FIVE MINUTES.
It wasn’t long to wait. Things happened, even to drivers from five-star resorts. Or was it five-star accommodation? A five-star villa? Piper Evans wasn’t sure. Her brother Liam had used all those terms when he’d told her she’d be staying there. The name of the place was Pleasure Villas, though that wasn’t in any of the pictures he’d sent. Either way, Liam had hyped it up so much Piper could have sworn he was trying to get her to move to Greece rather than stay a week for his wedding.
But that was Liam. Or it had been Liam since they’d reconnected after their father’s death. Enthusiastic, sincere. Responsible...? She wasn’t entirely sure how to answer that. He hadn’t been, once upon a time. He was getting married now, though, and marriage didn’t exactly scream irresponsibility.
And yet she was still waiting at the airport for a driver he had been meant to arrange for her.
Ten minutes.
Why had she left the task to Liam anyway? She knew how he could be. She had countless examples of him letting her down. Sure, it seemed like he’d changed. The getting married thing, and all that. Or had she only wanted to believe that?
No, she thought. He had changed. Mostly since he’d met Emma, his fiancée, but still. Before their father had died, she and Liam had been in touch once, maybe twice a year. Then Liam had started dating Emma, and he’d been in touch more. Piper occasionally met up with them for meals. She wouldn’t go so far as to say they were erasing the past, but this was a start. Enough of one that she could see how Emma influenced Liam.
Their relationship had lasted longer than any of Liam’s previous ones. The one-year mark had come quickly, and he was still deeply in love. Then the engagement, planning a wedding—all within six months—and her brother wasn’t running.
She tried not to feel resentment at that. Rather, she focused on the hope that surged inside her. Liam’s relationship with Emma proved people could move forward regardless of their past. Maybe that meant she could, too. One day, she might finally be able to erase the marks her father had left on her life, her relationships, like Liam had.
Except it was now twenty minutes since she’d arrived, and her driver still wasn’t there. Which meant her brother hadn’t organised her a ride to the accommodation, as he’d assured her several times he had.
She let out a breath. Forcibly relaxed her clenched jaw. She searched the car park of the small Mykonos Airport, looking for anyone who could be looking for her. But, as had been the case for the past twenty minutes, no one seemed to be there without a purpose. She walked back through the sliding doors, circled the small waiting area. She saw only one person.
He’d been there when she’d landed. He held a sign that said Sunset Resort and wore a glowering expression behind dark sunglasses. Something about him made her shudder, and she was immensely glad she wasn’t staying at Sunset Resort.
She pulled her eyes away from the stranger, sighed and pulled out her phone. She’d bought an international SIM card for this very reason.
Maybe you don’t believe Liam has changed after all.
‘Hello?’
‘Liam,’ she said, relief making her voice breathy. ‘I’m so glad you answered.’
‘Did something happen? Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine.’ She began walking to the sliding doors again, dragging her bag behind her. ‘I’ve just been waiting for almost half an hour for the driver you arranged.’
‘You have been?’ he asked. ‘That can’t be right. Are you sure?’
‘Considering I’m here alone—have been for the last thirty minutes—yes, I’m sure.’
‘I’m sorry, Pie,’ he said, using the name he’d given her as a child. She still hated it. ‘Someone should have been there right when you landed. I gave Caleb your flight details. He’s been tracking you, and there’s no way he’d make you wait.’
‘Caleb?’ she said, wondering why the name sounded so familiar.
‘Yeah, Caleb. Emma’s brother.’
‘Oh, Caleb,’ she said again, as if she knew the man and hadn’t only heard his name.
To be honest, Piper thought him a fantasy. Emma talked about her mysterious older brother whenever they got together, yet Piper had only met Emma’s younger siblings. For all she knew, Emma had made up this mythical tale of the protective, kind older brother who’d taken care of them after their father died.
Piper had done that with Liam. When her father had refused to let her leave the house or made her jump through hoops when she wanted to study, she’d pretended Liam hadn’t left home as soon as he’d got the chance. She’d told herself he was working hard to get her out of the situation he’d escaped.
She hadn’t indulged such fantasies for long. Maybe this wedding was finally the opportunity for reality to eclipse Emma’s fantasy, too.
‘Let me give him a call and find out what happened.’
‘Okay.’
Liam hung up without saying goodbye, which would have bothered her more if he hadn’t done so for her sake. A moment