2nd Setup
Olivia took a deep breath, staring at the waves rolling onto the shore just beyond the open-air restaurant. The warm Hawaiian breeze brushed against her skin, carrying the faint scent of salt and plumeria. The open-air bar was bustling with energy, filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and excited chatter. Strings of fairy lights twinkled above, casting a golden glow over the scene. The deep blue ocean stretched out into the horizon, reflecting the moonlight in shimmering ripples. Palm trees swayed gently, their fronds rustling in the breeze as the scent of saltwater mixed with tropical blooms.
Sorority sisters filled the space, their joyful reunions filling the night with laughter. They hugged, squealed, and caught up on years that had passed too quickly, all while introducing their significant others. Hands intertwined, kisses on cheeks, and affectionate glances—it was a celebration of love, friendship, and the life they had built since college.
Yet, instead of walking in, Olivia stood to the side, lingering by the entrance like a hesitant guest at her own party.
She knew she was stalling. Not because she wasn't happy for Emma—of course, she was. Emma deserved all the love and happiness in the world. But as Olivia stared at the bustling crowd of couples inside, laughter ringing out from the dimly lit space, she felt that all-too-familiar pang of discomfort. She was the only single person in the room. Not that it was a problem; she could hold her own. She always had. But being here, surrounded by love and partnership, only reminded her of what she had wanted—and what had never been hers to begin with.
And this was just the first day. The first of many leading up to Emma's wedding in Maui. A full week of celebrations, events, and couple-centric activities. Olivia had barely made it through the first few hours, and she was already dreading the long days ahead. On top of that, she might have to be nice to whoever Haley and Daniel had decided to bring for her. The thought irritated her. She didn't need a setup, and she certainly didn't need pity.
She took another deep breath and finally stepped inside.
The moment she did, she was swallowed by the energy of the room. The music, the laughter, the warmth—it was all a little overwhelming. Almost instantly, Emma spotted her and beamed, waving her over.
"Olivia! You made it!" Emma exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug before Olivia had time to protest.
She returned the hug, forcing a smile. "Of course, I did. Wouldn't miss it."
Emma grinned, looping her arm through Olivia's. "Come on, the girls are going to be so excited to see you. And we need to get you a drink."
Before she knew it, she was being pulled into the heart of the party, greeted by old friends, their enthusiasm a little infectious despite her reluctance. A fruity cocktail was shoved into her hand, and she found herself loosening up, laughing as old stories resurfaced.
Then, just as she took a sip of her drink, Haley appeared at her side, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"So..." Haley drawled, her tone far too smug. "Daniel's friend should be here soon."
Olivia sighed, swirling her drink in her glass. She had a whole week ahead of her and was already exhausted.
Haley took one look at Olivia's face and laughed, shaking her head. "Relax a little, Liv. Daniel told me that Preston wouldn't be able to make it until the earliest is Friday. He'll be here for the wedding and the reception."
At that moment, Daniel came walking over to Haley, holding two drinks in hand. Haley couldn't help herself—she leaned into him, giving him a quick kiss and an affectionate embrace before taking her drink. Olivia rolled her eyes playfully, but she couldn't deny the way her chest tightened just a little at the sight of their easy affection.
"So, Olivia, did you catch the game last night?" Daniel asked, turning his attention to her.
Olivia smirked, happy to switch gears. "Of course, I did. And let me tell you, that last quarter was brutal. You can't tell me the refs weren't calling ridiculous fouls."
Daniel let out a groan. "Right? I was yelling at the screen the whole time. And don't even get me started on that last play—"
"Oh no," Haley interrupted, waving her hands between them. "We are not spending the whole weekend listening to you two debate sports. Between that and Emma's theatrics, I'll lose my mind."
As if on cue, a champagne flute clinked against glass, drawing everyone's attention to the front of the bar. Standing barefoot, dressed in an authentic-looking Hawaiian garment from head to toe, was Emma, her bleach-blonde hair perfectly styled despite the island humidity.
