I wasn’t even invited, not officially. My sister Salome just texted the night before like,

“If you’re free, we’ve got room in the car.” I said yes before even thinking about it.

I needed the break. Things at home had been…tense.

The plan was simple: drive upstate, stay at a friend’s cabin, wine, junk food, trashy reality TV.

I tossed my stuff in a bag and met them in the driveway just as they were finishing up loading the back.

Blankets, snacks, beach towels—even leopard print, of course. That’s Salome’s signature.

When I climbed in, everyone seemed surprised—but not in a bad way. Just… quiet for a second too long. I brushed it off.

Then I saw her in the passenger seat.

Mara.

My ex’s sister.

The same woman who swore up and down she’d never take sides—until she did.

Until she lied for him. Until she blocked me on everything after pretending to care about what he did.

She smiled when she saw me. Like nothing ever happened.

I looked around the car. No one said a word. Not even Salome.

That’s when it hit me—this trip wasn’t just a coincidence.

It was a setup. My stomach dropped. I wanted to open the door and run,

but we were already pulling away from the curb. Trapped. With Mara.

And my so-called friends who thought this was a good idea.

The first hour of the drive was excruciating. Mara kept trying to make small talk

, asking about my job, my dog, anything to break the ice. I gave her one-word answers,

my arms crossed tightly over my chest. The other girls, Lena and Priya, kept glancing

at each other in the rearview mirror, their faces a mix of awkwardness and anticipation.