Chapter 1: Surprise
The wooden pier groaned under Tessa Thorpe’s boots, a rhythmic sound that competed with the gentle lap of the Atlantic against the shore. She adjusted the strap of her oversized weekend bag, her other hand firmly gripping a venti iced mocha—extra espresso, because she knew her family, and she knew this "relaxing" vacation would likely be anything but.
“Tessa! Over here!”
She looked up to see Athena standing on the deck of a weathered, cedar-shingled beach house that looked like it had been plucked straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie. Athena was glowing, her hair windblown and a wide, mischievous smile plastered across her face. Beside her, Caleb had an arm draped around her shoulders, looking more relaxed than Tessa had ever seen him.
“You made it,” Athena said, rushing down the stairs to pull Tessa into a one-armed hug, careful not to knock the coffee out of her hand.
“I made it,” Tessa agreed, taking a long sip of her drink. “Though I still don’t understand why we couldn’t just do a Sunday dinner at the house. Why the three-hour drive to the coast?”
“Because,” Caleb interjected, reaching out to take Tessa’s heavy bag with an effortless tug. “Athena decided we all needed ‘forced rejuvenation.’ His eyes twinkled with a secret Tessa couldn't quite place. “And because this place has the best sunrise on the Eastern seaboard.”
“I’ll take your word for it. I plan on being asleep during the sunrise,” Tessa quipped, following them toward the house.
As they stepped onto the wrap-around porch, the screen door creaked open. Tessa froze.
Mark Goldberg stepped out, shielding his eyes from the afternoon sun. He was wearing a faded navy t-shirt that made his ocean-blue eyes pop and a pair of board shorts that suggested he’d already been in the water. His dirty blond curls were damp and messy, and for a split second, Tessa forgot how to breathe.
“Tessa,” he said, his voice warm and easy. “You’re finally here.”
“Mark,” she managed, her protective older-sister instincts briefly short-circuiting. “I didn't know you were… I mean, Athena didn't mention…”
“Surprise!” Athena chirped, far too brightly. “Mark’s been working so hard on those auditions in the city, and Caleb thought he deserved a break too. Since we’re all friends now, it just made sense!”
Tessa glanced at Athena, then at Caleb. They were both wearing identical expressions of forced innocence. Her eyes narrowed. She had spent a significant portion of the last year trying to set Mark up with her sister, only to realize—far too late and far too privately—that watching him go on that blind date had felt like a lead weight in her stomach. Now, her sister was happily settled with Caleb, and Mark was… standing right there, smelling like salt water and looking far too comfortable.
“Right,” Tessa said, recovering her composure and taking a defensive sip of mocha. “The more the merrier.”
“I’ll show you to your room,” Mark offered, stepping forward. “Caleb and Athena claimed the master suite upstairs, so we’re in the guest wing.”
We. The word sent a tiny shiver down her spine that she promptly ignored.
The house was beautiful—all white linen, driftwood accents, and the constant, soothing sound of the ocean. Mark led her to a room at the end of the hall. It was cozy, with a large window overlooking the dunes and a bed that looked soft enough to sink into for a decade.
“It’s a great house,” Mark said, leaning against the doorframe as she set her coffee on the nightstand. “Quiet. A good place to think.”
Tessa turned to face him, crossing her arms. “And what are you thinking about, Mark?”
He looked at her for a long moment, his gaze steady. There was none of the "unadulterated loathing" she usually reserved for the men who crossed the Thorpe family’s path. With Mark, it was different. He was kind, he was an only child who seemed fascinated by her family’s chaotic bond, and he was—as she had noted many times—really, really cute.
“I’m thinking,” Mark said softly, a small smirk playing at the corner of his mouth, “that Athena is a very bad liar. She told me you were the one who suggested I come.”
Tessa’s heart did a slow, heavy thud. “She did, did she?”
“She did.” Mark took a half-step into the room. “And I’m thinking that even if she lied, I’m really glad I’m here.”
Tessa opened her mouth to lead with a sarcastic retort, something about how she was only here for the beach and the high-quality caffeine, but the words died in her throat. The sunlight was hitting his eyes just right, and for the first time in her life, the protective older sister felt like she was the one who needed guarding.
“Well,” she settled on, her voice steadier than she felt. “Don't get used to it."
"Why not?"
"I’m a terrible vacation companion. I complain about the sand, and I wake up cranky.”
Mark laughed, a low, melodic sound that filled the small room. “Tessa Thorpe, I’ve seen you handle a last minute wedding-day crisis involving your sister starting from wedding planner to bride to her ex."
"Your point?"
"I think I can handle a little sand.”
Tessa nodded, letting out a soft giggle.
He turned to leave, pausing at the door. “Dinner’s in an hour. Caleb’s grilling. Athena told me to tell you there’s no mocha-flavored steak, so you’ll have to manage.”
As the door clicked shut, Tessa sank onto the edge of the bed. Outside, she could hear Athena and Caleb laughing on the deck, the sound of a summer that was supposed to be simple. She looked at her reflection in the dresser mirror—her green eyes wide, her cheeks slightly flushed.
This wasn't a family vacation. It was a setup. And the worst part was, as she looked at the door Mark had just walked through, she wasn't sure she wanted to escape it.