"Speaking of which," Haley muttered, nudging Olivia. "The show is about to start."
Olivia blinked, scanning the room. "When did she even do her first outfit change?" she whispered. "I swear she was right next to me five minutes ago."
Haley giggled, shaking her head. "Oh, this is going to be good."
*****
By the middle of the week, Olivia was at her limit. It wasn't just Emma's theatrics—though those alone were enough to make her want to book an early flight home—it was the constant, relentless attempts by her sorority sisters to set her up.
"Oh, Liv, I have to introduce you to my coworker's brother. He's a doctor!"
"Olivia, you'd love my fiancé's best friend. He just got out of a long-term relationship, but I think he's ready to meet someone new."
"I mean, I know you always dated guys, but have you considered a woman? Because I have the perfect girl for you."
It was nonstop. Every single event, every single meal, someone had a new name to throw at her. Olivia had smiled through gritted teeth, laughed it off, and politely declined at least a dozen setups. And if that wasn't exhausting enough, there were the endless couple-centric games she had to endure.
Wedding Mad Libs? Fine. Couples crossword puzzles? Annoying, but manageable. But the giant chess game, where couples had to "strategize together," had been particularly painful when Emma, ever the problem solver, had assignedOlivia a partner—a random groomsman who seemed more interested in checking his phone than making conversation. Then there was Pin the Tail on the Couple-to-Be, which was basically just a massive guessing game of "Who Knows Emma and Her Fiancé Best?" Spoiler: Not Olivia.
And through it all, Emma somehow found time for wardrobe changes. Not just once or twice a day, but in the middle of events. One moment, she'd be in a flowy sundress, the next, she'd reappear in an elaborate floral-printed jumpsuit with a fresh flower crown. Olivia had even caught her switching outfits between rounds of the couples' crossword puzzle. It was both impressive and completely ridiculous.
Tonight's festivities, however, were what finally gave her the perfect out.
Star-gazing on the beach.
"With the one you love," Emma had added dramatically, twirling around in one of her many, many outfits of the week.
The moment Olivia heard the plan, she knew she had to make an escape.
So, while the rest of the group made their way down to the shoreline, pairing off under the moonlit sky, Olivia slipped away, walking briskly through the resort's winding paths until she reached her room.
She let out a long breath the second she shut the door behind her. Silence. No forced small talk. No being the odd one out. Just her, her thoughts, and the cool, air-conditioned reprieve from the never-ending chaos of the wedding week.
Her hotel suite was nothing short of paradise. The floor-to-ceiling windows opened onto a private balcony, offering a breathtaking view of the ocean where the waves crashed softly against the shore. The entire space exuded tropical luxury, with soft neutral tones, plush white furniture, and dark wood accents that gave it an elegant yet relaxed vibe.
A spacious living area with a large sectional sofa and a glass coffee table made it feel more like a home than just a hotel room. A small dining nook sat in one corner, perfect for room service feasts like the one she was about to have. The bedroom was even better—her massive king-size bed, draped in crisp white linens, practically called to her. She could already imagine sprawling out, wrapped in the softest pillows known to mankind.
She kicked off her sandals and changed into something far more comfortable—her favorite pair of worn-in booty shorts, a sports bra, and a loose cami. She tossed her hair into a messy bun before flopping onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. She knew what she had signed up for. She knew a destination wedding meant being submerged in romance for days on end. But she hadn't expected to feel so... out of place.
Letting out a deep sigh, Olivia reached for the remote and turned on the TV. If she was going to hide out, she might as well enjoy it.
Maybe she'd even order room service. Alone. And happy about it.
An hour later, she was sprawled on the bed, surrounded by the best kind of company—a tray overflowing with desserts. A slice of chocolate lava cake, a plate of fresh mango and pineapple, macadamia nut cookies, and a generous helping of haupia pie. She had gone all in, and she had zero regrets.
