It’s not the last interruption I get tonight.
A few hours later—after trying to work and getting nowhere—my door swings open without a knock.
“So,” Luke says, dropping into the chair opposite me, “we got an interesting new guest today, didn’t we?”
“Stay away from her.”
He tilts his head. “Because she’s your ex?”
“Because she’s here as a guest. We don’t cross that line.”
He spins the globe on my desk, ignoring the point. “What happened between you two?”
“It’s not your business.”
“I’ve got time.”
“Then go deal with her car,” I say flatly. “And stop sitting here.”
He grins, unfazed. “Man, you’re in a terrible mood. Wonder why.”
He winks, pushes to his feet, and strolls out, whistling.
Only after he’s gone does it hit me.
He never agreed to stay away from her.
CHAPTER 9
Sierra
When I open my eyes the next morning, it takes me a second to orient myself. Wood paneling, bamboo accents, a wide balcony—and beyond it, a soft orange-pink sunrise. It’s beautiful. I lie still for a moment, watching the breeze stir the curtains, letting it wash over me.
Then it hits, and I bolt upright in bed.
I’m not at home. But neither am I at some random five-star resort. I’m at the New Life Retreat Center.
I drag a hand through my hair, wincing at the tangled curls, as everything from yesterday comes rushing back. I cut the spiral off before it can take hold. Yesterday was yesterday. Today, I have things to do. Starting with my car.
Luke said he’d get someone to look at it, but I don’t know if that’s actually happened. I should find him, get his number too, so I’m not chasing him down every time I need something. If I’m staying long enough to do a review, I should start filming—if that’s allowed.
I should check with Luke. What if he says no? What if they don’t want anyone seeing whatever shady things go on here? Or maybe it’s about client privacy. That, at least, would be fair. I’m already planning to avoid filming anyone directly, and blur any faces I might catch accidentally, but still.
If Reid shuts it down, I’ll probably do it anyway, just more carefully. If this place really is some kind of cult, someone has to expose it.
I shower, tame my hair into something passable, and change into fresh clothes. Then I grab my vlogging camera and step out onto the balcony for the backdrop.
“Hi guys!” I say, repeating it a couple of times until I get the tone right—enthusiastic, but not fake. “So, we’re doing something a little different today. After my last video on pseudoscientific remedies creeping into the mainstream, I figured I should actually try one myself, so… Here I am at the New Life Retreat Center. Full disclosure, I’m staying here for free—but they tell me it’s a pay-what-you-can model, so technically I guess anyone can come, as long as they meet certain criteria, which I’ll get into later. Don’t worry—free stay or not, you’re getting my honest take. As always, everything will be science-based.”
I wrap up, pocket the camera, and head out. The smell of coffee hits me almost immediately, guiding me down the hall to the dining area, where breakfast is being set up.
“Excuse me?” I ask one of the staff moving quickly between tables. “Do you know where Luke is?”
He points toward a room across the hall and around the corner, where someone is wheeling out a tray of fresh plates. “Thank you,” I say, heading that way.
Even before I reach it, I hear laughter—deep, genuine, voices overlapping as they try to land the punchline. I step inside andfind Luke with two other men, chopping fruit and working a stove loaded with pancakes and French toast.
He’s laughing—really laughing—as a younger, blond guy across from him delivers what sounds like a painfully bad dad joke. The kind that should make you cringe, but Luke and the other seem to love it.