Page 23 of Heartless Devil
“Sorry, what’s up?” I ask.
“When are Mom and Dad supposed to show up?”
“They said Tuesday, but I wouldn’t count on it.” I shrug, loading bags into the car.
“Maybe we’ll get lucky, and they won’t show up at all.” She frowns.
I watch my sister and Tyler throw suitcases into the back of the car and my attention drifts to Charlie. She’s been quiet ever since we left town.
“You good, princess?” I ask her.
She scowls in my direction. “Yes, and Christ, Cole, quit calling me fucking princess.” She huffs.
I swear to God, hearing her curse does something to me.
“I didn’t know you had it in you,” I say, putting my hand up to my chest.
“Had what in me?” she asks.
“The ability to cuss. It’s so out of character for you.”
“I literally tell you to fuck off all the time,” she says, and I laugh.
“Let’s go! I need to be on the beach,” my sister yells from the window.
“Funny, you don’t mind making me wait around, but it’s the end of the world if I make you wait a few minutes.”
“Oh, shut the fuck up, Cole. You’re such a damn girl.” She rolls up the window, flipping me off.
This is going to be the longest vacation of my life. My sister will be the death of me and I’m going to have to keep her on a short leash the entire time.
I close the trunk and slide into the car, tapping on the window to let the driver know we’re good to go.
“I’m so fucking pumped to go out tonight. Are you all down?” Tyler asks, rubbing his hands together.
“Of course we are,” Cam answers for both her and Charlie.
I watch Charlie shift uncomfortably in her seat… interesting. Seems like someone isn’t as keen to be going out tonight as my sister thinks.
“Are you sure? We just got off a long flight. It’s been a pretty exhausting day.” I fake a yawn, my eyes drifting in Charlie’s direction.
“Fuck yeah, dude. This is Mexico. We gotta live it up.” Tyler slaps his hand on my shoulder.
“Why are you so quiet, Charlie?” Cam asks.
“Not sure, just inside my head, I guess.” She shrugs.
“Well, get out of it. We’re in Mexico.”
My sister is delusional. Charlie is clearly going through something, and Cameron couldn’t care less. Is this how their friendship always is? One gives and gives while the other just takes?
Why the fuck do I even care?
“So, are you down?” Tyler asks, and I shift my attention from the girls and their conversation.
“Yeah, of course I am.”
Thirty minutes later, we pull up to the house on the beach that my parents own. This house is my favorite of all the properties that our parents own. It’s secluded. It has its own private beach and an infinity pool.