Flipping through the channels, she let out a satisfied sigh, spooning a bite of warm, gooey chocolate cake into her mouth. The distant sound of waves crashing and muffled laughter from the beach only made her more grateful for her escape. No couple-themed activities. No awkward setups. Just her, sugar, and peace.
"This," she murmured to herself, licking a bit of chocolate from her spoon, "is the best night of the trip."
Just as she settled deeper into the pillows, a knock sounded at her hotel door. Olivia frowned, reluctantly pulling herself up. She had a strong feeling that Emma had caught on to her escape and had sent someone to drag her back to the beach.
With a sigh, she padded barefoot to the door and swung it open. Instead of Emma or a resort staff member, she found Haley and Daniel standing there, a case of beer in one hand and a bag of chips in the other.
"What are you two doing here?" she asked, stepping aside to let them in.
They barely made it through the door before their eyes landed on the half-finished dessert tray. They exchanged a look before Haley grinned. "Damn, Liv, we should have come here first."
Olivia crossed her arms. "I give zero fucks about your judgment. That still doesn't explain why you two lovebirds are in my room."
"Ah… about that," Daniel said, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, stargazing is… uh…" He trailed off, glancing at Haley.
Haley rolled her eyes and finished for him. "It's boring as shit." She flopped onto the couch. "You can only look at stars for so long. Then what? Am I supposed to make out on the beach like I'm fifteen years old? Give me a break."
Daniel shrugged. "Anyway, there's a game on back home, and I figured you might want to watch it." He lifted the case of beer. "So, here we are. You in?"
Olivia smirked, looking between them. This night really had just gotten better.
As they settled in, another knock sounded at the door. Olivia groaned. "If that's Emma, I swear I'm barricading the door."
She opened it to find Nicole and her boyfriend, Micah, standing there, holding a bottle of wine.
"Nicole? And um… Mich… Michael?" Olivia hesitated.
"It's actually Micah," the tall, lanky gentleman beside Nicole corrected with a polite smile.
Olivia looked between them, still questioning their presence.
"Well, actually, we were wondering if we could hang with you for a while," Nicole admitted. "You know, so you wouldn't be alone. That would be so not sister-like of me."
Olivia folded her arms. "Let me get this straight—you were so worried about me while you were stargazing that you decided to come all the way to my room… with wine?"
"Yes?" they both said in unison.
Olivia smirked. "Let me guess. You were bored out of your minds and needed a scapegoat?"
"Yes, please," Micah said with a sheepish grin.
Olivia sighed dramatically. "Ugh… fine. What's two more?"
As Nicole and Micah stepped inside, their eyes widened at the sight of Haley and Daniel already camped out.
"This is where you guys ran off to? We thought you were down at the beach…" Micah started.
Haley scoffed. "Excuse me, I have a perfectly great hotel room for that, thank you. And sand in the whoo-ha does not feel good."
All the girls erupted into laughter as Olivia shook her head. This night had officially turned into a full-blown escape party.
Not even ten minutes later, another knock sounded at the door. Olivia didn't even bother groaning this time. She just stood up, grabbed the doorknob, and swung it open.
Two more sorority sisters stood there, arms crossed, looking slightly guilty—Lauren and Marissa, along with Marissa's husband, Nate.
Lauren offered an awkward smile. "Sooo… we were just making sure you were okay?"
"And, um…" Marissa rocked on her heels. "We might have heard there was beer."
"And snacks," Nate added, unapologetically holding up an unopened bag of popcorn.
Olivia narrowed her eyes. "You guys are the worst liars."
Haley cackled from the couch. "Just let them in, Liv. Clearly, you're the official hiding spot."
Olivia exhaled, stepping aside. "Fine, but if Emma finds out, I'm throwing all of you under the bus."
