Welcome to Paradise

AVA

The flight to Greece felt like it lasted for an entire century. By the time the massive airplane finally touched down on the tarmac, my legs felt like jelly, and my neck was completely stiff from trying to sleep in a cramped window seat.

Riley and I walked through the airport in a total daze, dragging our matching pink suitcases behind us. Right in front of us, her parents walked hand-in-hand, looking perfectly energized and completely in love. Trailing far behind the rest of the group was Miles. He had his hands shoved deep into his pockets, a black duffel bag slung carelessly over one broad shoulder, and dark sunglasses hiding his eyes. He hadn't said a single word to me during the entire journey, and I had done my absolute best to pretend he didn't exist.

But the moment our private shuttle van pulled up to the resort, all of my exhaustion vanished into thin air.

“Oh my goodness, Riles, look at this place,” I whispered, pressing my face against the glass window of the van.

The hotel wasn't just beautiful—it looked like a paradise built for royalty. It was a luxury private villa nestled right on the edge of a massive cliff. The buildings were made entirely of smooth, bright white stone that gleamed brilliantly under the hot Greek sun. Surrounding the villa were bursts of vibrant pink bougainvillea flowers and tall palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze.

When we stepped out of the shuttle and walked onto the main terrace, I completely lost my breath. The villa had a massive, crystal-clear infinity pool that seemed to flow directly into the Aegean Sea below. The water stretched out as far as the eye could see, a stunning, deep shade of sapphire blue that perfectly matched the cloudless sky. It was absolutely gorgeous.

“Welcome to paradise, girls!” Aunt Lauren cheered, turning around to face us with a massive smile as a hotel bellhop gathered our bags.

“Mum, this is insane,” Riley said, her jaw practically on the floor as she looked around the marble lobby. “You guys really went all out for a three-day stay.”

“Well, you only celebrate a thirtieth anniversary once,” Uncle David said, chuckling softly as he wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist. He walked over to the front desk, checked us in, and collected a handful of sleek, electronic room keys.

We all gathered around the cream couches in the center of the lobby as Uncle David cleared his throat to explain how the living arrangements were going to work.

“Alright, listen up, because this villa is a bit unique,” he said, looking at all of us. “Your mother and I have the master suite on the top floor. Miles, since you decided to join us at the very last minute, you get the private room down the eastern hallway on the main floor.”

Miles simply nodded his head, completely unbothered, his face still hidden behind his dark sunglasses.

Uncle David then turned his gaze over to Riley and me, holding up a single gold key card. “And you two girls will be sharing the large double room right down the same hall, just two doors away from Miles. It has two beautiful twin beds and its own private balcony facing the water.”

My heart stopped for a fraction of a second. Two doors away?

I quickly looked over at Miles. Right at that exact moment, he slowly reached up and slid his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose. His dark, intense eyes locked directly onto mine, a familiar, wicked smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He didn't say a word, but his gaze told me everything.

We weren't in our regular neighborhood anymore. We were six hours away from home, trapped under the same roof, and he was going to be living just a few feet away from my bedroom door for the next three days.

“Perfect!” Riley said, completely oblivious to the silent, suffocating tension exploding between her brother and me. She grabbed the key card from her dad's hand and hooked her arm through mine. “Come on, Ava, let’s go unpack. I want to change into my cute linen dress before my cousins get here!”