I thought going on vacation with a stranger to make my ex regret leaving me was the perfect plan. It seemed simple enough—act happy, make him notice, and watch it all fall into place. But as the days went by, nothing turned out the way I expected, leaving me questioning everything.

I might have done the craziest thing in my life, but there was no turning back now. I stood at the airport, nervously glancing at my phone every few seconds, wondering if Travis would even show up. The whole situation felt ridiculous.

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A few days ago, he was just a stranger at a bar, someone I barely knew. I remembered how he casually mentioned he was short on cash while I, in my heartbreak, had spilled my guts about Josh leaving me.

Somehow, in that mess of a conversation, the idea hit me—wild, impulsive, and maybe a little brilliant.

“Hey,” a voice interrupted my thoughts. It was Travis.

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“Oh, hi,” I said, trying to appear calm.

“So, still think this is a good idea?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “But it could work. You?”

“No downsides for me. I’m going on vacation with a hot woman, and I’m getting paid for it,” Travis said with a grin.

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I felt my cheeks burn. “If I were hot, he wouldn’t have dumped me.”

“He’s just an idiot,” Travis replied.

We made it through security and boarded the plane. That’s when I saw him—Josh. And of course, his new girlfriend was right there beside him. He looked surprised to see me.

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“Ari? What are you doing here?” he asked.

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I felt Travis slide his arm around my waist. “Heading on vacation with my boyfriend,” I said, though I could barely hide the panic bubbling inside me. I had wanted Josh to feel jealous, but he seemed completely unfazed.

“Yeah, we just needed some time alone,” Travis added smoothly.

“Oh, we’re doing the same—” Josh started, but Travis cut him off.

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“Sorry, we need to find our seats,” he said, steering me away.

I was still in a daze as we sat down and buckled in. Once we were settled, I finally managed to thank Travis. “I completely froze back there. Thanks for stepping in.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” he replied with a playful smile.

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As the plane took off, I stared out the window, watching the clouds swirl beneath us and replaying everything in my head.

The plan was simple—at least on paper. Make Josh jealous, make him regret letting me go, and win him back.

I’d thought through every detail, making sure it looked natural. Travis and I were supposed to be the picture of a carefree, happy couple.

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Even staying at the same hotel as Josh wasn’t a coincidence. Thanks to a few mutual friends, I knew all about his vacation plans. Now, all that was left was to play my part and make him notice.

When we arrived at the hotel, exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. I was ready to drop everything and collapse into bed.

That hope, however, vanished the second we opened the door and saw the room.

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“There’s only one bed,” I said, my voice flat with disbelief.

“Yep, I can see that,” Travis replied, looking entirely too amused.

“This has to be a mistake. I booked a room with two beds!” I insisted, already reaching for my phone.

“Maybe there was a mix-up,” Travis offered. “No big deal. We can share.”

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“Absolutely not,” I shot back.

“What’s the problem? Afraid Josh will find out? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” he teased.

“I can’t share a bed with someone I barely know,” I said firmly.

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“Why not? It’s just sleeping,” he countered.

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“Because it’s wrong…I’m not that kind of person,” I insisted.

“You’re too uptight,” Travis said, shaking his head.

“And you’re too laid-back,” I retorted.

Without another word, I headed to the front desk to sort things out. But when I explained the issue, the receptionist told me there was no mistake.

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“I specifically booked two beds,” I argued.

“What’s the problem, Ari? Something wrong?” Josh’s voice suddenly chimed in, catching me off guard.

“What? No, no problems at all,” I stammered.

“Well, we do have a—” the receptionist started.

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“Everything’s perfect,” I interrupted. “The room is just lovely. Very romantic. My boyfriend and I are thrilled.”

The receptionist looked confused but didn’t push the matter further.

“So…a boyfriend, huh?” Josh said with a smirk. “Didn’t expect you to move on so quickly.”

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“Well, you didn’t exactly come here alone,” I shot back.

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“We’re different, though,” he said.

“I decided to find someone who appreciates me,” I replied with a smile before walking away.

To my surprise, I felt a strange sense of power. A week ago, I’d imagined myself begging Josh to take me back. But now? Not so much.

Back in the room, I told Travis we were staying put and not to ask any questions about it.

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We decided to call it an early night and climbed into bed, each sticking to our side. I stretched as far away from him as possible.

“So you are that kind of person,” Travis said just as I was drifting off.

At first, I didn’t understand what he meant. Then it clicked, and I felt my face heat up.

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Without thinking, I grabbed a pillow and swatted him with it, laughing despite myself.

“You’re impossible,” I muttered, rolling over to face the wall.

Behind me, his laugh rang out—loud and carefree, like he didn’t have a single worry in the world.