The Bad Boy Next Room (Charlie and Taylor)

"Um..." Mia hesitated before handing it over. "Here. Everything okay?"

"No, it's not okay." Taylor grabbed the bag. "Since you're going to be friends with Charlie, know this-I don't want her wearing barely-there anything, like that swimsuit."

"Um... why?" Mia asked.

Pointing back at the pool, Taylor scoffed. "Did you see how those guys were looking at her? That's why."

Mia eyed Charlie, but she nodded, letting her friend know she could handle the situation.

Then, without waiting for a response, Taylor shut the door, saying, "Excuse us, Mia."

He dug through Charlie's bag. Finding a T-shirt and shorts, he pulled them out. Spotting a pair of flip-flops, he remarked with complete sarcasm, "So you had something comfortable to wear but chose to torture your toes."noveldrama

Charlie: "..."

"Heels don't-"

"Yeah, they just cause accidents like tripping and getting stuck in pool drains," Taylor interrupted, handing her the clothes. "Get changed."

Charlie wiggled herself free from her improvised burrito wrap, but in the process, her halter top untied itself!

"Ahh!" she yelped, covering her chest.

Taylor arched a brow, commenting, "Wow. So reliable."

He helped tie it back, muttering, "See what happens when you don't listen to me? What are you covering up for? I've already seen them, remember?"

After securing the knot, he let her go into the stall to change. Once she emerged, he made her turn around twice, inspecting her overall look. When he was satisfied, he nodded. "Good. Now, let's talk."

Charlie assumed they would go outside, but instead, Taylor lifted her and set her right back on the counter! "Taylor, we can talk outside-"

"No. Here is fine," he insisted, cornering her in with his arms. "So, Mia invited you. And you thought wearing that swimsuit to a pool party full of guys was a good idea?"

"Hey, there were girls too!" she shot back. "Some in thong bikinis, like that caramel-haired girl who kept flirting with you!"

Gasping, Charlie covered her mouth, realizing she had given herself away.

"Ah?" Taylor leaned back, now amused. He asked, "So you came here because you were jealous?"

Charlie panicked. She denied, "Jealous? Haha. No! I—"

"I think it's kinda hot." He folded his arms, slightly nodding in approval. "If you admit it, I might just forgive you."

Charlie bit her lip.

Guardian Angel: 'Just be honest; we might just leave here alive.'

Inner Devil: 'I agree, and if you throw in a kiss, it might melt his anger!'

“Okay, fine!" She threw her hands up, surrendering. "You said you were meeting a friend-not going to

You Then Mia sent me a video of

you at a party-girls eyeing you, and " sŵnovel

Her face burned, admitting, "I—I came."

"Why didn't you just call me?" Taylor asked.

"I did," Charlie huffed. "Your phone was off."

Taylor frowned. He checked his phone from his pocket. Then, after seeing it, he hissed. "Battery died. But still, Charlie, you knew I'd be here, and you knew I hated that swimsuit."

"Let me ask you—do you even like wearing that? Is it your favorite?" He motioned

to her and warned, "Don't lie to me."

"Well... the girls at the party were wearing-"

"I'm asking you, Charlie," Taylor cut her off.

Charlie averted his gaze, then admitted, "Well... it wouldn't be my first choice..."

"Unless you wanted me angry," Taylor cut in.

"No!" she objected. "That wasn't my full intention."

Guardian Angel: 'Be honest!'

Inner Devil: 'Tell him you wanted to remind him your body is better!'

She frowned, hearing her inner devil. She belatedly said, "I just wanted to be competitive."

"Being competitive is fine. It's good

that you know what you want, but defying me is another story?" He leaned in, voice low. "Charlie Rae King, you're getting punished."

Charlie's stomach dropped. 'How is he going to punish me?'

Before she could react, Taylor rested his hand behind her neck. Before she knew it, his lips were on hers.