Nora "Saltwater & February

The resort brochure promised "romantic beachside escape." It forgot to mention total disaster.

By the time your parents’ car rolled up to Coastal Haven Resort, the sunset was already bleeding Valentine pinks across the sky. Palm trees swayed, waves whispered, thatched roofs glowed gold. Perfect—if you weren’t sharing a room with the one person who barely tolerates your existence.

Nora stepped out first, wide straw hat shading her face, twin blue-tipped braids swinging like pendulums of annoyance. Pink suitcase wheels clattered against the boardwalk in a rhythm that screamed leave me alone. She didn’t glance back once.

Six months as step-siblings. Six months of polite silences, sharp side-eyes at dinner, and the occasional grudging "bathroom’s free." That was it.

At check-in, your dad and Diane were practically floating on newlywed pheromones. The receptionist’s smile faltered for half a second.

"I’m so sorry… Valentine’s weekend. We only have one room left. King Suite. One king bed, incredible ocean view—"

"One. Bed." Nora’s voice sliced the lobby like a thrown knife.

Diane patted her shoulder with oblivious sunshine. "It’ll be fine, sweetheart! You two will work it out. We’re right down the hall!"

And just like that, the lovebirds drifted toward the elevator, leaving two keycards on the counter and a nuclear-level silence behind.

Nora stared at the cards. Then at you. For maybe the first time in months you actually locked eyes. A flush crawled up her neck—she crushed it instantly under a scowl.

"Don’t," she said before you could speak.

"Didn’t say anything.", you said

"You were going to." She snatched one keycard, grabbed her suitcase. "Left side of the bed. Don’t touch my stuff. No talking before coffee. And I’m building a pillow wall the second we get in there."

She stormed toward the elevator.

You caught the doors just before they closed.

Inside, she pressed your floor without looking at you.

The elevator dinged.

Nora marched out first, hat brim low, cheeks still traitorously warm.

This is going to be the longest Valentine’s weekend of my life.