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“We have an arrangement at home and you’re not fulfilling your end of the deal,” she says on the other end of the phone, an icy tone in her voice that I’ve become accustomed to.
“I told you, I’ve gone on this vacation with the Garrett’s every year. I’m not going to change my plans because you and Dad have some sort of fucked up arrangement happening.”
“That will be enough of that. I hope you know that things will be a lot worse when you decide to make an appearance again,” she threatens before hanging up on me.
As if things could be worse at my house than they already are.
“Charlie!” Cam’s voice on the other side of the door shakes me from my thoughts.
“I’m up!” I say.
“Get dressed. The captain is taking us to an island today,” she says.
I groan, throwing my legs over the side of the bed. My head is still pounding from alcohol and run-ins with Cole all day yesterday.
I dig through my drawers in search of a bikini to wear. I packed several. Most of my wardrobe for this entire trip is bikinis. It’s the best part of coming to Mexico. The lack of clothes you need to wear.
I finally rummage around enough to find one. My fingers brush against the chains of my favorite one. It’s black and tiny. The straps are made of small silver chains, and the two pieces that cover my breasts are held together by a thin silver bar. The bottoms barely cover my ass, the side straps made of the same chains as on the top of the bikini.
It’s also not lost on me that this bathing suit is nothing that I would usually pick out for myself. It’s my raciest bikini, and I keep telling myself that the fact I’ll be parading around in front of Cole has nothing to do with my decision to wear it.
I throw a black sundress over the suit, tie my hair up in a messy bun, and grab my sunglasses and beach bag before heading out the door.
Thankfully, I don’t have any run-ins with Cole on the way to the main deck.
“There you are. It’s not like you to sleep so late.” Cam frowns. She’s suspicious of me right now, and honestly, she has every right to be.
What she doesn’t know is that I don’t sleep in late because ninety percent of the time I’m not sleeping at all.
If you fall asleep then the demons make an appearance. I try everything I can to keep them away.
“Where is everyone?” That’s my subtle way of asking where Cole is.
“They’re talking to the captain. We’re almost to the island now.”
The both of us lean against the railing on the deck, just staring out at the crystal clear, blue water. I wish I could stay here forever. I would do anything to never go back home and deal with the shit going on there.
“So, what kind of island is this?” I turn towards Cam.
“A party island, duh.” She flips her hair off her shoulder.
I should have known this wouldn’t be a nice quiet day on our own private island. There’s always a catch when it comes to Cam. It always involves a ton of people and alcohol. I wish she would talk to someone instead of hiding behind this party girl persona she has going on.
“I think I see it over there,” I say, pointing in the direction of a small piece of land.
There are at least a hundred boats drifting in the water around the island. I can hear the music from out here on the water.
“This is going to be amazing!” She squeals, gripping my arm.
I smile over at her. I don’t have the heart to tell her that after my last conversation with my mother, I have no desire to party. I would never want to ruin her time here. She might be on to something, maybe some alcohol might loosen me up a little.
“I’m sure it will be,” I agree, just as the boat comes to a stop.
“Ladies, the captain asked me to make sure you reach the shore safely.” One of the men on the staff approaches us.
We follow him to a smaller boat. We had to anchor pretty far out in the water because of the amount of boats in the water.
“What about the guys?” I ask Cam.