One by one, more couples showed up, each with the same excuse, and each getting the same unimpressed look from Olivia. By the time the last couple knocked, she didn't even ask why they were there—she just opened the door, muttering, "Let me guess, you were checking on me?"
"...Yes?" they all said in unison.
Now, Olivia's hotel suite was packed. The sectional was full, the dining nook was occupied, and even the floor had people sprawled out, making themselves at home. Bottles of wine and beer cluttered the coffee table. The game played on the TV, interrupted only by bursts of cheering and competitive jeering. Olivia had never felt more at ease.
She was in her element—placing friendly bets on the game, talking strategy, running odds like the part-time bookie she had always been for fun. At one point, Daniel looked at her, shook his head, and said, "Damn, Olivia, you could probably make a living off this."
"I could," she said, grinning as she counted up the winnings in their unofficial betting pool.
She didn't have to worry about getting hit on. She wasn't the odd single woman in a sea of couples. Here, she was just one of the guys—trading sports stats, cracking jokes, and being completely herself.
Eventually, some of the women drifted onto the balcony, the warm ocean breeze wrapping around them as they sipped their drinks. Olivia leaned against the railing, staring out at the waves.
"I can't believe you suckered all of us into hiding in your room," Nicole teased, nudging Olivia playfully.
"I didn't sucker anyone into anything," Olivia shot back. "I was just minding my business, hiding from all the romance, and you guys showed up."
Marissa laughed. "That's actually fair."
Their conversation drifted from careers to family life, to the ridiculous outfits Emma had already worn this week. Olivia talked with ease, swapping stories and venting about work, just like she used to in college.
For the first time in a long time, she felt comfortable. No expectations. No pressure. Just good company and genuine laughter.
This night really had turned into the best one of the trip.
The laughter inside Olivia's suite hadn't died down for even a second. More couples trickled in, each claiming they had just "stopped by to check on her," but it was clear at this point—she was the one hiding them.
The sectional was packed, the dining nook turned into a mini snack station, and someone had even dragged in an extra chair from the balcony. The game was still playing, though it was now competing with the sound of friendly banter, playful bets, and bursts of laughter.
Olivia sat cross-legged on the couch, flipping through a notepad where she'd been keeping tabs on everyone's bets. "Alright, final tally—Micah's down twenty bucks because he refuses to believe his team sucks, and Daniel, you owe Haley a back massage because she called that interception before it happened."
Daniel groaned. "I swear she's a witch when it comes to football."
Olivia smirked, stretching her arms over her head. "I don't make the rules. I just see the game better than you."
Nicole leaned over to Olivia, her wine glass in hand. "So, do you do this for fun, or are you actually some underground bookie?"
Olivia grinned. "Both."
The night continued seamlessly; everyone lost in conversations about sports, finances, and life updates. For once, Olivia wasn't the single girl in a room full of couples. She wasn't a bridesmaid being thrown into matchmaking schemes. She was just herself—talking shop, laughing easily, and enjoying the company without any pressure.
As the game wrapped up, a few of the women moved to the balcony, the ocean breeze making the warm Hawaiian night even more perfect. Olivia followed, leaning against the railing, her drink in hand.
"You know," Marissa started, swirling the wine in her glass, "this is the most fun I've had all week."
A few of the others nodded in agreement.
"Right?" Lauren chimed in. "Don't get me wrong, I love Emma, but she's been a lot this trip."
"Like… five outfit changes a day a lot," someone else added.
That sent the group into another round of laughter.
Olivia smirked. "I don't even know when she does them. It's like she disappears in plain sight and then—bam—new wardrobe."
"I'm starting to think she has a secret dressing room hidden somewhere," Nicole said, shaking her head.
The conversation drifted into careers, fashion, family life—things that, for once, had nothing to do with forced romance or wedding chaos. Olivia listened, chiming in naturally, feeling more relaxed than she had in days.
As she glanced back inside, she saw Daniel still arguing over a play with Micah while Haley stole another cookie off the table. The entire suite was buzzing with life, yet it felt easy, natural—comfortable.
