“Wakey, wakey, Rocky!”

The sudden sound of Zeke’s voice pulls me from a deep slumber. He throws the window blinds open, letting in the powerful early summer sunshine. My eyes burn from the brightness.

I moan and reach for my blanket, desperate to find darkness again. The encounter with Becky is still fresh in my mind. Last night, I finished my paper quickly, filling the blanks of my conclusion full of bullshit, and immediately fell into bed. But I couldn’t sleep.

Zeke grabs the other end of the blanket and holds it tight. “Now, now, come on,” he laughs. He pulls it from my grasp and tosses it to the floor. “It’s time to get up. We have a flight to catch.”

I blink my eyes as they absorb the morning light. I reach for my phone to check the time. “Zeke, it’s six in the morning. I’ve been asleep for three hours.”

“Tisk. Tisk,” he scolds me. He kneels down next to the bed, seemingly not caring for a second that his perfectly pressed pants might get wrinkled in the process. “You were supposed to come upstairs last night. What happened?”

I open my mouth to speak. I came to the conclusion last night that I wasn’t going to tell him about Becky’s threat. Not right away anyway. “I was just really tired. Sorry.”

“No worries. Did you finish all your homework on time?”

I nod while a yawn expels from my body.

“Good,” he says. “Summer vacation is officially here!”

“But Zeke…” I begin. “That means that I get to sleep in as late as I want to…”

I reach for my pillow but Zeke is too fast. He yanks it out from beneath my head.

“Not today,” he says. A big grin dances across his face.

I force my eyes open and focus my gaze on him. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I laugh. “Wait… what flight?”

Zeke reaches into his pocket and withdraws a piece of paper. He lays it on the bed next to my head, stands up, and walks out of the room into the hallway.

I look at it. A hotel reservation for two at the Hawaiian Belmont Resort.

“Hawaii?!”

I shoot up in bed, finally wide awake. Zeke returns to the room with a suitcase in each hand.

“I can’t go to Hawaii!”

He sets the suitcases on the bed next to my feet. “Why not?” he asks.

“I…” I pause. “I… don’t actually have an answer for that.”

“Good, then it’s settled.” He zips open the suitcases and lays them both open. “Pack quickly.”

“But… what?” I mumble.

Zeke sighs and kneels down to the bed again. He takes my hands in his and places them against his lips. “I have a business meeting to attend in Honolulu. I want you to keep me company.” He kisses my fingers. “Since school is officially over as of six hours ago, you are officially on vacation. I go to my meeting. You have a little fun in the sun. We have a little fun in the hotel room afterward. Come on, it’ll be awesome.”

“Will anyone else in the company be there?” I worry about getting caught together. He knows it.

“Yes,” he answers. “Most of the shareholders will be there. And Dad. But no one will find it suspicious that you tagged along because you’re my assistant. You’re just doing your job.”

I nod in agreement. “Okay…”

“Come on! Move it! Quickly! Flight is at eight! Be downstairs in the limo at six-forty-five!” He stands up and rushes out of the room.

“I have to shower!” I laugh.

“Shower quickly!”

I hear the front door close behind him. A laugh rattles me from the depths of my core as I lay down again and stare at the ceiling.

I pick up the hotel reservation again. A room for two. Zeke looked so happy, so content. I try to match his enthusiasm, but the emotion won’t strike me.

‘Zeke will lose everything.’

Becky’s voice fills my head once more. My thoughts pick up right where I left them last night. Can Zeke and I actually be together? Or will I be his little secret forever?

There won’t be a happily ever after here.

* * *

“Zeke,” I say from the limo. “When you said the flight was at eight, you didn’t mention it was in the private jet!”

“What did you expect?” he asks. He puffs up his shoulders and deepens his voice, “We’re the Belmonts… you expect us to fly with other people?”

I laugh. “Your Mason has definitely improved.”

“Thank you, I have no one else to practice it for.” He reacts to my wide eyes. “You okay?”

“Yeah… I’m good…”

I look out the window at the private jet. I have it in my sights. Sleek and gold — always gold. The Belmont jet has held the reputation as being the envy of the skies for nearly two decades. I never had a chance to board her before I split years ago.

“I expected first class or something,” I say. “Not the only class.”

Zeke laughs at me and lays a hand on my knee. “You’ve never been on the jet before, have you?”

“Of course not,” I say. “I’m pretty sure Mason would never have allowed it anyway.”

“Well, then, let’s get going.” He pops the door open and entwines his fingers with mine.

He pulls me out of the limo and my eyes react to the sudden change of lighting. But I don’t want to blink. I don’t want to suddenly find myself in my old apartment, in my old bed, staring at my old ceiling. If this is a dream, then I never want to give myself the opportunity to wake up.

“You all right?” he asks.

“Yes…”

“Come on, it’s almost time to take-off.”

“Have I…” I mutter as fear creeps inside. “Have I mentioned that I’ve never flown before?”

“Ever?” Zeke asks, pausing for a moment.

“Ever,” I confirm.

He looks back at me with amused bewilderment. It quickly disappears and a look of genuine compassion fills his eyes. “There’s nothing to it. Completely safe. The pilot, Bernie, is amazing.” He gives my hand a little squeeze.

I nod and try to appear much stronger than I feel. “Okay.”

“Here…” Zeke positions himself next to me. “Take a deep breath with me. Close your eyes.”

I do as I’m told and my eyes flutter closed. I can hear him inhaling deeply and I follow his lead, filling my lungs with fresh air. He exhales and I push the air out along with him. I feel him step behind me and drop my hand to take hold of my shoulders.

“Breathe in,” he whispers in my ear.

I inhale deep, my heart pounding in my chest. Zeke’s lips graze the skin of my neck, sending shivers through my limbs.

“Breathe out,” he says between kisses.

My sex fills with warm life as I lean back into his arms. I keep breathing, the new life swimming through my veins. Zeke’s hands are on the move. They run down my back and slip under my arms, inching toward my breasts. My nipples stand to attention beneath his touch, eager for his comforting embrace. His lips graze my neck as his fingers tweeze me. My skin tingles against his warm breath.

“Is this supposed to relax me?” I ask.

“It’s supposed to distract you,” he answers.

“Well, it’s working,” I say. My body screams for him with passionate desire.

“Good,” he says. He steps to the side and retakes my hand. “Shall we?”

Zeke pulls me toward the jet and I follow him with shaking knees.