"I put a spell on you

Because you're mine, oh yeah

Stop the things you do

Watch out, I ain't lying

Oh, oh, I love you, I love you

I love you anyhow

I don't care if you don't want me

I'm yours right now I put a spell on you

Because you're mine, mine, mine

Oh, ooh you're mine..."  

-  Annie Lennox "I Put A Spell On You"

***

Colton and I had stayed on the beach for a good two hours. The time was filled with eating croissants, joking around with each other and attempting to build a sandcastle with nothing but our bare hands. It wasn’t until a breeze started to roll off the sea and blanket me that I began to shiver. Once Cole saw I was getting cold by the morning breeze he, quickly, recommended we get a hotel room so I could warm up before going shopping for clothes and supplies we will need for the next day. Reluctantly, I agreed and followed him back to the car. 

Little did I know, at that moment, that he had already booked a room. It seemed that back in New York, sometime before he ‘crashed’ my date, Cole planned this whole mini-trip.

“What if I didn’t agree to come with you?” I questioned, with a raised eyebrow. Standing beside Cole in the elevator, I watched him reach over a press the top floor button. Our bodies weren’t touching, but I could still feel the heat radiating from his body, warming me up little by little.

Colton smirked and locked eyes with me, as the doors closed ever so slowly. 

As a silence consumed the space between us, I realized he was sending me a non-verbal message.

You can’t deny me, we both know that. 

I sucked in a deep breath for I couldn’t deny Cole. I knew, even growing up, that he had full knowledge of exactly how to persuaded me. The man could talk me into anything, but he held one characteristic that would ruin his persuasion powers — the characteristic of don't ask, demand. 

Once Colton demanded I do something, all bets were off, and I'd become as stubborn as ever. However, on rare occasions he would talk me into things, kindly, with all the right words. It was then that I was utterly screwed.

Take, for instance, the time when I was thirteen and told Colton I was going to chop off all my hair and dye it pink. He, of course, flipped his shit and told me there was no way in Hell that was happening. He demanded that I keep my hair the way it was. 

I, however, didn't take kindly to him demanding I keep my hair the same. So, I took the liberty of cutting my hair and dying it after he left my house that night.

Needless to say when I walked over to his home, the next morning and woke him up, he all but had a heart attack over what I did to my hair. Cole knew at that moment that if he forced me to dye it back to its original color, I would just rebel — again. So, he calmed down and coaxed me into changing it back to honey blonde by my free will. "You look older, more sophisticated with it blonde." He told me as he took in the pink. 

His words continued until guilt and shame consumed me. He didn't tell me or demand I change it. But in the end, I did what he wanted for the spell he had over me was too strong.

“What - what if I wanted another room?” I quickly questioned, looking over and up at him. I, for once, wanted him to feel cornered and at a loss for what to do or say. 

His lips twitched up even more, clearly having a reply waiting for what I asked. “I have the room next door booked. If you decide that you can’t or don’t want to stay in the same room with me, I will get the key from the front desk for the other room.”

The air in the elevator started to grow thin as my heart skipped a few beats. I wasn’t sure that this all was a good idea. Nothing good could come out of this mini-trip, especially since we both have come clean that we don’t know what we think of each other. I mean, I know that he is my best friend ... even after the whole two-year thing ... but I just couldn’t see him the way I think he wanted me to see him. Yet, he did state that he, himself, doesn’t know what he wants. 

Overall my head was seconds from shutting down from all the confusion and whiplash that has come from his very sudden change in demeanor. I feel like he can’t decide if he wants to be Colton or Mr. Sharp. When he came back home after my grandmother died, he was Colton. When he found out I was the one that stole from him, he became Mr. Sharp. Somewhere in the middle of then and now he reversed roles again and again. Now leading to this moment where he is Colton.

We had exited the elevator and were standing by a door. Colton was attempting to open the door with the key, but failing miserably. 

I wanted to laugh at his failed attempts for they reminded me of a child intent on doing something, however not succeeding and pouting with every passing second. That was what he was doing, I determined as I looked at him to see that his bottom lips were sticking out, and his eyes were glaring at the door knob. Pouting suited him in an oddly cute way.

Shaking that thought, I yanked the key from him and opened the door myself, with ease. 

He glared at me and at first I thought, Cole was genuinely mad at me for opening the door. 