Maybe she hadn't planned for this trip to turn out this way, but somehow, it had given her exactly what she didn't realize she needed.
A night of just being her.
Soon, more and more couples trickled in, using the excuse of "checking on Olivia" when, in reality, they were escaping the over-the-top romance of the stargazing event. Wine, snacks, and drinks were passed around, the game played in the background, and laughter filled the room. Before long, everyone was slightly—or completely—drunk, sprawled out in whatever space they could find.
As the night wrapped up, the group started whispering and taking bets on how many more outfit changes Emma had planned for the rest of the week.
"I'm saying at least ten more," Daniel mumbled as he leaned back against the couch.
"Fifteen," Micah countered. "She's just getting started."
Olivia shook her head, grinning. This had truly been her best night of the trip.
***********************
The resort's open-air restaurant was buzzing with the sounds of clinking mimosa glasses, the ocean breeze rolling through the space, and, of course, Emma holding court at the center of it all.
Olivia sat at the long, sunlit table, nursing her iced coffee, feeling surprisingly refreshed despite the late night. Around her, the other "escapees" from last night had strategically positioned themselves at the far end of the table, away from Emma's enthusiastic breakdown of the romantic magic of the stargazing event.
"It was just like something out of a movie," Emma gushed, resting her chin on her fiancé's shoulder. "The stars, the sound of the waves—it was all so perfect."
Across the table, Micah barely held in a laugh, keeping his head down as he pretended to butter a piece of toast. Olivia met Haley's gaze, and Haley smirked into her mimosa. The unspoken joke hung between them—Yeah, it was definitely an event.
Emma turned suddenly, her bright eyes scanning the group. "Olivia! You snuck out early last night. You missed it!"
Olivia set her coffee down, keeping her expression neutral. "Yeah… I heard it was something else."
Emma nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, it was! You really should've stayed! It was just so romantic, so intimate."
At that moment, a few of the others at the table coughed—whether from choking on their drinks or holding back laughter was unclear.
"Uh-huh," Olivia said, lips twitching. "Sounds like a dream."
Before Emma could continue her poetic retelling, a waiter arrived with their food. Olivia turned her attention to her plate—fresh tropical fruit, eggs, and a flaky croissant. She was content to let the moment pass, but she should've known better.
Emma never just let things go.
"So, what did you do last night?" Emma asked, sipping her mimosa. "I mean, you didn't just go to bed, did you?"
At the question, Olivia felt several sets of eyes dart toward her. Haley cleared her throat. Daniel casually took a sip of his coffee, clearly trying to avoid getting involved.
Olivia leaned back in her chair, lifting a shoulder. "Oh, nothing much. Just hung out in my room, relaxed, watched some TV."
"Oh?" Emma's eyes narrowed slightly, picking up on something. "Alone?"
This time, Micah choked on his juice.
Olivia smiled sweetly. "Technically… at first."
Emma's brows shot up. "Wait, what do you mean, technically?"
Olivia took a slow sip of her coffee, enjoying the suspense. Around the table, everyone else tried—and failed—to suppress their grins.
"Well," Olivia started, setting her cup down, "turns out, I wasn't the only one who wasn't feeling the whole romantic stargazing thing. So a few people ended up, you know… checking in on me."
Emma tilted her head, confused. "A few people?"
Haley finally gave in and burst out laughing. "Liv turned her suite into the official hideout for all the romance escapees!"
Emma gasped. "What?"
Nicole nodded, grinning. "Yup. The 'most romantic night of the week' turned into beer, chips, and a game night in Olivia's room."
Emma's mouth fell open. "Wait—so all of you—" She gestured around the table, realization dawning as she connected the dots. "You were all in Olivia's room?"
"Guilty," Micah said, raising his hand.
"One hundred percent," Marissa added, stealing a bite of her fiancé's pancakes.
