The Last Unread Voice Message

Our trip on my boyfriend Samuel Croft’s private jet was supposed to be the perfect celebration.

But at the private terminal of Teterboro Airport, I stepped away to grab a coffee. By the time I returned, his Gulfstream G650 was vanishing down the runway.

I called his satellite phone again and again, but it went straight to voicemail. An hour later, it was my "friend," Chloe Astor, who answered my FaceTime call.

She was all smiles, showing off the champagne in the cabin while telling me Samuel had circled back for her. They were climbing again, she said, and would be back to get me in an hour, tops.

After we hung up, I clicked on the photo I’d posted before our departure—a picture of Samuel and me under the wing of the jet. Beneath a sea of "likes" from business partners, I saw Chloe's comment with a broken-heart emoji: "You're going skiing in Aspen and not taking me? So mean!" And Samuel's reply: "Flying back for you. Be ready in 20."

I let out a sudden, sharp laugh. I remembered how Samuel used to complain that even changing the cover of a quarterly report was too much trouble. It had taken months of pleading to get him to agree to this one-week vacation.

I’d been so thrilled he was finally willing to slow down that I couldn't sleep the night before. Only now did I understand. The man I’d considered an immovable mountain could be shifted by a single word from her, like he was nothing more than dust.

The peace I’d fought tooth and nail for, she’d gotten with a whisper.

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1

As I waited in the exclusive lounge, Samuel's plane finally taxied back onto the tarmac.

The socialite Chloe sauntered off the jet, her custom Hermès handbag swinging from her arm, a dazzling smile on her face as she offered a faux apology.

"Oh no, is my little princess unhappy?" she cooed. "I even had them make your favorite oat milk latte!"

She pulled the cup from a bag, slid a straw in, and pushed it toward my lips.

I took a sip out of habit and immediately recoiled, coughing violently as the sharp taste of almond flooded my mouth.

An itch clawed at my throat. I leaned against the lounge's marble countertop, coughing until tears blurred my vision.

Chloe gasped dramatically and turned to whine at Samuel.

"What is wrong with you? I specifically told you oat milk, so why did you grab almond? Don't you know Ava has a nut allergy?"

Samuel shot back without a flicker of hesitation.

"How was I supposed to know the difference? I just grabbed two of the same kind."

"Oh my god, Samuel, I told you to get what Ava likes, not what I like. Don't tell me you thought they only sold one kind of coffee?"

I wiped away the tears from my coughing fit and silently accepted the bottle of Evian Samuel handed me.

Just like countless times before, I heard him say:

"Mineral water is fine. You're so particular, making me remember all those complicated orders. It's a hassle."

But no matter how much of a hassle, he still remembered for her, didn't he? The thought surfaced, sharp and uninvited.

The truth was, I loved custom coffees too. And I also liked having Samuel run little errands for me.

But he was always lazy—too lazy to glance at the menu on the app, too lazy to double-check allergens.

I’d remind him of something, and a minute later, he’d claim he forgot.

Back then, Samuel would be staring at his stock charts and brush me off without even looking up.

"Water is healthier anyway. Who can keep track of all that stuff?"

I had ordered my coffee in front of him countless times. It still made less of an impression than the single glance he’d given Chloe’s order when he picked us up after a show two years ago.

Samuel and Chloe walked ahead, leaving me to trail behind, dragging my carry-on.

When I looked up, Chloe had already sunk into the plush armchair directly facing Samuel's—the one with the best view.

Our eyes met as I stood at the top of the jet stairs.

Chloe tapped her forehead.

"Oh, silly me. Where are my manners? Ava, you take this seat."

"It's fine."

"It's fine."

Samuel and I spoke in unison. He even gave me a rare look of surprise.

After all, this wasn't the first time Chloe had taken my seat.

In the past, I would have insisted she move.

Today, I couldn't be bothered.

I glanced at Samuel and settled into the seat opposite Chloe.

Chloe turned her head, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Great minds think alike. Aspen is the exact vacation I've been dreaming of. I just never thought you'd be into it, Ava, since you don't ski."

Samuel’s gaze drifted past me to the clouds outside the window as he spoke, swirling the champagne in his glass.

"We were supposed to go to St. Barts, but she was worried about project delays. I switched it to Aspen when Ava said she wanted to try skiing."

Chloe listened intently, smoothly retrieving her usual hand cream from a side compartment.

"Actually, St. Barts would have been great. I absolutely love the Caribbean."

"That's enough. Quiet," Samuel cut in, turning up the cabin's sound system.

The music was the same song as Samuel’s morning alarm.

My mind flashed back to a morning a month ago, the day after he'd agreed to the vacation.

I had woken up early, buzzing with excitement. After turning off his alarm, I'd impulsively opened his Instagram.

The night before, Chloe had posted a few more throwback photos from the Aspen slopes, captioned with her longing for the mountains.

I idly scrolled through the comments and froze.

I so want a vacation, I want to go to Aspen again ahhh!

Samuel, your company is so successful, take me to Aspen to play~

Samuel had replied to her:

Of course.

I stared at the exchange for a full ten minutes, my eyes aching before I finally closed the app.

When Samuel woke up and wrapped his arms around me from behind, I pretended to be casual.

"Let's not go to St. Barts for our vacation. Didn't you say I don't look good with a tan?"

At the time, I'd thought, I don't mind if Chloe comes along; we’ve known each other for years.

But why did his chosen destination have to be the exact place she was pining for?

Samuel didn't have to think long before pressing a light kiss to my neck.

"Alright, we'll go skiing then. I'll teach you."

Thinking of it now, I couldn't help but let out a soft, bitter laugh.

Samuel glanced back. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

I just realized what a fool I’d been a month ago.

I'd thought it was enough that he was finally making an effort for me.

Even if I had no interest in beaches and wasn't particularly passionate about skiing.

I unlocked my phone and bought a first-class ticket to the Bahamas.

This time, I was going where I wanted to go.