I head out of the hotel room and walk towards the water. I wish Stacia was here with me. She would love this beach, the white sands and the blue water.

  As I approach the beach, I suddenly have a strong sense of deja vu. I feel as though I’ve lived this moment before. Shaking my head, I tell myself to snap out of it. The strange sensation slowly dissipates, leaving goosebumps on my arms. I take a deep breath and look around. I spot an empty beach chair and walk towards it. As soon as I reach it, I lay my towel on top and lie down in the sun, ready to relax.

  Suddenly, I hear someone calling my name. “Jake!”

  I peek one eye open and see Tim standing there with swim fins under one arm and goggles sitting on the top of his head. “Man, can you believe that rain? I’ve never seen anything pour so hard.”

  I nod. “I’ve been to a few tropical islands. They all do the same thing storm in the afternoon for a couple of hours, then it’s all sunshine. It’s not so bad.”

  “I thought it was awesome to watch. I can’t believe how quickly the ground dried up when it was over though,” he says.

  “The heat will do it like that,” I say to him. “What are you doing? Are you going to go snorkeling?”

  He nods. “Yeah, they told me that there’s a little patch over there where there’s a bunch of fish. Figured I’d give it a try since we have a few hours before we have to meet the rest of the team. They even said I might see a dolphin or two.”

  “Wow, that’s pretty cool. I’ve always loved dolphins since I was a kid.”

  “Yeah, me too. Well, I’ll see you later tonight?” He asks.

  I nod.

  He takes off towards a small, enclosed pond-looking area surrounded by rocks. I shake my head at his seemingly boundless energy. I don’t know if I can handle him for almost two weeks.

  I close my eyes and listen to the sound of the waves lapping on the beach. I listen to the children playing one hundred yards away from me and drift to sleep.

  At least an hour later, I wake up with a jolt from a deep sleep. I look down at my chest. “Man, how did I let this happen?” I ask out loud. My chest, arms and legs are beet-red from the sun. I glance at my watch. I have to be at the retreat dinner in half an hour. I look up and notice that the sun is beginning to set over the horizon.

  Gingerly, I sit myself up, wincing due to the pain of the burned skin. If I don’t get something on this, it’s going to hurt even worse tomorrow. I grab my towel and head back to my room, open the front door and turn on the light. I still can’t believe that I’m staying in this place all by myself. It seems like a waste, honestly. What’s the point of something so amazing with no one to share it with?

  I look towards the kitchen and notice something completely out of place. A small red box with a white bow sits on the kitchen counter. That’s strange. I swear that wasn’t here before. I walk over to it, pick it up and see there’s a tag on the top addressed to me. The other side of the tag reads, so excited to see you again.

  Fear grips me. Who is this from? This person must think that I came here to see them. This is all very weird.

  I open the box and look inside. Lying at the bottom of the box is a very old picture. From the color of it, it looks like it was taken at least twenty to thirty years ago. There’s a little boy in the picture, standing on the beach in front of a palm tree. I flip the picture over to see if someone had written on the back, but there was nothing. I turn the photo back over and look again at the little boy. Suddenly, a sinking realization fills my chest. It’s me.

  I drop the photo on the table, shocked. Who took this picture and left it here? Or if they didn’t take it, how did they get it? I think this has to be Stacia’s doing.

  I grab my computer and video call her. She answers, even though it’s really late her time. She’s lying in bed with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She rubs her eyes and turns on a light.

  “Hey, baby. Why are you calling me so late?” She asks.

  “I’m sorry, babe. Something weird just happened and I needed to talk to you about it.”

  “Okay,” she says, confused.

  “I came back from lying on the beach and when I got here, I found this red box on my counter addressed to me.”

  “That’s weird,” she says. “Who would send you a present?”

  “I have no idea, but it even gets weirder. Inside of the box was a picture of me as a kid. Remember, I told you, my dad used to take me to a bunch of different resorts growing up?”

  She nods.

  “I lost track of them and never really knew where exactly we were during any given trip. The beaches all looked mostly the same and I didn’t really care what city each beach was located in. I’m starting to wonder if maybe I’ve been to this beach before on one of those trips. I can’t explain it, but everything kind of looks strangely familiar, even though I don’t have any real memories of this place.”

  “That’d be wild, babe, if this is a place that you went with your dad.”

  “I know, right? But this box had a picture of me as a kid. Why would somebody hold on to this for twenty-something years?”

  “Babe, are you telling me the truth?”

  “About what, Stacia?”

  “Are you sure that you weren’t here just recently and just don’t want to tell me about it?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe you met someone and wanted to spend time with them without me even knowing. You do go on a lot of business trips.”

  “When I go on those business trips, I call you every single night. You’re being ridiculous right now. Why would somebody that I’m seeing behind your back have a picture of me as a child?”

  “I don’t know. It’s kind of weird, but not totally out of the question.”

  “It is totally out of the question, Stacia. I have never done anything like that behind your back. And the fact that you don’t trust me still, after all this time, really sucks.”

