I spent the whole day with Lori, cruising out on crystalline waters and drinking wine older than I was. She always knew how to live in style.

Despite the luxury, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. Things felt different than they had when we were together. They weren't as smooth.

It was obvious to me what the problem was—Lori wasn't Brin.

Sure, she was just as beautiful as Brin. And, to an outsider, we got along just as well. As a billionaire's daughter, she had been trained in all the fine arts of conversation, having had to entertain her family's connections since she first wobbled into a pair of designer shoes. She could talk politics, world events, entertainment, all while looking as polished as one of the opal pendants she favored. We kept up a conversation the whole day, but the entire experience felt flat.

I always thought that Lori and I's ability to converse for hours was the hallmark of a good relationship. The juxtaposition of Brin and Lori was not kind to my former lover. I quickly realized that our conversations lacked any real emotional depth. I didn't feel any warmer toward her after talking, and I didn't get the feeling she did either. We were just two instruments of conversation.

Brin was ultimately much quieter, but she made more impact with her words. She meant the things she said. She meant the questions she asked. She was genuine and funny and made me want to lean in to catch her every word. I barely knew the girl, and I already found it easier talking to her than I did to Lori, my girlfriend of two years. What did that mean?

I was looking forward to getting back to the hotel and seeing Brin. Lori expected a decision from me soon. At this point, I felt like telling her to sod off so I could be with Brin, but I knew it would be a mistake to make my choice too hastily. Brin wasn't my real girlfriend. None of this was real. The connection we had felt sincere, but I couldn't know that for sure this early on in the game. In many ways, Lori and I were perfect for each other, and she'd certainly be the path of least resistance, but did that mean she was the right choice?

I had to talk to Brin tonight. I had to figure out exactly what we meant to each other. What I meant to her. Only then would I be able to give Lori her answer.

Lori drove with me back to the hotel, claiming that she'd told her driver to pick her up there. I would give her credit at least for trying. She was putting effort into getting us back together, which suggested I had to mean something to her, right? Lori wasn't big into emotional displays, so I noted her persistence.

We reached the hotel's grand marble breezeway, and a valet opened the Jeep's door for me. I jumped out, walking around to open the door for Lori. She hated getting her own door and would complain if I didn't do the 'gentlemanly' thing.

"I had a wonderful day," she chirped, gliding out of the car.

"Me too," I replied. "Is your driver already here? I can wait with you."

She waved airily. "Oh, he's on his way. In the meantime, I'd love to see your room."

Lori stared at me lustily, lashes fanning her cheeks and her lips parted ever so slightly. One look from her like this used to have me panting. She looked hot, but something was still missing for me.

"I'm afraid that's not possible," I told her.

"Why not?"

"Brin's probably up there. I don't think it would be fair to burst in and have my ex-girlfriend sniffing around."

I didn't tell her that I also just didn't fancy spending any more time with her today. I was officially over it.

Lori rolled her eyes. "Boo. You're no fun."

"I had a nice day, Lori," I said, making my dismissive intent clear. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." I leaned in to kiss her cheek, then gave her one last smile and headed for the elevator. As it lifted me, my spirits lifted too. I was heading back to Brin, back to the girl who made me smile just by being her adorable self. The girl who injected my veins with fire every time she looked at me. The decision I had to make weighed heavily on my conscience, but at least I could be free of it for a few hours more.

The elevator doors slid open, and I started down the hall. I unlocked the door and stepped through, but didn't notice the door not closing behind me because I was too distracted by the scene inside the room.

Brin wasn't there. Not only was she not there, but it looked like all her stuff was gone too. The bed was perfectly made, and her side was free of clutter. No suitcase. No clothes. I strode forward, unable to believe what I saw.

"Where is she?" Lori asked from behind me.

I turned just as she let the door close, smiling innocently.

"Did you follow me up here?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I wanted to see my competition for myself. Can you blame me?"

"Yes." I frowned. "I told you that it wouldn't be fair to Brin. How did you even get up here?"

