face, so I’d do anything to annoy her. She then pouted slightly and just accepted her fate. “Hey, can you hand me the putter?” I asked, squinting at the green. She rolled her eyes. “You’re
TYSHADid we almost kiss?!My mind was racing faster than my heart, and that was saying something.One minute, Rue was just showing me how to swing a golf club, and the next, we were inches apart, close enough to share a breath. I could still feel the warmth of his hands on mine, guiding, steady... too steady. Why did I turn around? Why did his eyes have to look at me like that?And now, here I was, blushing like a schoolgirl with her first crush. It was ridiculous.We're adults. We're past this, aren't we?But then, why did my stomach twist into knots at the thought of his lips so close to mine? I shouldn't be feeling this way. Not after everything. Not after the breakup, the hatred, the moving on... or at least, the attempt to move on.“L-Look. Adam seems to be having fun!” I said to Rue in an attempt to pretend that I didn’t make a big deal out of what happened earlier. My voice betrayed me with a slight stutter, and I mentally kicked myself for it. Come on, Tysha, get a grip! Pul
TYSHAI was so pressured as I showed my skills to Rue. Who wouldn’t, right? I was not ready for another embarrassing moment so I tried really hard not to make a mistake. With a determined nod to myself, I revved the engine, letting the roar drown out the chaos of my thoughts. I steered us over the waves, the sea sprayed cool against my skin. I didn’t need to look back to know that Rue was impressed.When we finally slowed down, I could hear the smile in Rue’s voice.“Not bad at all,” he admitted.I grinned, feeling proud that I was able to show him my skills. “Told you so.”As the jet ski's engine hummed beneath us, I felt Rue's grip tighten slightly, a silent acknowledgment of my skill. "You handle this like a pro," he muttered using his calm voice. "Impressive."I couldn't help the pride swirling in my chest at his words. It was one thing to know I could do it, but another to hear Rue—Mr. Billionaire himself—praise me.Just then, a glint of white sand caught my eye, and I eased of