Emma looked personally betrayed. "And no one told me?!"
Daniel chuckled. "In our defense, we knew you were going to be all about the romance. We didn't want to ruin the illusion."
Emma crossed her arms, exhaling dramatically. "I cannot believe this. My own sisters abandoned the most romantic night of the trip for—what, beer and football?"
Olivia shrugged. "To be fair, there was wine, too."
Haley smirked. "And some excellent sports betting, courtesy of our resident bookie."
Emma threw up her hands. "Unbelievable!"
But Olivia could see the amusement creeping into Emma's expression.
Her friend shook her head in faux exasperation. "Well, you all missed out, because last night was iconic."
"Totally," Olivia said with a grin. "Just in very different ways."
Emma huffed but finally relented, a smile breaking through. "Alright, alright. But tonight, there is no escaping. We have a very special event planned, and I expect full participation."
Olivia sighed. "Oh God. What now?"
Emma's smile turned mischievous. "Rehearsal dinner karaoke."
A chorus of groans and laughter erupted around the table.
"Oh, come on, it'll be fun!" Emma insisted.
Olivia shook her head, already feeling the next wave of chaos incoming. But despite herself, she couldn't help but laugh.
Friday Morning – Olivia Attempts to Work
By Friday morning, Olivia had officially survived a week of Emma's Over-the-Top Wedding Itinerary. Barely.
Now, she was sitting at the small dining nook in her suite, laptop open, fingers poised over the keyboard as she attempted to catch up on emails. The sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the scent of fresh coffee filled the air, and she had a moment of peace for the first time in days.
No forced romance. No weirdly intimate couples' activities. No surprise wardrobe changes—
She paused, scoffing to herself. Scratch that last part. Emma probably changed into a three-piece silk pajama set just to eat breakfast.
She sipped her coffee, shaking her head as she mentally replayed the chaos of the past few days.
Couples Kayaking – Also Known as "Survival Training"
Emma, in her infinite wisdom, had personally assigned Olivia a kayak partner—a groomsman she'd never met in her life.
"I thought it would be fun!" Emma had chirped, standing on the shore in a swimsuit-and-sarong combo that somehow looked professionally styled.
It was not fun.
The poor guy—Scott? Steve? She honestly couldn't remember—had the paddling skills of a drunken toddler. Olivia had spent half the trip yelling, "LEFT! NO, THE OTHER LEFT!" while trying not to flip into the water.
Meanwhile, Emma and her fiancé glided effortlessly through the waves like they were filming a romance movie montage.
At one point, Olivia turned just in time to see Emma had completely changed into a full swimsuit, complete with a matching headscarf and oversized sunglasses.
"How?!" Olivia had muttered to herself, nearly dropping her paddle in disbelief.
By the end of it, Olivia was soaked, exhausted, and strongly considering faking an injury to get out of the next activity.
Binge with Your Bestie – The One Event Olivia Didn't Hate
Surprisingly, this was the least chaotic event of the week.
The resort had a very nice private screening room, and everyone got to pair up with their best friend, lounge in plush recliners, and binge-watch rom-coms with unlimited popcorn.
Emma had tried to make it sentimental, insisting everyone pick a movie that meant something to their friendship. Olivia and Haley had ignored that completely and chosen Superbad.
The real entertainment had been watching which couples actually enjoyed the movie night and which ones barely made it through without bickering over Love, Actually.
"Oh my God, just admit it's bad, Ryan," Nicole had snapped at her husband.
"You're wrong, and I will die on this hill," Ryan had replied, mid-popcorn toss.
Meanwhile, Emma had somehow changed outfits twice—once into a fuzzy lounge set, and later into a silk pajama dress because, in her words, "Romantic comedies deserve aesthetic commitment."
Olivia had rolled her eyes so hard they nearly got stuck.
Sunrise with Your Lover – The Event That Nearly Broke Everyone
"Sunrise with Your Lover" had been a disaster before it even started.
