5:42 AM.

“We’ve arrived in Sicily. Please prepare for disembarkation!”

Calista winced, stretching under the blanket. She blinked a few times, disoriented by the sudden announcement and the early hour.

As she sat up to buckle her seatbelt, she realized it was already fastened.

“Sorry your sleep was interrupted,” Ranya’s gentle voice came from in front of her. She looked up to see him smiling softly. “Good morning.”

“What time is it?” she asked, her voice still groggy. He glanced up briefly from the tablet in his hand, earplugs nestled in his ears.

“5:50.”

“Oh.” She turned to Valerie, who was engrossed in her laptop, barely acknowledging her with a...