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“They don’t have time for us, Cam. They haven’t in a while,” I say, leaning against the counter.
“It doesn’t mean I can’t wish things were different.” She sighs.
My sister is lonely. It’s moments like this and conversations like this that she looks even younger than she is. Sometimes, I forget that she was just a little girl when my parents stopped coming around. They left us to fend for ourselves.
“I’m sorry things are different for us,” I say honestly.
“It doesn’t matter,” she says, waving me off like it doesn’t affect her.
“You wanna go to the beach?”
“Nah, I’m gonna grab a shower and take a nap. Ask Charlie, she might need some beach therapy.”
If my sister knew the things I was doing to her best friend last night, she wouldn’t have suggested I take her somewhere alone.
I walk down the hallway, stopping at Charlie’s door. I can hear her talking to someone on the other side. I pause to listen for a minute before knocking.
“I’m not having this conversation again. I’ll be home soon. Things can get right back on track. Bye, Mother,” she says into the phone, and I can hear her slam her phone down on the nightstand.
“Charlie.” I knock on the door.
“Fuck off, Cole,” she warns.
“Cam suggested I take you to the beach for some therapy,” I say.
I hear her stomp over to the door before swinging it open.
“Like fuck she did,” she says, her eyes blazing.
She’s never looked sexier.
“She did.” I shrug.
“Okay, fine.” She walks past me, fuming.
I stand for a moment and admire the swing of her hips in her tiny sundress.
“You’re playing with fire, dude,” Tyler says, walking up behind me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You do, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. This will blow up in everyone’s face, and it won’t be you at the bottom of the rubble when it’s all said and done.” He gives me a look before walking away.
He’s right. I know he is. This might be a game to me, but I’ll ruin a lifelong friendship if my sister finds out about this.
I want that to bother me enough to stop, but I can’t. Charlie is like a drug. I’ve had a hit and now I’m addicted. It will never be enough.
I follow Charlie out the back door. She’s halfway down the beach, not even looking behind her to see if I’m coming. I watch her stop at the edge of the water, the waves moving in just below her knees. The wind is blowing her dress and her hair. The sun is shining down on her, making her skin have a sun-kissed glow.
Charlie Rose will never know how beautiful she is. From the outside looking in, she appears to be the girl that has it all. She’s a knockout, she has the grades, she’s going places. But there are times that I catch a glimpse of the demons she’s trying to keep locked up inside.
Because while Charlie might be an angel, something long before I came along has already begun to pluck her wings. It won’t be long before she doesn’t remember how to fly.
“I thought you changed your mind,” she says when I approach her.
I don’t say anything, I just look out to the water.
“I don’t think your sister would have suggested this if she knew about what’s going on between us,” she finally says.
