3 Cry Me to Sleep

Laying atop her bed, Lyra looked at the ceiling in darkness as the pitter patter of rain played in the background. Just like the night when she first arrived, she struggled to fall asleep, except now it was for a completely different reason.

On the very first day she arrived, Lyra was invited to dinner by her very generous, but mysterious host. She could remember the excitement jumping around inside her when she walked onto the terrace. She was about to meet the owner of such a magnificent island and more importantly, she was meeting Angela's very special someone for the first time.

This was big.

When Angela asked her to go to the island to meet her boyfriend, Lyra was pleasantly surprised because her twin never liked sharing too much about her love life. It wasn't that she didn't care, it was more that she cared too much about finding "the one" before introducing him to the family.

The only time Angela ever formally introduced a boy was when they were in their senior year of high school and dated long-term neighbor, Dev Andrews. But after the whole moving away for college long-distance love thing, the static died. That summer also, a tragic car accident took the Cades twins' beloved parents. Since then, Angela changed boyfriends like she changed outfits. Despite that, Lyra never met a single one of them.

So now that Lyra was shipped all the way from another continent to this exclusive isle to meet this one man, she knew immediately who he was. He was the guy who stole Angela from her last Thanksgiving and Christmas! That only meant one thing—their relationship was beyond steady.

Someone successful in swaying THE Angela Cades was definitely someone remarkable.

Though Angela wasn't here to introduce them because she a last minute appointment with a famous designer came up, she assured that she would come as soon as it was over.

Lyra would've waited to go together another time, but at her sister's persistent insistence on her going ahead, she finally agreed.

So that night, wearing the new dress Angela bought her, Lyra walked out to greet her future brother-in-law. There was no way she could ever forget their first meeting.

She wasn't late, but he was already waiting on the patio, sitting at the dinner table, arms folded and looking out at the breathtaking view of the island. The butler escorted her up the stairs and upon hearing the approaching footsteps, the dark-haired man turned his head.

Right away, Lyra knew he was one of those people who would turn heads when walking on the street. The type who could as easily break hearts as he could steal a few. His eyes were a cool green, carrying the refreshing brightness of spring leaves mixed with a sturdy earthy gaze—eyes that belonged to a person who has been around, who has seen enough, who knew himself, who found himself, who loved himself, and was more than qualified to love others.

He wasn't like any other man Lyra had ever met, seen, or even dreamt. And yet, he was real.

The handsome stranger voluntarily got up from his seat and pulled out hers.

Naturally, she looked up to thank the gentleman, but was rendered speechless upon making eye contact.

[Can someone look that much better up close?]

Standing a head taller and wearing a most confident smile, he looked no different if not better than the models featured in those magazines that Angela collected for her fashion and design "research." His sun-kissed skin complimented his sharp chiseled facial features—no, scratch that—that complimented his entire sculpture-like body that he selfishly hid under a white linen amalfi shirt that fitted casually over his broad shoulders.

It took Lyra a few seconds to convince herself to look away before she made her interest in his undeniable attractiveness excruciatingly obvious. After somehow successfully ungluing her eyes off any part of him, her mind threw a tantrum, refusing everything but the vibrant minty scent emitted from his clothes.

Fortunately, the gorgeous stranger started back to his own seat, sparing her a few seconds to try and push his vigorous scent off her mind. Being a little further away helped—or so she thought.

"Seven sharp," the model-like man said as he planted himself directly across from her at the candlelit table.

Lyra cringed a little in her seat before offering a troubled smile. She'd never imagine describing anyone's voice as hot. He would be the first.

This was unbelievable. Lyra scrambled to find something to say, anything really, to start a conversation and draw her attention away from him. Anything would be fine she thought, but she definitely didn't expect what came next.

"Glad you made it, Angie."

Immediately after the extremely uncomfortable dinner concluded, Lyra dashed back to her room, locked the door and dialed her sister who, only after four calls, reluctantly picked up.

"Why does the guy think I'm YOU?" Lyra demanded with frustration exuding from her voice.

"You didn't tell him you're my sister right? He still thinks you're me right?" Angela asked urgently, alerting the twin on the other line.

"No. I didn't correct him yet," Lyra assured.

"OMG, THANK YOU SIS!" Angela already knew Lyra wouldn't pop her bubble, but still she was relieved to hear an actual confirmation. "You didn't kiss him or anything right?"

"No." Lyra frowned. "But you better do some explaining. For goodness sake, I don't even know the name of the guy I just spent an hour eating dinner with!"

"Of course!" Angela readily agreed. "First of all, connection is BAD on the island so call me using the landline next time. Second, his name is Kurtis." There was a tiny pause. "Kurtis Well-ing-ton," the extroverted twin enunciated.

"Kurtis Wellington, I got it. And?"

"Doesn't that name ring a bell?" Angela asked, slight disapproval in her tone. She used that voice whenever Lyra couldn't identify which designer or famous celebrity she was referring to.

"Well should it?" Lyra retorted, expecting her sister's immediate comeback that came later than usual.

"It doesn't matter." Angela cleared her throat before choking out, "I need your help…"

"Anything." Lyra answered right away. She'd do anything for her sister, the only family she had left.

"Sis. I beg you, don't ask any questions." There was a brief pause. "Please pretend to be me and break up with Kurtis."

[Stupid girl!] Lyra scolded herself while recalling how easily she was convinced after hearing Angela cry a few tears.

Lyra sat up and let out a pitiful laugh to herself.For herself.

In the darkness of the room, she placed her head down and curled into her knees.

[Look who's crying now?]