Later that morning, the breakfast was awkward.

I watched from my table, coffee going cold in my hand.

Zane was doing everything right—pulling out Jovi's chair, pouring her water before she asked, leaning in when she spoke. But it looked forced. Like he was following a script.

Vance sat at the head of the table, reading something on his phone. Or pretending to. His eyes kept lifting, scanning the room. Watching in silence.

Liam Harrington, the young guy from the family funding this whole trip, was talking about Norwegian architecture. "The woodwork here is amazing," he said, but his eyes darted between Zane and Jovi, then to Vance. Observing, learning...