  “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Jake. You know my history. You know what I’ve been through. It’s just so hard for me to let you be so far away from me and not be able to communicate with you whenever I want. I hate that you don’t have cell coverage there. My mind goes crazy with all of the scenarios of what might be happening.”

  “By this point, Stacia, you should know that I would never do anything to hurt you.”

  “I know that in my head, babe. But my heart just can’t always be contained.”

  “Well, I can’t do this. You either trust me or you don’t. But I’m out here for a stupid work retreat, not because I want to go on vacation without you. So, you just need to learn to let it go. I’m not cheating on you. I’m not going to cheat on you. But when you act like this, it sometimes makes me question whether or not I can spend the rest of my life being doubted all of the time.”

  “That’s not fair. I can’t help how I feel.”

  “No, you can’t. But you can help how you respond to it. You need to tell yourself the truth when you hear those thoughts. And the truth is, I love you. I’ve never done anything to hurt you and I’m not going to start.”

  “Okay, I’m sorry, Jake.”

  “It’s whatever. I’ve got to go. Go back to sleep.”

  “Please don’t be mad at me.”

  “I’ll be fine in the morning, Stacia. I just need some time.”

  “Okay, I’m sorry again.”

  I hang up the phone and run my fingers through my hair. That girl can be infuriating. I’ve never done anything to hurt her and she still doesn’t trust me one hundred percent. Sometimes, it makes me question whether or not we should even get married. But when we’re together, it’s amazing. We have so much in common. We laugh at the same jokes and we enjoy the same kinds of food, even down to the same favorite restaurant - La Trattoria in Seattle.

  Whenever I’m gone for more than a few hours, though, she lets her mind get the best of her and freaks out. It’s exhausting.

  I sigh and look back down at the red box. Who the hell gave this to me? And how did they get a picture of me as a kid? It’s all just so strange.

  I decide to shove it to the back of my mind and get ready for this luau. Might as well try and enjoy myself while I’m here since I’m basically trapped for several days.

  9

  CHLOE

  “Chloe, let’s go! We’re going to be late,” Tawni yells to me from the living room.

  I put the finishing touches on my mascara and then check out my silhouette in the mirror. It’s nice to be able to dress up and be myself for once. Usually, I cover my face when I go out, but tonight, I get to be fully me and it feels good.

  “Coming!” I yell back at Tawni.

  “Finally,” she says as I emerge from the bedroom. “Why did it take you so long?”

  “I was just taking my time. I think I’m just a little nervous about this luau, Tawni.”

  “What is there to be nervous about? You’re being silly.”

  “I don’t know. It seems like I have a stalker.” I nod towards the gift on the kitchen table.

  “You don’t even know what’s inside that yet. You refuse to open it.”

  “I will open it, just not today. I’m kind of nervous to open it. What if it’s something embarrassing that somebody sent here?”

  “You’re super paranoid, Chloe. It’s literally probably nothing.”

  “You’re right. It probably is nothing, but I’m gonna wait to see what’s inside. I don’t want it to ruin our night.”

  “Suit yourself. I just think it’s a little weird you won’t open the damn thing.”

  The moment we exit our door, we can hear the music playing from across the lawn. Drums, guitars, synths and some other instruments I can’t quite place.

  “This is so exciting,” Tawni says. “I’ve never been to anything like this.”

  I think back on the times my dad and I went to this same luau here at the resort. We would go every other night. I loved the dancers and the music and he just loved to make me happy.

  “You’re gonna love it,” I say to her. “But promise me something.”

  “What?” She looks at me, a concerned expression on her face. What’s going on?”

  “Just promise me that no matter what happens, you won’t leave my side.”

  “Why?” She asks, confused.

  “There could be someone here stalking me, Tawni. The person who sent me that package. I just don’t feel comfortable being left alone.”

  “You’re not gonna let me go to the bathroom?” She says, a goofy look on her face.

  I gently shove her. “Of course, stupid. I just mean, like, don’t wander off for hours at a time. I need you to be with me.”

  “Who am I going to wander off with, Chloe? I don’t know anyone here.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s probably about to change. People are super friendly here on the island. I do remember that. Just promise me you won’t find some hot guy and take off with him for several hours.”

  “Okay, fine. I promise. I’ll be your bodyguard all night long,” she says sarcastically.

  I shake my head and roll my eyes. “I don’t need you to be my bodyguard. I just need you to be my friend.”

  “That’s so cheesy.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s true.”

  We walk into the clearing where the luau is held. Men and women are dancing in grass skirts. There are several locals on bongo drums and in the middle, people are dancing, already intoxicated. The air smells amazing. There is roasted pig and who knows what else.

  “I’m starving,” I say to Tawni. “I don’t even remember eating today.”

  “That’s because we didn’t. Let’s head straight for the food.”

  We walk over to a buffet laden with everything you could possibly imagine.

  “I’m gonna fill my plate. I’m on vacation; calories don’t count.”

  “Me too,” Tawni says. “This food looks amazing.”

  I glance up at the bar and see a man sitting there staring at me. Goosebumps rise on my skin. I elbow Tawni and nod my head towards the bar. “What if that is him? What if he left the gift?”

