With the final term of law school ending in just two months, Rue was practically a functional zombie. She was only halfway through collecting data for her thesis, all while juggling intense coursework and a part-time gig as a freelance videographer for small events. She hadn't had a day off in what felt like forever.
So what was she doing here—dragging a suitcase across uneven pavement toward a beach resort like she had her life together?
Blame Charlotte.
Best friend. Chaos incarnate.
It took a lot of convincing, but eventually Rue gave in. Charlotte and Jason had been together for four years, and a proposal felt inevitable. Jason was Charlotte's opposite—calm and composed, where she was loud and impulsive. And yet, somehow, they worked. They were each other's counterweight. Rue was genuinely happy for them, even as a quiet ache pulsed beneath the joy. She had promised herself she'd make the proposal video grand.
Now, dragging her suitcase and heavy backpack behind her, Rue muttered under her breath, a mix of frustration and nerves. She couldn't help but wonder if this trip was a mistake. She'd canceled client gigs, risked missing school, and now her back ached from the four-hour bus ride.
Charlotte and her boyfriend promised to pick her up so she waited patiently outside. She pulled out her phone and sent a quick message: Here.
Waiting just outside the bus stop, Rue felt a breeze of fresh air sweep over her, instantly reminding her of everything the city lacked. Life back home was relentless—nonstop traffic, stifling heat, crushing deadlines, and barely a patch of green in sight. But here, the beach stretched wide before her, the sun beginning its slow descent into the horizon. With all her gear chaotically stuffed into her luggage, she opted instead to pull out her phone and snap a quick photo of the view—soft white sand meeting deep blue waters that shimmered under the sun's golden beam.
Her mind was already stitching together a beautiful time-lapse video for her social media—not that she posted often, but it was her way of capturing life's little updates. Her relatives always complained she didn't share enough anyway.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone waving enthusiastically. Even without a clear look, Rue instantly recognized Charlotte's bubbly energy. A smile tugged at her lips. It had been ages since they'd gone on a trip together—not since law school began. Rue had promised again and again that she'd join the next getaway, but "next time" never seemed to come.
Hoisting her backpack and tugging her suitcase behind her, she crossed the street to where Charlotte and her boyfriend, Jason, stood beside a rental car. It was supposed to be a three-day vacation, but she had packed like she was staying for a month—not by choice. Charlotte had insisted she bring all her video gear. Rue sighed to herself. The things she did for her best friend.
"You sure you came here for time off, not a lecture?" Jason teased.
"I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you," Rue shot back. "Nice place, by the way. You chose well," she added, catching the puzzled glance he gave her.
"Trust me, you're going to enjoy it here. Charlotte made sure of that."
"Trust me, you being here gives me peace of mind." Rue meant it. "I am not babysitting her—she's too much trouble."
Jason chuckled, eyes drifting to Charlotte with affection. "You're telling me."
"Too late, loverboy. No refunds!" Rue said, dramatically waving her hands to brush him off.
She remembered the first time she met Jason—shy, nerdy, and timid. Charlotte used to call him cutie, and Rue had doubted he could ever handle her friend's whirlwind personality. But she was wrong. Over time, she got to know him, and she saw why he was good for Charlotte.
He was dependable, quietly receptive. Charlotte was a handful, no question—but even hurricanes need somewhere to land. Jason was her home when the storm of her energy ran out.
Ever the gentleman, Jason offered to take her bags, while Charlotte practically bounced with excitement. After a warm hug, Rue pulled Charlotte aside as Jason loaded her luggage into the trunk.
"Are you sure he's proposing?" Rue whispered. "I thought you said you two weren't ready yet?"
She thought back to all those late-night conversations—usually after wine or during stress-fueled cram sessions—when marriage talk came up. Rue would always nudge Charlotte, asking when the big day was happening. Charlotte would roll her eyes and say they needed to focus on their careers first, maybe save up a bit more before diving into that kind of commitment. And then she'd throw it right back, saying Rue should get married first anyway—because she was older.
For all she knew, this trip was about capturing the perfect proposal video for Charlotte—hence the last-minute getaway and the push to bring all her equipment.
But something felt off.
Charlotte was blushing— not from her romantic glee but with mischief. "You love me, right?"
"Yes… What's going on, Charlotte?" Rue asked, eyeing her with suspicion as she caught that familiar you-caught-me look on her friend's face.
"Remember Elijah?"
Rue's stomach dropped. "Oh my God. What have you done this time?"
"He's here," Charlotte said, grinning. "He's actually part of Jason's company. I didn't even know—Jason always calls him EJ . Isn't that wild?"
Rue's heart kicked up a beat. Her ears suddenly burned. "You wicked witch," she hissed, trying to keep her voice down. "You made me drop everything, haul all my stuff here, just to tell me that?"
Charlotte let out an evil laugh, and Rue playfully lunged to tickle her.
"What? You needed a break anyway," Charlotte said. "And don't act like you didn't cry about him leaving! The universe heard you—and so did I. I deliver."
"That was years ago, Charlotte. I was young and silly," Rue said, and this time, she meant it.
She had been just a senior in high school—curious about the world, and even more curious about the boy who had transferred mid-semester. She remembered the gloom in his eyes, the way he'd sit in the corner by himself. He was trouble. And she knew it. But she let herself fall anyway. And then he broke her heart.
Charlotte grinned. "Well, I hate to break it to you, young lady, but when you see him now, you'll definitely feel young and silly again."
"Charlotte!"
Before Rue could finish, she felt a shift in the air—a towering presence behind her, and a scent: citrus and musk. Warm. Familiar. Unmistakable. Charlotte practically glowed with anticipation, watching her masterpiece of a scheme unfold.
Rue closed her eyes for a second, heart pounding. The defendant had admitted to the crime—and yet here she was, the one posting bail. She prided herself on always being prepared. But this? She never saw the trap coming.
Please let it not be him, she thought.
But she already knew.