I had barely stepped into my parents’ house when my mom’s voice rang out from the dining area.
“We’re going on a vacation.”
I paused mid step, my mind still adjusting to the change in atmosphere. “What?”
Dad, sitting in his usual spot on the couch, barely looked up from his newspaper. “The family trip. We finally finalized the plans.”
I frowned, trying to recall any recent discussions about this. “What family trip?”
Mom sighed dramatically, setting down her glass of juice. “Ava, we’ve talked about this before. Do you ever listen when we speak?”
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it. Fair point. Between work, adjusting to life after college, and spending time with Ethan, I’d been a little… distracted.
“Where?” I asked instead, dropping my bag onto a chair.
“A private resort. Ju
