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Everyone’s already in the cars. I slip into the one with the rear door open—only to find Liam, Aiden, Noah, and, of course… Ethan inside.

And I’m supposed to sit next to him.

Great.

Exactly what I needed.

For a split second, I go completely still, my heart slamming against my ribs, my breath snagging halfway up my throat. There’s no turning back now, not with all of them watching.

“Thalia, finally,” Liam grins. “We were about to come looking for you.”

Jesus. Way to make a scene, Thalia.

“I was at the bar, Liam,” I say, aiming for casual, though my voice comes out thinner than I’d like.

Theo climbs in beside me, settling on my left before shutting the door. I keep my gaze locked straight ahead, refusing to even glance to the right.

But I can feel him.

Ethan’s presence sits heavy beside me—silent, composed, impossible to ignore.

“We looked everywhere, but you weren’t at the bar,” Aiden says from the back.

“That’s because she was… a little busy,” Theo cuts in before I can answer.

I jab my elbow into his ribs without turning, shame flooding my face.

He huffs a quiet laugh, then looks back at the others. “If I’d been a few minutes later, I probably wouldn’t have found her at all,” he adds, a smirk tugging at his lips. “She might’ve gone someplace… quieter.”

That’s it.

I actually need the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

“Theo…” I groan, mortified.

The car erupts in laughter.

All the guys except Ethan.

He’s absorbed in his phone, scrolling like none of this exists, like I don’t exist.

I don’t dare look at anyone, but I can feel their amusement, thick in the air. The same guys I’ve lectured more times than I can count are now laughing at me.

“Holy shit, Thalia,” Noah chuckles.

“Wait until Zayn hears about this,” Liam adds, eyes gleaming.

At that, I twist toward him, grabbing his hands.

“No,” I say quickly, eyes wide. “ He can’t hear about this.”

Their laughter only grows louder, filling the car until it’s all I can hear. I sink deeper into my seat, covering part of my face, wishing—desperately—to disappear.

Thankfully, the drive back to the resort is short.

The others are already gathered where the road splits, each heading toward their own bungalow.

“5 a.m. sharp,” Kay says as we pull up.