Unexpected Vacation
I thought my plan to make Josh regret leaving me by going on vacation with a stranger was brilliant. Act happy, make him notice, and things would fall into place. But nothing went as expected, leaving me questioning everything—and myself.
Standing nervously at the airport, I checked my phone again, wondering if Travis would show up. He was the stranger I’d roped into this wild scheme during an emotional chat at a bar. Heartbroken over Josh, I spilled everything to Travis, who mentioned needing cash. It seemed like a perfect arrangement—free vacation for him, and a chance for me to make Josh jealous.
“Hey,” Travis’s voice cut through my thoughts. I turned to see him grinning casually, looking way more relaxed than I felt.
“You made it,” I said, trying to sound confident.
“Still think this is a good idea?” he asked.
I hesitated. “Not really. But here we are.”
“For me, it’s simple,” Travis said. “I’m on vacation with a beautiful woman and getting paid for it.” His wink made my cheeks burn.
We boarded the plane, and that’s when I saw him—Josh, with his new girlfriend. His surprised look made my stomach flip. “Ari? What are you doing here?” he asked, eyeing Travis suspiciously.
Travis smoothly put his arm around me. “Vacation with my boyfriend,” I said, the words feeling strange but necessary.
Josh shrugged, unfazed, and that hurt more than I expected.
As the plane took off, I replayed our plan. It seemed foolproof: make Josh jealous, show him I’m thriving, and win him back. Staying at the same hotel wasn’t a coincidence; I knew his plans from mutual friends. Travis and I just had to play our parts.
But at the hotel, opening our room door, I froze. “There’s only one bed,” I muttered.
Travis laughed. “Looks like we’re getting cozy.”
“Absolutely not,” I insisted, rushing to fix the mistake at the front desk. But Josh overheard.
“Problems already?” he teased, smirking.
“Nope. Everything’s perfect,” I lied, forcing a smile. Travis leaned against the counter, clearly amused.
That night, sharing the bed became inevitable. I clung to my side, while Travis teased me about being uptight. “Relax, it’s just sleeping,” he joked, dodging my pillow swats.
Days passed with awkward encounters with Josh and his girlfriend. To my surprise, Travis played his part effortlessly, leaning into our fake relationship with charm and humor. He made me laugh in ways I hadn’t in months. Building sandcastles, mocking tour guides, splashing in the ocean—we were like kids again. And I started to feel… happy.
One night, Travis grabbed my hand after dinner. “Let’s go,” he said, leading me to the beach. He picked me up, running towards the waves, both of us laughing. We ended up soaked, but I didn’t care. Standing under the stars, Travis looked at me seriously.
For a moment, I thought he might kiss me. But reality hit, and I muttered something about Josh before walking away, leaving Travis alone in the water.
The turning point came when Josh cornered me the next morning. “I still love you, Ari,” he said, full of regret. “Take me back.”
But his kiss felt empty. “No, Josh,” I said firmly. “I deserve someone who truly sees me. And that’s not you.”
Returning to the room, Travis was gone. Panic set in. “Travis!” I called, running after him. “Please don’t go.”
“You don’t need me anymore,” he said coldly, avoiding my eyes.
“You’re wrong,” I said, voice trembling. “I don’t want him—I want you. You make me laugh, you make me feel alive, and I can’t lose you.”
He hesitated, softening. “I told him no,” I added quietly.
Travis dropped his bag, walking back to me. He cupped my face, kissing me not for show, but for real.
“Sharing that bed wasn’t so bad after all,” I joked, tears streaming down.
“Best part of the trip,” he grinned, pulling me into another kiss.
What started as a scheme to win back my ex turned into something more. In trying to fake happiness, I found something real. Sometimes, the best plans are the ones that fail spectacularly.
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