Beach House // colby brock

Chapter 16

"Where were you guys?" Sam whispers as soon as Colby and I walk in the door. He notices Colby's lip. "What the hell happened?"

"Why are you whispering?" I ask.

"Everyone's asleep." He replies. He follows us into the kitchen.

"Why aren't you asleep?" Colby asks.

"Because I was waiting for you guys to get home. What took you so long? What happened to your face?"

Colby and I told Sam everything that happened. The whole time, his mouth dropped open.

"Well I'm glad you guys are okay." He says. I see Colby look at me out of the corner of my eye.

"Me too." He says.

"Okay well I'm going to bed now." He says. He pats us both on the shoulders and then heads upstairs.

I look at Colby and he looks at me.

"Let me clean your face." I say, noticing the dried blood on his lip. He follows me into the bathroom downstairs and sits on the toilet lid.

I start wetting a wash cloth when Colby's phone dings in his pocket. He pulls it out and huffs.

"Who's texting you at this hour?" I ask playfully.

"No one." He says a little sternly.

"Sorry." I reply, even though I have an idea who it is I didn't want to make the situation worse than it may be.

"It's okay." He sighs. I lean down next to him and wipe his lip with the wash cloth.

He stares at me while I'm doing it making me laugh.

"What?" I ask. He shakes his head.

"I don't know." He says.

"You don't know about what?" I ask. I rinse the cloth under the sink.

"Lots of things." He says.

"Well," I squeeze the rest of the water out of the cloth and lean down next to him again. "Talk to me about it."

He closes his eyes slowly and then opens them again. The icy ness looking down at me.

"So I want to start off by saying this trip has been so amazing for me and my friends." He says.

"I'm glad, it's been really fun and I'm glad we all made reservations at the same time." I chuckle and so does he. "But what's the problem?"

"I guess this first thing isn't a problem it's more of a relief." He says. I nod my head and motion him to continue.

"Sam and I are pretty popular on social media, so being able to get away from everything and hang out with people, especially girls, who aren't trying to just be with us because we're famous is nice for us." He says.

"I'm glad. This is nice for me and the girls as well." I say. "So you guys are really that famous?"

"Not to be egotistical or whatever but I would say so." He laughs.

"Okay so you got the relief out of the way," I sit down on the floor in front of him. "What's actually bothering you?"

He sighs and then smiles. "I have a girlfriend."

I pretend to act shocked, but unbothered.

"Really? What's her name? How long have you guys been together?" I gasp.

"Wait." He says. "Do you already know?"

"What no?" I lie.

"Who told you? Sam? Jake?"

"Sam." I give in. "But not a lot."

"Well, yeah I do. Does it bother you?" He asks.

Kinda.

"No it doesn't. Why would it?" I ask.

"Because.." His voice drifts. "We kissed and all and I felt like we had a little bit of a connection."

"I'm sorry Colby." I reply. "I can't feel that connection with you when I know you have someone who loves you at home."

"I have to come clean." He says. "I wanted a fling while I was gone. Which did mean I was going to cheat on my girlfriend. And before you say anything, I know it's not an excuse."

I look down at the floor. I don't have any major feelings for Colby but this conversation is really making me sad.

"Kendall." He says. I look back up. "I think I like you."

My skin gets goosebumps. He looks at me as if waiting for an answer. His eyes pleading.

"Colby." I begin to say and take a deep breath. "I was in a relationship, with someone amazing actually."

He puts his chin in his hand.

"I really thought he could be the one. We were together for 5 years."

"Holy shit." Colby says with wide eyes.

"And then he cheated on me." I choke on my words. "With one of my best friends at the time."

"I'm sorry Kendall." He says.

"It's not your fault, don't say sorry." I say. "It's over now, I don't communicate with him nor the friend."

Colby nods his head.

"So anyone who cheats or anything of that nature, I automatically don't really want to associate with." I continue to say.

He leans back and looks hurt.

"I don't want you to think that I don't like you. You're an amazing person, you're nice and attractive and a good friend." He winces at the word friend. "You have a girlfriend."

"It's not a good relationship Kendall." He tries to explain.

"Then why not end it? If you're not happy then why not just end it? Instead of cheating and making a lot of things worse than they could be."

"I'm scared." He says.

"Why?"

"She used to be my best friend." He says. "She wasn't social media famous or anything of that sort. So when we started dating, she changed, because she became popular. I miss the old Riley I knew."

That's the first I heard him say her name.

"Colby." I say as I grab his hands. "Don't be scared. You need to do what's best for you. It may be hard to do but know you have lots of people to back you up. I trust your decision and if you feel that breaking up with her is better than trying to work it out or whatever then I believe you."

He nods his head.

"Thank you Kendall." He says.

We stand up together.

"Now, I know it's late, but do you want to watch a movie in the living room?" I smile and so does he.

"I would love that."

We walk out into the living room and put on 'Lilo and Stitch', eventually falling asleep on the couch.