I thought a vacation with a complete stranger was the perfect scheme to make my ex regret leaving me. The plan seemed foolproof: pretend to be blissfully happy, grab his attention, and let the sparks of jealousy do the rest. But as the days unfolded, the line between pretense and reality blurred, and nothing went as planned. Suddenly, I found myself questioning not just my plan—but everything I thought I wanted.
I might have just pulled off the craziest stunt of my life, but there was no turning back now. Standing at the airport, I fidgeted with my phone, stealing anxious glances at the arrivals board. My heart raced with every passing minute, the same question looping in my mind: What if Travis doesn’t show up? The absurdity of it all hit me like a wave—I was about to go on vacation with a complete stranger, and the stakes couldn’t have felt higher.
Just a few days ago, he was nothing more than a stranger at a bar—a guy I barely knew. I remembered how he casually mentioned being strapped for cash, while I, lost in a haze of heartbreak, had poured out the entire sob story of Josh walking out on me.
Somewhere in the middle of that chaotic, alcohol-fueled conversation, a wild, impulsive idea took shape. It felt crazy but just crazy enough to work.
“Hey,” a voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned, and there he was—Travis, standing right in front of me, grinning like he wasn’t about to dive headfirst into my disaster of a plan.
“Oh, hi,” I said, forcing a smile and trying to appear calm, though my heart was racing.
“So,” Travis said, his signature grin already in place, “still think this is a good idea?”
I hesitated, my confidence wavering for a moment. “I’m not sure,” I admitted honestly. “But it could work. What about you?”
“No downsides for me,” he replied with a shrug. “I’m going on vacation with a gorgeous woman, and I’m getting paid for it. Seems like a win to me.” His grin widened, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, though I felt a nervous laugh bubbling up.
I felt my cheeks flush at his comment. “If I were that hot, he wouldn’t have dumped me.”
Travis shrugged, his grin softening. “Nah, he’s just an idiot. Trust me on that.”
His casual confidence was oddly reassuring, and before I knew it, we’d made it through security and boarded the plane. That’s when I saw him—Josh.
And of course, right there beside him, was her. His new girlfriend. She looked effortlessly perfect, and I felt a pang in my chest. Josh’s eyes widened as he spotted me, his surprise evident.
“Ari?” he called, blinking as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “What are you doing here?”
My pulse quickened, and I forced a smile. “Oh, you know,” I said, trying to sound breezy. “Just off on a little getaway with my boyfriend.” I grabbed Travis’s arm without thinking, and he played along seamlessly, giving Josh a casual nod.
“Hey,” Travis said, his tone easy and confident, like this was just another day for us.
I felt Travis’s arm slide effortlessly around my waist, a gesture so natural it caught me off guard. “Heading on vacation with my boyfriend,” I said, my voice steady, though the panic bubbling inside me was anything but.
This was supposed to make Josh jealous, but his expression remained neutral—almost indifferent—and it sent a jolt of doubt through me.
“Yeah,” Travis chimed in, his tone cool and confident, “we just needed some time alone, you know? A little getaway.”
Josh opened his mouth, his voice casual. “Oh, we’re doing the same—”
But Travis didn’t let him finish. “That’s great,” he said smoothly, flashing a charming smile that somehow felt both polite and dismissive. “Hope you guys have as much fun as we’re about to.”
The tension between us was palpable, and for a moment, Josh seemed thrown off. I could feel my heart racing, but Travis kept his composure, his grip on my waist reassuring and steady.
“Sorry, we need to find our seats,” Travis said smoothly, steering me away before Josh could say another word.
I let him guide me, still in a daze from the encounter. My heart was pounding as we found our seats and buckled in. The hum of the plane around us felt distant, my mind replaying the scene over and over.
Finally, I managed to turn to him. “I completely froze back there. Thanks for stepping in.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” Travis replied, flashing a playful smile. His confidence was almost contagious, and for the first time, I felt a tiny flicker of relief. Maybe, just maybe, this crazy plan wasn’t entirely doomed.