For one, no one wanted to wake up before dawn, and it had taken multiple wake-up calls to even get half the group out of bed. Olivia had only shown up because she was taking bets on how many couples would actually make it. (She won. Seven out of twelve bailed.)
Emma had floated onto the beach, fully dressed in a flowing white cover-up, looking like a goddess of the morning sun, while everyone else looked half-dead.
The coffee had been terrible. The pastries were cold. And while the sunrise was beautiful, Olivia mostly enjoyed watching everyone else suffer.
Daniel had wrapped himself in a towel like a human burrito and muttered, "I hate this. I hate everything."
Haley had nodded sleepily. "Wake me up when the sun's all the way up."
And of course, Emma had managed a wardrobe change again, somehow swapping from her sunrise outfit into an entirely new beach dress before brunch.
Now: Friday Morning – Olivia's Escape into Work
Olivia sighed, shaking her head as she closed out an email.
This trip had been insane. But, if she was being honest, she had enjoyed spending time with everyone—when they weren't trying to drown her, wake her up at ungodly hours, or force-feed her Love, Actually.
The knock at her door nearly made her groan out loud.
"Oh God, what now?" With a sigh, she stood up and walked over, opening it to reveal—Emma standing in yet another brand-new outfit.
"Liv!" Emma beamed. "I need your help!"
Olivia blinked. "With what?"
Emma clapped her hands. "Karaoke song choices!"
Olivia groaned, rubbing her temples. "Em, I'm working."
Emma gasped as if the word work personally offended her. "On vacation?"
"Yes, because some of us still have jobs."
Emma waved a dismissive hand. "Okay, well, you can take a break for five minutes—this is important!"
Olivia sighed, stepping aside and motioning Emma in. "Fine. But if you try to put me in some cheesy duet, I swear—"
Emma grinned. "Oh, Liv, would I ever do that to you?"
Olivia narrowed her eyes. "Yes. Yes, you would."
Emma giggled. "Okay, true, but let's focus—are you more of a Shania Twain girl, or should we go full Celine Dion?"
(45 minutes later)
"Emma," Olivia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "We've gone through fifteen song options."
"Because it has to be perfect," Emma said, scrolling on her phone with intense concentration. She was sitting cross-legged on Olivia's couch, fully settled in like she had all the time in the world. "Karaoke isn't just about singing—it's storytelling."
Olivia arched a brow. "It's a bunch of drunk people screaming into a microphone."
Emma gasped dramatically. "You take that back!"
Olivia groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Emma, just pick a damn song."
Emma tapped her chin thoughtfully. "What about Ain't No Mountain High Enough? It's iconic."
Olivia stared. "You're trying to make me do a duet, aren't you?"
Emma gave an innocent smile. "Maybe…"
Before Olivia could tell her absolutely not, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and frowned. Weird. Why was her landlord calling?
"Hang on," Olivia muttered, standing up as she answered. "Hello?"
"Olivia, hi—it's Mike from the leasing office."
Immediately, her stomach dropped. Mike never called unless it was something serious.
"Hey, Mike. What's up?"
There was a hesitation—the kind that instantly made her uneasy.
"Well… I wanted to give you a heads-up," Mike said carefully. "A main water line on the top floor burst this morning, and… well, it's bad, Olivia."
Her heart started pounding. "Bad how?"
"It's flooded multiple floors already," Mike explained. "We've got teams working on shutting the water off and clearing out the damage, but…" Another pause. "You're not on the top floor, but you're high enough up that I know your unit's going to be affected."
"Shit." Olivia's eyes darted around the hotel room, panic already creeping in.
"I know you're out of town a lot," Mike continued, "so I wanted to call personally and let you know. You might want to come back as soon as you can. We don't have a full assessment yet, but it's not looking good."
Olivia's brain was already racing. "Do you know if my unit is completely flooded?"
