Page 62 of Heartless Devil

Ihaven’t seen or heard from Cole since we got back from Mexico.

I had a forbidden summer with him.

His dark messy hair, his toned tattooed body, and his heart as black as coal.

A summer spent wrapped up in arms I had no business being in.

I let him waltz into my life like he always belonged there. I let him tear me apart, rip me limb from limb, and leave me alone with the pieces.

He warned me, but I didn’t listen.

Now it’s back to a reality where none of that happened. A senior year that will be full of me pretending like I’m not hopelessly in love with a heartless devil, because the devil takes form in Cole Garrett.

Things have been so fucked up. After that night at the club, Cole disappeared. Cam said he had some excuse about business he needed to take care of back at school. Even though I shouldn’t have, I sent him several text messages that always went unanswered. The last few days of the trip were a bust. I tried my hardest not to let his absence affect my mood, constantly blaming it on my mother and what was waiting for me at home.

Sighing, I lean against the couch. Cam just called for the fourth time today, and again, I didn’t answer. I’m depressed. There’s no other word for it.

My mom has been here more than she has in the last several years, because she has to make sure I do my part in everything she and my dad have going on.

I don’t remember the last time I ate. I haven’t slept in a week. I don’t know when I showered last. I can’t even look at myself in the mirror.

I knew better. I knew what Cole was when I allowed him to make himself at home inside of my soul. I let him fuck with me so much that it physically hurts to think about him now.

The worst part is, I can’t stop thinking about him. He lives in my head. He lives in my memories. I think about him constantly.

A knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts. I pull the door open and come face-to-face with my best friend. Concern is all over her face as she wraps her arms around me without a word.

A sob escapes me before I can stop it. I desperately want to tell her what I’m going through. I want her to tell me everything will be okay, but I can’t.

I can’t tell her anything, because she’ll never forgive me.

COLE

I fucked up.

I made a colossal mistake.

I started falling in love with the one girl I’ll never have. I had to get away from her before I made everything worse than it already was.

I had to disappear, cut the cord, ignore her, before we both got too wrapped up in each other that we forgot we wouldn’t be the only casualties of our actions.

Chapter Fifteen

CHARLOTTE

TWO MONTHS LATER

Today is the first day of my senior year. For most girls this is an exciting time in their lives. For me, it just means I’m one step closer to the end of my freedom.

A horn outside pulls me from my thoughts. I almost forgot that Cam was picking me up today. It’s tradition for us to arrive at school on the first day together, arm in arm.

I give myself one last glance in the mirror, smoothing down my yellow sundress with my hands, before I grab my backpack to leave.

“Hey, bitch!” Cam yells, smiling from the car window.

“Hey, bestie!” I say, smiling.

I’ve already had this pep talk with myself. I’m planning to make senior year my best one yet. The things that happened with Cole are in the past. The thing happening with my parents is the future. I need to enjoy the now while I still can.