As the plane lifted off the ground, I turned to the window, my gaze fixed on the swirling clouds beneath us. My mind raced, replaying every moment, every word, and every glance from the encounter with Josh.
The plan had seemed so simple—at least on paper. Make Josh jealous. Make him regret letting me go. Win him back.
I’d meticulously thought through every detail, crafting a story that felt effortless. Travis and I were supposed to look like the perfect, carefree couple, radiating happiness in a way that couldn’t be ignored. It was all supposed to feel natural, believable.
But now, with Josh’s indifference still stinging and my carefully laid plans already feeling shaky, I couldn’t help but wonder: had I underestimated just how unpredictable this whole thing could get?
Even staying at the same hotel as Josh wasn’t a coincidence. Thanks to a few mutual friends, I knew exactly where he’d be staying. Now, all that was left was to play my part and make sure he noticed me, noticed us.
But by the time we arrived at the hotel, the exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. I was running on fumes, my body screaming for rest. All I wanted to do was collapse into the bed and forget about everything for a while.
But that hope evaporated the second we opened the door to our room. The sight that greeted us was far from what I had imagined.
“There’s only one bed,” I said, my voice flat with disbelief as I stared at the oversized bed dominating the room.
“Yep, I can see that,” Travis replied, looking entirely too amused by my reaction.
“This has to be a mistake,” I insisted, my fingers already tapping furiously at my phone. “I specifically booked a room with two beds!”
“Maybe there was a mix-up,” Travis said with a shrug, his grin widening. “No big deal. We can share.”
His casual tone only made the situation feel more surreal, and I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or panic. This was not how I’d imagined things unfolding.
“Absolutely not,” I shot back without hesitation, my mind racing at the thought.
“What’s the problem?” Travis asked, leaning casually against the wall, his smirk still in place. “Afraid Josh will find out? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to stay calm. “I can’t share a bed with someone I barely know,” I said firmly, the discomfort settling in.
His expression softened a bit, but he didn’t back down. “Alright, alright,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “We’ll figure something out. But honestly, I’m not the one you need to worry about.”
I wasn’t sure if his words were meant to reassure me or make things more awkward, but either way, I had no intention of letting this spiral out of control. Not just yet.
“Because it’s wrong… I’m not that kind of person,” I insisted, my voice firmer this time.
“You’re too uptight,” Travis said, shaking his head with that all-too-familiar grin.
“And you’re too laid-back,” I retorted, frustration creeping into my tone.
Without waiting for him to respond, I turned and headed straight for the front desk, determined to sort this out. The receptionist greeted me with a polite smile, but when I explained the issue, she didn’t seem as surprised as I’d hoped.
“Why not? It’s just sleeping,” he countered, his grin never wavering.
“There’s no mistake, ma’am,” she said, glancing at her screen. “You booked a single-bed room. It’s all we have available at the moment.”
My stomach dropped. “What? I specifically—” I started, but she cut me off with a sympathetic smile.
“I’m afraid that’s what was reserved. Would you like me to check for another room?”
I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, the absurdity of the situation sinking in. There was no escape from this now.
“I specifically booked two beds,” I argued, my frustration mounting with every word.
Just then, Josh’s voice chimed in from behind me, catching me completely off guard. “What’s the problem, Ari? Something wrong?”
I spun around, my heart racing. “What? No, no problems at all,” I stammered, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.
“Well, we do have a—” the receptionist began, but Josh cut her off before she could finish her sentence.
“What’s going on? Need some help?” he asked, his brow furrowing in genuine curiosity.
The last thing I needed was Josh’s curiosity getting in the way of my plan, but of course, that was exactly what was happening.
“Everything’s perfect,” I interrupted quickly, forcing a smile. “The room is just lovely. Very romantic. My boyfriend and I are thrilled.”
The receptionist looked confused, but thankfully, she didn’t press the issue any further.
Josh, however, wasn’t so easily deterred. “So… a boyfriend, huh?” he said, his smirk widening. “Didn’t expect you to move on so quickly.”