His lips twitched up, and his dark chocolate eyes twinkled, showing me that he was joking. “Hey, I could have done that!”

“Sure you could have,” I said as I walked in and looked around. “Do I even want to know how much this cost?” Was the first thing to slip out of my mouth as my eyes danced around the hotel room in complete awe.

I noticed that the room was beyond spacious — at least twice the size of my bedroom back home. The walls were grey with light grey interloping circles; clearly wallpaper. As for the beds, they looked to be both queen size, fitted with white sheets and a smokey grey down comforter. 

“It wasn’t that much,” Colton exclaimed as he walked over to the bed by the huge window that overlooked the sea. He plopped down and gave a sigh as if he was tired. 

I walked over to the window to see that it wasn’t a window but French Doors that led to a balcony. Opening the doors, I stepped out and inhaled the salty air. The breeze could no longer be felt. Instead, the air seemed thicker and warmer. It was clear that today was going to be a warm summer day, perfect for hanging out at the beach. “I could get use to this...” I muttered to myself even though I knew we were only here for a day. Part of me, as I looked out at the sea that was before me, wanted to stay here longer. Yet, that couldn’t happen for more than one reason.

“Are you still hungry?” Cole called from the room. 

“No,” Looking over my shoulder I saw that Colton was staring down at the hotel menu he held. My mind wondered what the hell was compelling me to stay, I should be back in NYC licking my wounds of being stood up. 

I almost chuckled at myself because it was never a real date. For all that was concerned it was probably never planned - Chey never called in her cousin Rafe ... that is if she even has a cousin name Rafe. 

“I left my car in the parking garage near Catch 180,” I realized as I entered the room and closed the doors behind me. I started to think about the cost of keeping my car in the garage. It would be outrageous, no doubt, by the time we returned to NYC.

Colton shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant manner as if my words didn't faze him. “I got Tony to pick it up and take it to my house.”

I was a little unnerved at how much he had this planned out. Questions were ringing in my head if maybe Chey and him both had this planned out — the fake date and whisking me off for a mini-road trip. My stomach gave a flip at the thought of Chey divulging all I told her to Colton. Surely, he would be angry at me if that were the case. After all, I did essentially tell her that I was valuable to Chad / Mr. Sharp / Colton. “Did Tony take my car before or after you showed up at Catch 180 and crashed my date?” 

He looked up at me, “He transported it to my house while we were talking at the restaurant.”

Rolling my eyes, I realized he had full faith that I was just going to go with him. I am whipped... “How did he know which car was mine?” 

“We have our ways ... Speaking of your car,” Colton stated as he placed the menu down on his bed. “Where did you get that new car?” 

My eyebrows raised, “Garrett." Colton frowned. "Why?" I inquired.

“Why is he giving you a car?” His voice said it all, the thought of Garrett buying me a car was unnerving and didn’t settle well with him.

I tilted my head to the left, confused at why he was getting upset about Garrett buying me a car. I mean from the outside it might give off an odd vibe or bad impression. However, I knew were Garrett’s mindset was when he gave me the car. He was being helpful and considerate towards me, liked a normal friend.

The words 'like a normal friend' ricocheted in my mind. 

Are Garrett and I friends? I didn’t know the answer, but I assumed he we were.

Are we normal, in the realms of 'friends'? That was easy, no. If we were friends, it is a twisted, complicated and just plain odd friendship. One that seemed to have a bleak future with all the complications.

Bring myself to reality, I looked over at Colton and saw that he was livid as ever. Blinking a few times and tracing back to what we were talking about, I wondered what had his knickers in a twist. Suddenly, things began to click, “Are you jealous?” I questioned as a smile erupted on my face, and I gazed at him in a teasing manner.

“Jealous? That would mean I have to like you,” he said, using my line against me. 

My bottom lips start to quiver. “You - you — you don’t like me? I ... I,” tears brimmed up in my eyes.

Cole grew confused before shaking his head, “What?! No, I was joking!” 

I turned away from him and smiled, thinking it was working. “No, you just said you don’t like me.” 

My back was suddenly washed over in warmth, I knew he was now standing directly behind me. “Alice, that is not what I meant. I was joking.” 

He and I had remained silent, before a loud cry escaped my lips, “You hate me!” 

“What?! No!” 