"I took the stairs," she replied. "These long legs can do more than just catwalks, you know."

I shook my head and continued further into the room. Lori was the least of my problems. Could it be that Brin had just put all her stuff somewhere else? The bathroom was empty. Her toothbrush was missing from the holder. The living room was empty too, except for the few items strewn about that were mine.

She was gone. Brin was really gone.

Lori followed me into the living room. "The way you're freaking out makes me think that perhaps your little bird has flown the nest?"

I ignored her and whipped out my phone, dialing Brin's number. It went straight to voicemail. I cursed and tried Martin. Maybe he knew what the hell was going on.

Martin answered straightaway. "Hey man, I'm going to come down to your room real quick. Be there in a minute."

I didn't like that. It meant that Martin did know something, something I wasn't going to like.

"See you soon."

I hung up, and Lori came to my side, picking my hand up in hers. I let her, my mind too busy whirring for answers to think of anything else. Why would Brin leave? The only thing I could think of was that she'd found out about Lori being here. Had she seen us together? Fresh guilt crashed over me, and my head started to spin.

Martin's knock on the door brought me back to the present. I charged over and yanked the door open.

"Hey," Martin said with a soft smile. "Can I come in?"

I nodded, and he entered. He straightened when he saw Lori.

"Lori," he said. "What are you doing here?"

Her grin was utterly feline. "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Martin, where's Brin?" I asked.

Martin ran a hand through his hair and winced. "Uh, she packed up this afternoon after you left. I tried to get her to stay but she just told me to tell you that she's sorry, but coming on this trip was a huge mistake. I tried to ask her why but she wouldn't tell me. I'm sorry, man."

I sighed and sank down on the bed, defeated. Lori slid down next to me and rubbed a hand on my back. Why was she choosing now to be supportive? This was my new girlfriend, after all. Part of me suspected her of some wrongdoing, but what could she do? If Brin thought the trip was a mistake, she thought the trip was a mistake. And maybe it was.

Unless Martin was lying, of course, but why would he? I trusted him with my life. We'd been in this together since the beginning, and he wouldn't put me over like that. Much as I didn't want to believe that Brin would leave me so easily, that was the only possibility that made any sense.

"Do you want some time alone?" Lori asked in a surprising display of sympathy.

I almost told her I did, but something stopped me. I couldn't sit here and be upset about Brin all day. I couldn't spend the rest of this trip moping about how my fake girlfriend had left me. I had to get my shit together and do the work I came here to do. In a way, it was a good thing Brin had left. It didn't feel like a good thing, and in fact, it felt a little like having my heart ripped from my chest via my splintered rib cage, but at least she'd solved my dilemma for me. If nothing else, she'd shown me that us being together wouldn't work. If she could leave that coldly without even saying goodbye, I must not have meant as much to her as she meant to me. I still couldn't believe she'd do that, but I was going to have to figure out a way to believe it pretty damn soon.

"Don't go," I said, forcing a smile. "Let's go down to the bar and have a couple drinks. I feel like I could use one."

Lori's lips turned up at the corners. "That sounds great."

"Martin, you in?" I asked, directing my gaze at my best friend.

Both of them seemed surprised that I'd included Martin in this equation. Lori probably thought that after our drink we'd be coming up and making up for lost time in the sheets, but I wasn't feeling it. Not yet, anyway.

It meant something to me that she'd come all the way out to Hawaii to win me back, and that she admitted that leaving me in the first place was a mistake. I owed it to her to try to make things work now that there was nothing else in the way of us doing so. Besides, I needed to cap my devastation over Brin's departure and get this trip back on track. I could and would make great videos without Brin. Lori was here. I still had Martin and Russell.

"Yeah, I'll come for a bevie or two," said Martin gamely. "Just let me grab my wallet."

He left Lori and me alone in the room together. The silence was deafening.

"Chin up, Chad." Lori pulled me up and rested her hand on my heart. "We're back together. We should be celebrating."

She was right, wasn't she? After all, this was what I wanted. Since when did success taste so stale?