His words stung, more than I’d care to admit, and I felt my cheeks flush. I wanted to retort, but I knew I couldn’t let him see just how much it still hurt. Instead, I shrugged and tried to keep my voice steady.
“Well, life moves on, doesn’t it?” I said, forcing a lightness I didn’t feel.
“Well, you didn’t exactly come here alone,” I shot back, my words sharper than I intended.
“We’re different, though,” he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
“I decided to find someone who appreciates me,” I replied, offering him a cool smile before turning on my heel and walking away.
To my surprise, a strange sense of power washed over me. A week ago, I would’ve begged Josh to take me back, clinging to the hope that he’d change his mind. But now? The thought barely seemed worth entertaining.
Back in the room, I found Travis unpacking his things. Without hesitation, I told him, “We’re staying put. Don’t ask any questions about it.”
He looked up, a bit puzzled but not pressing further. I could tell he understood that the dynamics had shifted, and for the first time, I felt like I was truly in control of my own choices.
We decided to call it an early night, both of us climbing into bed and sticking to our respective sides. I stretched as far away from him as I could, my back turned to avoid any accidental contact.
Just as I was about to drift off into sleep, I heard Travis’s voice break the silence. “So, you are that kind of person.”
At first, I didn’t understand what he meant. But then it clicked, and a rush of heat spread across my face. My stomach tightened.
I shot him a quick glance, but he was already staring at the ceiling, a knowing grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Without thinking, I grabbed a pillow and swatted him with it, laughing despite myself.
“You’re impossible,” I muttered, rolling over to face the wall, hoping the laughter would stop.
But behind me, his laughter rang out—loud and carefree, echoing in the quiet room like he didn’t have a single worry in the world. It was a sound I hadn’t realized I’d missed, and for a moment, I almost forgot why I was so tangled up in all of this.
Still, I couldn’t help but smile into the pillow, even if I tried to hide it.
Somehow, it was oddly comforting. I fell asleep to the sound of Travis’s laughter, my lips curved in an unintentional smile.
The next few days passed in a whirlwind of carefully orchestrated run-ins with Josh and his girlfriend. Each encounter felt more natural than the last, as though I was slipping into a role I hadn’t known I was ready for.
Travis and I leaned into the act, playing the perfect, carefree couple. But to my surprise, it didn’t feel forced. There was an ease to it that made the lines between reality and performance blur. He was kind, funny, and unexpectedly thoughtful, and I found myself enjoying his company more than I ever anticipated.
And Josh? He seemed to be watching from the sidelines, growing increasingly uncomfortable with each passing day. But the real shock came when I realized—I wasn’t the one feeling jealous anymore.
Travis made everything easy. He was funny, spontaneous, and had this effortless way of making me forget why I was there in the first place.
We spent afternoons building sandcastles, laughing as Travis insisted mine looked like a “lopsided pancake.” I protested, but his grin was infectious, and soon I was laughing too, not caring how ridiculous it looked.
We mimicked overly peppy tour guides, our voices way too loud and exaggerated, until tears rolled down my cheeks from laughing so hard. And in the ocean, we splashed each other like kids, the waves swallowing our laughter and leaving us breathless.
With Travis, I felt something I hadn’t expected—peace. It was a strange, quiet kind of calm, one that didn’t require any pretending or holding back. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t consumed by past regrets or a need to prove something. I was just… there. And it felt good.
One evening, after dinner, Travis stood up suddenly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Let’s go,” he said, holding out his hand like it was the start of some grand adventure.
“Where?” I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice.
“Trust me,” he replied, a grin tugging at his lips as he pulled me outside and onto the beach, my heels sinking into the sand beneath us.
“You know we’re not supposed to be here at night,” I whispered, glancing around nervously. The beach was quiet, almost too quiet, the only sounds the distant crash of waves and the soft hum of the wind.
“Exactly why we’re here,” Travis said, not missing a beat. “Come on, what’s life without a little risk?”