I acted like I was in ruins and ran over to my bed. I laid down and buried my head in the pillow. 

I heard him grunt as I continue to make a scene and cry. As I wailed in what sounded like agony, I realized I should win an Oscar for this performance. This was most an award winning acting for I could hear him struggle with his words and from the sounds of it he had absolutely no idea what to do. 

“Alice - I,” His voice failed him, for the hundredth time. 

The bed dipped on my right side, hinting that he had sat down next to me. He placed his hand on my back and began to rub circles, “Alice, look at me.”

I refused him as I let another round of fake tears escape my eyes.

“I - I don’t hate you, Alice. People I hate are in far worse places.”

His words halted my acting, and I felt a shiver creep down my spine. He was hinting at the power he held with being Mr. Sharp - practically reminding me of the room he placed me in when he captured me. 

My eyes closed, did he hate me when he found out I was the one that stole from him? The question was unsettling and had me pause my dramatic act.

Turning my head, I glanced up at him. “Did you hate me?”

Colton’s eyebrows furrowed together, “Hate you? When? Now? No, I don’t hate you now, Alice.”

“No. Did you hate me when you realized I was the one that stole from you?”

His expression mirrored pure confusion. “I have never hated you, Alice. I have been mad, disappointed, upset and so much more when it comes to you ... but hate? ... I don’t think I ever could.” Colton laid down right beside me but kept his hand on my lower back. “I love you, Alice. I don’t think there is anything you could do to make me hate you.”

I had heard him, growing up, saying he loves me before. Yet, now his words were in a different light. My mind felt that they held a different meaning, one I was not sure how to take in. 

While I might not have known what to say to him, my body knew how to react. I inched over to him and snuggled into his chest.

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me in place and leaving his sent to envelope me. His heartbeat was faint, but I could hear it.

Thump. Thump. Thump, thump. Thump. 

The sound eased me into a sense of security and comfort, even more so than his mere presence. 

At that moment, I felt like I could stay here — in his arms — forever.

***

“What else do you think you need?” Colton asked as he pushed the cart down another random aisle.

My eyes scanned the shelves, and I wondered what more I could need. The cart was already full with a bikini, two shirts, two jeans, three towels, package of underwear, a new bra, package of socks, phone charger, phone cord, and beauty and hygiene products. I knew there were a few other things that Cole tossed in the cart but personally I didn’t think there was another thing I need. “We are only going to be here for today, I think I have plenty.”

He eyed the cart and then glanced up at me, “We can stay for more then one day if you want.”

Every bone in my body wanted to, but that was just the problem. “I have to get back to New York,” I lamely proclaimed.

Colton didn’t say anything as we aimlessly walked down the aisle. “We should check out, it is rounding lunch time and I know a great place to eat a few blocks away.”

I nodded and followed him to the front of the store where the checkout lanes were. 

While, in line, I glanced over at a tabloid and saw an attention getter of “Ten Signs He Is Madly In Love With You”. I focused over on Colton, who was looking for his phone, not paying any attention to his surroundings. Without making too big of a move, to grab his attention, I picked up the magazine and flipped through to find the article that the cover advertised. It took a minute, but I soon landed on page 68 where the title was written in bold, yellow, letters across the page. 

I scanned the article, happy to find that it had easy 1, 2,3 guide. 

He keeps eye contact when you are talking to each other. 

I couldn’t help but look over at Colton and quickly noted that we typically keep eye contact. However, that is what normal people do, right? I mean it is polite to look someone in the eyes as they speak. At least that is what Cole told me when I was little.

2.) Shows signs of jealousy. 

Jealousy? That emotion flashed through his dark eyes before but I could be mistaken, and he is just protective. I skimmed the article to see what they thought signs of jealousy were. However, they were vague: like he gets angry when you mention another guy whether a love interest or male friends.

He did get angry when we talked about Garrett earlier...

3.) He touches you whenever possible. 

“Do you want that?” Colton asked as he touched my arm.

My whole body froze as my eyes glanced down at his hand and backed up at him. “N-no,” I quickly closed the magazine, placed it back on the rack and stepped away from him.

It was clear that I shouldn’t have read that magazine. From now on I will be on high alert with all that Colton does.

Sighing, I told myself no. I can’t let this get to me.

***

A/N:

It feels like forever guys! Well, there you go! I hope you liked it! 

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