Page 52 of Heartless Devil

I’m thankful it’s dark and he can’t see the blush creeping up my cheeks.

“Heyyyyy, where ya been?” I hear Tyler before I see him––he’s clearly drunk.

“I was busy,” Cole says, his gaze flicking to mine.

“Oh, hey, Charlie,” Tyler says, plopping down on the couch between us.

“What’s up?” I nod, curling my legs up on the seat.

“What are you two doing out here? In the dark. Alone,” Tyler asks, narrowing his eyes.

It feels like there’s something stuck in my throat. My heartrate kicks up a notch, and I’m rubbing my hands together nervously.

“Charlie wanted to come back to the boat. She’d had too much to drink and she found me and some chick on the beach, interrupted us, and I brought her back here,” Cole says, actually managing to sound aggravated with me.

“Damn, Charlie. You’re a cock tease,” Tyler says, as Cole bursts out laughing.

“I think you mean cock block,” he says, laughing.

“Whatever, same thing.” Tyler waves his hand.

“Not even close, dude,” Cole says.

“I think I’m gonna head to bed. Or do ya’ll want me to go find Cam?” I ask, getting up from the couch.

“I’ll find her. This asshole is in no condition to go looking for her,” Cole grumbles, before walking off towards the ladder of the boat.

“He’s grouchy,” Tyler says, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Isn’t he always?” I ask, helping him up.

“He’d be so mad if he knew I just had my tongue down her throat out there,” Tyler says, grinning, like he didn’t just admit a big secret to me.

“I don’t think you were supposed to tell me that,” I say, leading him towards his room.

“It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last,” he says before stopping to lean his head against the hallway wall.

I feel the sting of hurt that Cam has a secret that she hasn’t told me about, but then I think of the things I’m hiding from her and realize I have no right to be upset.

“I won't tell anyone,” I promise.

And I won’t. Honestly, who would I tell?

“You’re the best, Charlie. I see why Cole has a thing for you,” he says before pulling his door open and tumbling inside.

This isn’t good. If Tyler can see that Cole has a thing for me, can Cam see it too?

I need to pull myself together. I need to learn how to push him away instead of giving in every single time. The thought of losing my best friend weighs heavily on my heart.

Once I’m inside my room, I lock the door behind me, pulling my phone from my bag to plug it in. I don’t know how many hours it’s been dead, but I figure I need to turn it on and make sure Cole was able to find Cam.

My phone powers on just as I’m peeling my swimsuit off, and it lights up with a text message.

Cole: Found Cam. Just got her back to the boat.

I don’t even bother to ask how he got my number, I’m sure he fished it out of Cam’s phone.

Charlie: That’s good to hear.