I hesitated, but something about the mischief in his eyes made it impossible to resist. I took his hand, and together, we ran into the dark, the sound of our laughter mingling with the rhythm of the ocean.
“Oh, relax. What’s the worst that could happen?” Travis said with a mischievous grin before, without warning, sweeping me off my feet and carrying me toward the water.
I screamed, half in shock and half in laughter, begging him to put me down as the cool waves splashed against my legs. But he didn’t stop, his laughter blending with mine as we were both soaked through in a matter of seconds. Even then, he still held onto me, refusing to let go.
“You’re crazy,” I said, breathless from laughing so hard, my heart racing.
Travis just grinned, his eyes sparkling. “Maybe. But you love it.”
I wanted to argue, but the truth was, for the first time in a long time, I felt truly alive, completely free in a way I hadn’t even realized I was missing.
“And?” Travis asked, his eyes locking onto mine, his voice low and teasing.
For a moment, everything around us seemed to fade—the sound of the waves, the night air, even the feeling of the sand beneath my feet. Our faces drifted closer, and I could feel the heat between us rising. But then, like a sudden jolt, reality hit me like a ton of bricks.
I pulled away, my heart hammering, mumbling something about Josh, anything to break the tension. “I… I should probably get back.”
As I waded back to the shore, the chill of the water against my legs didn’t help to cool the heat on my face. The strange thing was, I found myself thinking about Josh less and less.
Sitting on the sand, I couldn’t help but feel conflicted. I had come here to make him jealous, to win him back, but now, all I could focus on was the way Travis made me feel—alive, carefree, and unexpectedly… seen. And for the first time, I wasn’t sure what I really wanted anymore.
I felt my heart tighten at his words. “That’s not true,” I said, rushing toward him. “You’re wrong. This isn’t about him. It’s about you.”
Travis finally turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “Then why didn’t you tell him that before?”
“I was confused,” I admitted, my voice shaky. “I thought I needed closure, but I don’t. Not from him. I need it from myself, and I need you.”
His eyes softened slightly, but there was still a wall between us. “Ari, you can’t just jump from one person to the next. It’s not healthy.”
“I know,” I said, finally catching up to him. “But what we have… it’s real. And I don’t want to lose it.”
For a long moment, we just stood there, the weight of everything hanging in the air between us. Then, finally, Travis dropped his bag and stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently touch my arm.
“You really mean that?” he asked quietly.
I nodded, the truth finally clear in my heart. “Yes. I mean it.”
With that, he smiled—a small, hesitant smile—and pulled me into a hug. I felt the tension melt away as he held me, and for the first time in what felt like forever, everything seemed right.
“Then let’s take it one step at a time,” he whispered.
And as we stood there, holding onto each other, I knew that no matter what had happened with Josh, this—us—was worth fighting for.
I melted into his arms, feeling the weight of everything finally lift. The fear, the confusion, the heartbreak—it all seemed so far away now, replaced by something real, something solid.
As we pulled away, Travis rested his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin. “I’m not going anywhere, Ari. Not this time.”
My heart swelled at his words, and I knew, deep down, that everything had changed. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t lost anymore. I wasn’t searching for something that wasn’t there. I had found it—in him.
“I don’t need a grand gesture or a big story to know what’s right,” I whispered, my fingers tracing the outline of his jaw. “I just need you.”
He smiled, a genuine, unguarded smile, and pulled me close again. “And you’ve got me.”
In that moment, I knew we were both in it—for real. No more games, no more pretending. Just us. And for the first time in ages, that was enough.
This story is a beautiful journey of self-discovery, healing, and finding something real amidst the chaos. It shows how, sometimes, the path to happiness isn’t about revenge or trying to make someone jealous—it’s about learning to let go of the past and embracing the person who truly sees and values you. The unexpected connection between Ari and Travis, as well as their growth throughout the story, is touching and relatable. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful relationships are the ones that surprise us when we least expect it.
Feel free to share it with your friends! You never know who might need to hear that love and happiness can come from the most unexpected places.