  “Don’t be stupid, Chloe. Whoever left that gift isn’t going to declare themselves right away. It’s clear they don’t want to be found out because they didn’t leave a name on the card.”

  I know she’s right, so I try to let it go. We pile our plates high and head towards an empty table. As soon as we sit down, a tall woman, the same woman I talked to about the gift in my room, walks to the center of the stage.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our luau.”

  The crowd erupts in applause.

  “We have two rules for you here tonight. Number one, have fun. Number two, have even more fun.” Again, the crowd erupts, this time in cheers and laughter.

  “I hope you enjoy the entertainment along with the food. If you have any questions or concerns, I will be wandering around and can answer any of them for you. Now then, let’s get back to the music!” She claps her hands and exits the stage.

  The drums resume their rhythm as the music returns to full blast. Tawni and I eat and dance and then eat some more. I can feel myself relaxing, just enjoying being in the moment with her.

  After several dances in a row, we finally sit down.

  My feet hurt, but in a good way. It’s been a long time since I’ve just danced for fun. Even when I perform these days, I mostly just stand there while the backup dancers do most of the dancing. My agent says she doesn’t want me to get hurt, but I miss it. Dancing tonight without anyone looking at me disapprovingly was a balm to my soul.

  “I’m gonna head to the bathroom, Chloe, okay?” Tawni says. “I’ll be fast, I promise,” she says to me knowingly.

  I nod, then look around. At the bar, I notice the same guy staring at me that was staring at me before. What the heck does he want? Does he know me? Suddenly, he stands, two drinks in his hand and walks towards me. My heart constricts. What am I going to do? I can’t just get up and run away.

  Before I even have a chance to decide, he’s standing right next to me.

  “May I sit down?” He asks.

  “It’s a free country,” I respond.

  He chuckles and sits down across from me.

  “I got you a drink,” he says, shoving it towards me.

  “Thanks, but I don’t take drinks from strangers.”

  “Fair enough,” he says, grabbing the drink back. “I’ll drink both of them.”

  “You do that,” I say to him.

  “So, where are you from?” He asks me.

  “And who is it that’s asking?” I reply.

  “I’m so sorry. My name is Stephan,” he says, reaching out his hand to shake mine. I take it hesitantly.

  “I saw you come in tonight and immediately knew I had to get to know you.”

  “Oh yeah?” I say to him skeptically. “Tonight’s the first time you’ve ever seen me?”

  He gives me a confused look. “Yeah, but you’re beautiful. How could I not want to talk to you?”

  “Well, I appreciate the kind gesture, but I’m not in the mood right now to talk to strangers. You can go now.”

  “Wow. Okay. That was unnecessary,” he says.

  “Well, my friend is about to be back and you’re in her seat.”

  “Understood,” he says, standing up. “Sorry, I tried to be nice to you.”

  He walks away back towards the bar and I feel a pang of guilt. I didn’t have to be so rude to him. I could have found a better way to get him to leave me alone. A few seconds later, I see Tawni walking back towards the table, a confused look on her face. She sits in front of me and leans forward, whispering conspiratorially.

  “Who was that?”

  I shrug. “No clue.”

  “He’s hot,” Tawni says.

  I look back at him. He’s still staring at me. His dark brown hair and chocolate brown skin make him look almost like a movie star.

  “Yeah, I guess he is hot.”

  “What happened, then?”

  “I told him to go away.”

  “You did what?”

  “I’m not here to meet a man, Tawni. I’m here to hang out with you.”

  “Yeah, but I wouldn’t fault you if a man like that wanted to hang out with you.”

  “Well, maybe you should go hang out with him then.”

  “Shut up! He didn’t come to see me; he came to see you.”

  “Well, he’s gonna be sorely disappointed because men are invisible to me right now. I don’t need that kind of distraction.”

  “Fine. Did you at least get a free drink?”

  I shake my head. “No, I turned that down too.”

  “What’s wrong with you?” She asks. “The best part about going to a bar is getting the free drinks.”

  “Who knows where that thing came from? He could have spiked it for all I know.”

  “You’re so paranoid,” Tawni says, rolling her eyes. “It’s a wonder you even let yourself out of the house.”

  I chuckle. “Most of the time, I don’t.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re here with me,” Tawni says.

  “Me too,” I say. “I think it’s going to be a good time.”

  “You better believe it. I’ve got the whole week planned.”

  I give her a worried look. What have I gotten myself into? I want the vacation to go smoothly, but I think back to the gift waiting in our room and know that if I do have a stalker on the island, there is little hope of that.

  10

  JAKE

  The alarm clock invades my sleep. I let it ring for a few seconds. I roll over to look at the time and groan. My head is pounding. The sun streaming in through the blinds isn’t helping. I slowly sit up and the entire room spins.

  Last night was more fun than I expected it to be. The food was amazing, the entertainment was first-class and after a few drinks, I didn’t even mind Tim’s enthusiasm. In fact, I found it almost infectious. We partied until the sun was about to come up and now I’m regretting my choices. Today’s sessions are going to be a challenge.