In Between Whispers

In Between Stares

The morning sun poured golden light through the glass panels of the yacht’s upper deck as Carrie stirred awake before Lyra. By the time Lyra emerged from the guest cabin—groggy and heavy-eyed—Carrie and Arthur were already seated at the breakfast table, laughing over a shared joke.

Lyra hesitated at the threshold.

Arthur’s eyes lifted. The laughter died in his throat.

“Morning,” she mumbled.

Carrie looked up brightly. “Good morning, sleepyhead! You missed the sunrise. Again.”

Lyra forced a smile and sat across from them, careful to avoid Arthur’s gaze. The air around him had shifted—no more easy charm, no confident teasing. Only a quiet stillness, as though the previous night’s kiss had placed a wall between them neither could name.

Breakfast went on with Carrie doing most of the talking—thankfully. Arthur mostly nodded, sipping coffee, his eyes rarely lifting from the plate. Lyra couldn’t bring herself to look at him for too long. Her mind reeled with conflicting emotions.

When they docked at the beach later that morning, the three exchanged polite goodbyes. Arthur offered a brief nod and a tight smile before walking away.

Lyra and Carrie headed straight back to their villa and collapsed into bed, both of them sleeping for nearly the whole afternoon.

It wasn’t until dinner that they noticed Arthur’s absence again.

“Where’s the boss of this beach?” Carrie joked as they scanned the restaurant patio.

Lyra tried to laugh, but the hollowness in her chest remained. She didn’t know what to feel. Their kiss—it was just one moment. But it had stirred something deep and unsettling. And this silence? It only made the confusion worse.

Carrie waved over one of the wait staff. “Hey, have you seen Mr. Vale?”

The server smiled. “He left the beach earlier today. Said he had to take an urgent call in the city. But he left instructions—whatever you two want, he’s covering.”

Carrie’s eyes widened in delight. “Well, guess I’m not using my credit after all.”

She winked at Lyra and ordered a feast, leaving Lyra to quietly pick at her food. Her stomach twisted with more than just uncertainty. It wasn’t just Arthur. Something else tugged at her gut—a sense that something beyond her was shifting.

After dinner, they took a slow walk along the shoreline, the ocean breeze gentle and the resort lights glowing behind them. Eventually, they found themselves outside a quaint little coffee shop, its warm amber lights and rustic wood interior too inviting to ignore.

“I’ll just go to the restroom real quick,” Lyra said once they’d ordered. Carrie nodded and went to find a table.

Inside the restroom, Lyra was rinsing her hands when a stall door behind her opened.

She looked up.

The mirror reflected a familiar face.

“Addie?” Lyra gasped, her voice rising in pure disbelief.

The woman in the mirror flinched, startled, then stared back with wide eyes.

“Lyra?” she said, stunned.

Lyra turned, rushing to her. “Oh my God, what are you doing here?”

She wrapped her arms around her older sister, tears suddenly welling in her eyes. She hadn’t realized how much she missed her until now.

Addie hugged her back, stiff at first, then a little tighter. “Just… with some friends. A little getaway. We’re heading out tomorrow.”

Lyra pulled back to look at her. “You didn’t tell me. I’ve been worried. You barely message me anymore.”

“I’ve just been busy. Work’s been… a lot lately.”

There was something off in Addie’s voice. Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“You sure?” Lyra asked, trying to search her face for answers. “Are you okay? You seem—”

“I’m fine,” Addie cut in, too quickly. “I should really get back to them. But it’s… good to see you, Lyra. Really.”

She gave her one more brief hug, then disappeared through the restroom door before Lyra could say anything more.

Lyra stood in the echo of silence, heart pounding. Something was definitely wrong.

When she returned to the table, Carrie was halfway through a croissant.

“Guess who I just saw?” Lyra said, sitting down with a thud. “Addie. In the bathroom.”

Carrie blinked. “Here? What? That’s random.”

“She says she’s here with friends, just for the weekend.”

Carrie shrugged. “Well, maybe she is. You know Addie—quiet, low-profile. She doesn’t talk about stuff. Just let her enjoy her time.”

“She was weird, Carrie. Really weird. Cold. Rushed. And then she bolted.”

Carrie reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand. “Hey, you’ve had a hard year. Maybe you’re reading too much into it.”

Lyra nodded slowly, though her thoughts swirled like a storm inside her. “I just… I miss her. And she used to tell me everything.”

Carrie leaned closer. “Maybe she still will. Give her time.”

Lyra exhaled. Then, without thinking, she pulled out her phone and called home.

First, her mom’s number. Voicemail.

Then her dad’s.

Also voicemail.

She set her phone down slowly, brows furrowed.

“Carrie…”

“What is it?”

“No one’s answering.”

Carrie’s reassuring smile faltered.

And for the first time in days, a shadow deeper than heartbreak fell over Lyra’s heart.