Bryan asked me, "Miss Gilbert, which hotel are you staying at? I'll drop you off."
"That won't be necessary."
I kept my tone polite. "I'll just grab a cab. Find somewhere to rest. I'll let you know when I'm ready to head back."
Bryan didn't push it.
I stepped out of the airport, and the warm, humid air rolled over me.
Coconut trees, palm fronds, local women with frangipani tucked behind their ears, and that scent of freedom hanging in the air.
Everything was exactly the way I'd imagined it.
I pulled out my phone, turned on my location, and searched for hotels nearby.
That was when a startled voice came from behind me.
"Peggy?"
"What are you doing in Bali?"
Seeing me show up in Bali too, the two of them, strolling arm in arm up from the shore, stopped dead in their tracks.
Brendan recovered first and let out a couple of laughs.
"Peggy, I didn't realize you were this clingy. Booking a ticket the next day just to chase after me. Fine, go get this stuff sorted out first."
He tossed the tent straight at me, telling me to go pitch it.
I stayed where I was, not moving an inch.
"You've got it wrong."
"I just happened to come to Bali."
I wasn't traveling with them, and I hadn't come looking for them.
When I turned and started walking toward another tent that was already set up,
Brendan's face darkened at once, and he came striding toward me.
"Peggy, so I didn't buy your ticket yesterday, big deal. You showed up in Bali anyway, didn't you? What's with the attitude?"
"I just asked you to pitch a tent. Is that really worth that cold, sour face?"
I lifted my eyes coldly.
Before I could say a word, Victoria rushed in to play peacemaker.
"Oh, come on, Peggy, you're here now, so don't be mad."
She said it with a grin. "Brendan and I made a promise back in college. The two of us were going to take a trip to Bali together someday!"
"Don't go getting jealous just because I'm a woman. We're really just buddies, nothing more."
As she spoke, she reached out and patted Brendan's shoulder. "See? Your wife still cares about you. She came chasing all the way out here, didn't she?"
Brendan said nothing, but the expression on his face softened a little.
He glanced at me, his tone gentler than before.
"All right, you're here, that's what matters. Get the tent up first. I'll take Victoria for a walk along the beach and be back soon."
With that, he turned to leave.
"Brendan."
He looked back, surprised. "What is it?"
"I said I didn't chase after you."
I said it word by word. "I came to Bali because I've wanted to come for three years."
"Not because you happened to be here."
"As for that tent of yours, whoever wants to pitch it can pitch it. Don't come bothering me."
The air went quiet for a few seconds.
Victoria bit down on her straw, glancing from me to Brendan, the smile slipping off her face.
Brendan stared at me for a long moment, then suddenly let out a laugh.
"Sure."
He nodded, an indescribable irritation in his voice.
"You didn't chase after me. You just happened to show up in Bali today, happened to end up on this exact beach, happened to run into us. Peggy, do you really think I'd buy that?"
His tone was laced with mockery, but I only answered flatly.
"Believe it or not, that's up to you."
I turned to leave. Brendan glanced around, his gaze landing on the space behind me.
"Where's your luggage?"
Brendan frowned. "You came to Bali alone and didn't even bring a suitcase?"
