Page 61 of Beginnings By the Sea

Turning away from Candace, I marched quickly back to my car and once inside, I started typing out numerous texts to Nyla explaining everything I had just found out.

I only hoped she read them in time.

29

NYLA

Cohen’s driver showed up right at six. Even though I didn’t sleep a wink, I stayed in the room the entire night. I didn’t want to speak to Cohen or see his face after everything that had happened.

Throughout the night, I tried calling Miles no less than a hundred times. I didn’t have my phone charger, so after a while I stopped to preserve my battery.

Once five o’clock rolled around, I sat by the window and waited for the limo to drive down the driveway. I was downstairs and out the door as soon as it came into view.

Cohen was right behind me and said good morning, but I ignored him and got in the limo. The car ride to the airport was silent, the tension so thick I could barely breathe. If it didn’t take a five-hour drive to get back to Oak Island, I would’ve rented a car. I needed to get back as fast as possible.

Every so often I checked my phone, but there was still no signal, which made no sense. I’ve never had such horrible cell reception.

We pulled up to the tarmac where Cohen’s white jet waited on us, its engines running. As Cohen exited the car and extended a hand to me, I got out on my own and squared my shoulders before marching toward the plane. Before I could take a step up onto the stairs, Cohen blocked my way.

“Are you seriously going to give me the silent treatment the whole way back?” His green eyes were full of anger and disappointment.

“I don’t know what to say, Cohen. When we get back to Oak Island, it’s going to be a mess. Miles isn’t going to let this go. I hoped you two could work things out, but it won’t be possible now.”

Cohen scoffed, his expression full of disdain. I’d never seen him look like that before. “That’s never going to be possible, Nyla.”

I threw my hands up in the air. “Why? Why can’t you two stop hating each other and move on?”

Cohen shook his head. “Because he has you now. He’s the reason why you’re not mine. Everything would’ve worked out if he hadn’t gotten in the way.”

I was done.

I didn’t want to hear anymore.

Brushing past him, I climbed into the cabin of the jet and took a seat at the very back. After a few minutes, Cohen settled himself in one of the front seats but stayed silent throughout the flight. I pulled out my phone and there was still no cell service.

All I could think about was Miles; I hoped he could trust me. One thing I knew for sure: it certainly didn’t look good being gone all night with another man.

* * *

Once the plane landed and we were in Cohen’s car, his phone started to ding with incoming messages. I kept waiting for mine to do the same.

Then, finally, I could hear the vibrations from it in my purse. I was about to reach in and grab it, but Cohen pulled over to the side of the road.

“You need to see these,” he said, holding out his phone.

Huffing, I took it and looked at the picture on his screen. It was of Miles and a beautiful blonde with her arms wrapped around him, kissing him. They were in The Beachcomber parking lot. There were more of them together, all with her smiling and touching him, but there were none where I could see his face. It seemed a little too convenient. Anger poured through me, but it wasn’t directed at Miles. Cohen may have duped me before, but I wasn’t about to let him get in my head. It wasn’t a coincidence that there was someone taking pictures of Miles. He would never jeopardize what we had.

“Why were you following him?” I snapped, setting his phone in the center console.

I didn’t want to see anymore.

Cohen huffed and pulled back onto the road. “Because he’s not worthy of you. Look at what he does when he knows you’re off with another guy.”

I laughed, but there was no humor to it. When I turned to him, it was as if I could finally see through him.

“Or he was set up,” I fired back. “I know you have connections, Cohen. Who’s to say you didn’t set that whole thing up just like you did with us at your cabin? I’m not going to believe anything you show me.” I clenched my jaw and gestured toward the road ahead of us. “Just take me home. I have to get ready for work.”

We weren’t far from my house, but I could hear my phone vibrating every few seconds. I grabbed it out of my purse, and there were so many missed texts from Miles. As I read his urgent messages, realization slowly set in.

---