"We won't know for sure until later today, but the floors beneath the break have already taken water damage."
Shit. Shit.
Olivia's grip on her phone tightened. "Okay. Thanks for calling me, Mike. I'll figure something out."
She ended the call and took a deep breath. Her apartment—her home—was possibly underwater right now. She had no idea what the damage looked like, but she knew one thing for sure—she had to get out of Hawaii. Now.
She turned and immediately started grabbing her things, shoving clothes into her suitcase as quickly as possible.
Emma, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. "Liv? What's going on?"
"My apartment's flooded," Olivia said, zipping up one suitcase and moving to the next.
Emma gasped. "What?!"
Olivia didn't stop moving. "A water main burst. My unit's not on the top floor, but it's close enough that I know I'm going to have damage."
Emma shot to her feet. "Oh my God. What do you need?"
"I need to get the hell out of here," Olivia muttered, stuffing toiletries into her bag.
"Wait, wait—Liv, slow down!" Emma grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "How bad is it?"
Olivia exhaled sharply. "I don't know yet. But I do know I can't just sit here and wait to find out."
Emma chewed her lip. "Okay, okay. Let's figure this out. Do you need me to book you a flight? Pack your things?"
"I've got it," Olivia said quickly. "I just need to get to the airport now."
Emma nodded, pulling out her phone. "Okay, let me check flight options—"
Another knock on the door made them both freeze.
Emma glanced toward it, then back at Olivia. "I swear, if that's another couples activity announcement, I'll scream."
Olivia groaned. "If it is, I'll help you."
Emma opened the door, revealing Haley and Daniel, both looking confused as they stood in the hallway, clearly on their way down to breakfast.
"Uh… what's going on?" Haley asked, eyes darting between Olivia's half-packed suitcases and the way she was darting around the room, grabbing things in a blur.
"Liv?" Daniel frowned. "Are you leaving?"
Olivia let out a sharp breath, barely stopping to acknowledge them as she shoved her laptop charger into her carry-on. "Yeah. My apartment is flooding."
Haley's eyes widened. "Wait—what?"
"A water line broke on the top floor," Olivia explained quickly, still moving. "It's already flooding multiple apartments, and I don't know how bad mine is, but I can't just sit here and wait to find out."
"Shit," Daniel muttered. "That's bad."
Emma nodded dramatically. "That's what I said!"
Haley stepped inside, brows furrowed. "Do you know if your stuff is damaged?"
"No clue," Olivia said, tossing another pair of shoes into her suitcase. "Mike—my landlord—called and said they're still assessing it. But if water is coming down from the top floors, I know I'm going to have damage. I need to get back now."
Daniel crossed his arms. "Alright. So, what's the plan?"
"Flight," Emma answered instantly, holding up her phone. "I'm checking now."
Haley nodded. "Okay, we'll help however we can. Do you need us to—"
"No, no, I've got it," Olivia interrupted, zipping up her suitcase. "I just need to book the next flight out."
Emma glanced up from her screen. "There's a flight leaving in two hours, but it's gonna be tight."
"Book it," Olivia said without hesitation.
Haley exhaled. "You're gonna be sprinting through the airport."
"I know," Olivia said, grabbing her phone to check out.
Emma tapped furiously on her screen. "Okay, done. You're on that flight."
"Thank you," Olivia muttered, taking a breath. She was trying to keep it together, but her brain was spinning. She had to get home, assess the damage, and figure out where she was going to stay if her apartment was unlivable—so much to do.
Haley and Daniel exchanged a look before Haley stepped forward and grabbed Olivia's hand, giving it a firm squeeze. "Hey. You got this."
Olivia met her best friend's eyes and exhaled. "Yeah. I just… wasn't expecting to deal with this in the middle of all this." She gestured vaguely around the resort, where, just last night, her biggest issue was Emma's outfit changes. Now? Her home was possibly destroyed.
Daniel clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Let's get you to the airport."