1
Owen
THE LODGE LOOKS LIKE the kind of place where people find themselves—which is exactly what I’m trying to avoid. Yet here I am anyway, because apparently loving your sister means enduring weekend retreats.
My rental car crunches over the last few feet of gravel as I finally park, cut the engine, and sit for a moment, gathering myself. Through the windshield, Pine Ridge Eco Lodge stretches before me like something out of a nature documentary—reclaimed wood and solar panels, native plants spilling from every available crevice. Very Ava. Very not me.
I grab my weekend bag from the passenger seat and head toward the entrance. The doors whoosh open to reveal a lobby that screams sustainable living: bamboo floors, furniture made from recycled materials. The air smells like pine and something herbal that costs thirty dollars an ounce at Whole Foods.
“Owen!” Ava rushes toward me, all bouncing blonde hair and bright smiles. Behind her trails Bryce, looking impeccable as always, in pressed khakis and a white polo.
“Hey, Av.” I accept her enthusiastic hug, breathing in her familiar vanilla perfume. For a moment, the knot in my chest loosens. Whatever else happens this weekend, at least I have her.
“How was the drive? Not too bad? The GPS didn’t send you through that construction zone, did it?” She’s already reaching into her purse, pulling out a keycard. “Here’s your room key. You’re in 240—second floor, east wing.”
I take the card in the recycled paper sleeve. “Thanks. Sounds good.”
“Oh, and you’ll be sharing with Bryce’s best friend, Slade. I hope that’s okay? We had to do some shuffling with the rooms and—”
“It’s fine. Really, it’s not a problem.”
It is, kind of. I prefer my own space, my own routines. Sharing a hotel room feels too intimate, too reminiscent of college dorms. Still, this is Ava’s weekend. I can handle sleeping in the same room as a stranger for two nights.
Bryce steps forward. “Good to see you again, Owen. Thanks for making the trip.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” I shake his hand, noting his firm grip and direct eye contact. Everything about Bryce exudes competence and calm—qualities that probably serve him well in surgery. “Congratulations, by the way. On the engagement.”
“Thanks, man. Means a lot.” His smile is genuine, and I can see why Ava fell for him. He has that steady, reliable energy she’s always been drawn to.
“Why don’t you go drop your bag and then meet us at the petting zoo?” Ava bounces on her toes. “Everyone’s already down there.”
I nod and head toward the elevators, leaving them to their cheerful mood.
The room is on the second floor, just as advertised. I slide the keycard and push open the door to reveal a space designed for two occupants. Twin beds separated by a nightstand, a small seating area by the window, and a tiny bathroom. Everything is done in earth tones and natural materials, continuing the lodge’s theme.
One bed is already claimed—a black leather duffel bag sits on the luggage rack, and I catch a whiff of something masculine and woodsy. My mysterious roommate has good taste in cologne, at least.
I drop my bag on the unclaimed bed and unzip it to grab a fresh shirt. The drive left me feeling wrinkled and stale, and if I’m going to face whatever social gauntlet Ava has planned, I want to look put-together. I change quickly, running my fingers through my hair in the bathroom mirror. The reflection looks at me with tired blue eyes and a jawline that carries tension from the road.
This is fine. I can handle this. It’s just a weekend.
I make my way back downstairs and follow the signs in the direction of the petting zoo, which apparently exists because this lodge caters to families who want to commune with nature while still enjoying room service. The path winds through well-maintained gardens, past a playground that looks like it was built by artisanal elves, and toward a fenced area where I can already hear the sounds of various farm animals.
“There he is!” Ava waves me over as I approach the gate. She’s standing with Bryce near a pen full of miniature horses, but my attention snags on the couple by the goat enclosure.
Maia. My ex.
She’s laughing at something her companion—Jace, I assume—has said, her auburn hair catching the afternoon sunlight as she tosses her head back. She looks radiant, wearing a sundress that shows off her tan. Jace has his arm around her waist, and they’re sharing a bag of feed pellets, taking turns offering treats to an eager goat that keeps head-butting their hands for more.
My shoulders lock up like someone just dumped ice water down my spine. They look happy. Genuinely happy in a way that Maia and I never managed, even in our best moments.
“Owen, come meet everyone!” Ava’s voice cuts through my spiral, and I force myself to glance away from the scene of domestic bliss playing out near the goats.
She leads me toward two women I don’t recognize. One has curly chestnut hair and an outfit that suggests she raided a paint store for color inspiration. The other is dressed in flowing fabrics that look both comfortable and expensive, with kind eyes that seem to take in everything.
“This is Zara and Naya—they’re friends from work. Girls, this is my brother, Owen.”
“Nice to meet you,” I manage, shaking hands. Zara’s grip is firm and confident, while Naya’s is gentler and more perceptive, like she’s trying to read my palm.
