Chapter 3- Biggest Mistake Ever

Since that night at the bar, I hadn’t seen Eric again. Thank God.

Frank had been too busy showing off about how he finally got Tina’s number. He disappeared for days after that, not calling, not texting. Which was fine with me. I didn’t want to talk about him, or about that night, or about the way Eric’s voice still lingered in my head every time I tried to sleep.

I told myself it didn’t matter. That none of it did.

But I was lying.

The truth was—I couldn’t stop thinking about it. About him. About the way he’d looked at me like he could see straight through me. About the way his voice wrapped around me, sharp and smooth all at once.

And the worst part? The shame. Because some stupid part of me had felt something that night at the bar. Not love. Not even affection. Just…heat. Dangerous, reckless heat.

I wanted to forget. But every time I closed my eyes, I remembered his words—’You can try dating me instead.’

I hated that my body still reacted just thinking about it.

So when Frank texted me three days later about a beach trip, I almost didn’t reply.

Frank: ‘Pack your bag. We’re going to the coast. It’ll be fun. Promise.’

I frowned at my phone.

Fun? With him?

I typed back slowly.

Me: ‘I don’t think I can. I have work.’

Frank: ‘Already handled. Told your boss you need a break.’

Frank: ‘You’ve been too tense lately. You’ll thank me later.’

He’d requested time off on my behalf.

Without even asking me.

Typical Frank.

Still, part of me hesitated. The beach sounded nice. Maybe it was exactly what I needed—to clear my head, breathe, and put all this behind me. I thought it would be just the two of us, like old times, before things got complicated.

So, I said yes.

Biggest mistake ever.

The next morning, I got to the airport dragging my small suitcase, wearing jeans and a plain shirt. I looked around for Frank—and froze.

He wasn’t alone.

Tina was there. And two of her friends. All of them looked like they had walked out of a magazine—sunglasses, beach hats, designer luggage. They were laughing about something, their voices bright and effortless.

“Finally,” Tina said when she saw Frank. “You’re so slow.”

She barely glanced at me before rolling her eyes, whispering something to her friend that made them both laugh. I didn’t have to hear the words to know it was about me.

I knew I never fit in anywhere. I'd heard that a thousand times in high school. There were the cool girls with the type of body to die for, while there was me. Simple and boring.

I wanted to disappear.

Frank, of course, didn’t notice. He smiled and slipped an arm around Tina’s shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world. My chest tightened.

“Guys,” he said cheerfully, “this is Sabrina—my sister.”

The word hit me like a slap.

My stomach twisted.

Sister.

He’d said that before, at parties, when people asked who I was. He said it casually, like it didn’t matter. Like it didn’t crush me every single time.

I forced a smile, though it hurt. “Hi.”

Tina gave me a polite nod, but her expression screamed why is she here? Her friends didn’t even bother to hide their smirks.

Frank added quickly, “My grandma insisted I bring her along. Said she needs to relax.”

There it was again—the reminder that I wasn’t here because he wanted me here. I was a responsibility. An obligation.

I wanted the floor to open and swallow me whole.

And then I saw him.

Standing a few feet behind them, hands in his pockets, was Eric.

He looked different this time—more casual, dressed in a white shirt and dark jeans, his hair slightly tousled. But those eyes… calm, sharp, unreadable—still exactly the same.

My pulse jumped.

Our gazes met for a second, and I instantly looked away, pretending to adjust my bag. I could feel his stare on me even when I wasn’t looking. My skin prickled under it.

I wanted to scream.

Why was he here?

I didn’t ask, but I didn’t need to. Of course he was here. He was Tina’s brother.

The universe clearly hated me.