Chapter 12: Whispers in the Dark

The night was still, save for the distant crashing of waves and the soft rustling of palm trees. The patio lights flickered slightly in the breeze, casting shadows across Sicily's face as she swirled the amber liquid in her glass.

Sloan sat across from her, silent. His gaze kept drifting past her, toward the swing near the beach. Toward Charlie.

Sicily noticed. Of course, she noticed.

She sighed, shaking her head before taking a slow sip. "You're really bad at this, you know."

Sloan barely glanced at her. "At what?"

She let out a dry laugh. "At pretending. At least do me the courtesy of making eye contact when I'm talking to you."

Sloan turned to face her, exhaling sharply. "I don't know what you want me to say, Sicily."

She tilted her head, watching him. "Maybe start with the truth?"

His jaw clenched. "I am telling the truth."

Sicily scoffed. "Right. So you weren't just staring at Charlie like she's the only person in the world?"

Sloan ran a hand down his face. "I was just looking. It's not a crime."

"No," Sicily said, setting her drink down with a quiet clink. "But lying to yourself? That's a different story… marrie.."

Before she could finish her sentence and even before Sloan could respond, footsteps sounded behind them.

A voice broke the tension. "Hey, uh… am I interrupting something?"

Sloan and Sicily turned to see Mon standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, looking uncharacteristically uneasy.

Sicily blinked, taken off guard. "Mon?"

Mon hesitated, then scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, I—uh—I just wanted to say I'm sorry if I caused any trouble earlier. It wasn't my intention. I swear, I wasn't trying to…" He trailed off, glancing between them as if searching for the right words.

Sicily raised an eyebrow, then let out a small chuckle—though it lacked its usual sharpness. "Mon, relax. It's fine."

Mon didn't look convinced. "Are you sure? Because I feel like I might've—"

"It's fine," Sicily cut in, her voice softer this time. She gave him a small, almost weary smile. "Really."

Mon hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. If you say so."

Sloan, who had been watching the exchange in silence, finally spoke. "You didn't know," he said, his voice unreadable.

Mon frowned. "Didn't know what?"

Sloan looked at Sicily, then back at Mon. "Never mind."

Mon didn't push. Instead, he gave a short nod. "Alright. I'll, uh… leave you two to it." He turned to go, pausing briefly before walking away.

Silence settled between Sloan and Sicily again, heavier than before.

Sicily let out a slow breath. "That was… unexpected."

Sloan didn't respond.

Sicily glanced at him, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You wanted him to know, didn't you?"

Sloan looked away. "I don't know what I want."

Sicily studied him for a moment, then shook her head. "Liar."

Meanwhile, on the SwingCharlie sat with her legs tucked under her, gently rocking back and forth as she watched the tide roll in.

Her heart felt heavy.

She didn't want to feel like this. She didn't want to overthink.

But no matter how much she tried to push it down, the weight of the evening pressed against her.

She wasn't deaf.

She had heard the way Sicily and Sloan had been arguing. She could feel the tension, the way Sicily's voice carried just a little too loudly in the quiet night.

And she knew—deep down—that she was part of the reason for it.

She closed her eyes, pressing her palms together.

Lord, I don't know what's happening here. But I've been praying. And You know what's right for me. So… just show me. Show me what I'm supposed to do.

She took a deep breath, holding onto that small thread of faith.

Because right now, it was all she had.

Back on the PatioSloan's fingers drummed against the table, his mind in turmoil, with the sudden change in Sicily.

Sicily leaned back in her chair, watching him. "You should just go to her." said sarcasticaly

Sloan tensed. "That's not what this is about."

Sicily let out a humorless laugh. "Really? Because it sure as hell feels like it."

Sloan exhaled sharply. "Sicily—"

"No, you listen to me," she cut in, her voice suddenly sharper. "I knew what this was. I agreed to it. But what I didn't sign up for was sitting here like an idiot being ignored while you stare at another woman like she hung the damn moon."

Sloan's jaw ticked, but he didn't deny it.

Sicily shook her head, a bitter smile playing at her lips. "At least be honest, Sloan. Not for me—for yourself, I thought you would never be tied up with one person!"

Sloan didn't answer.

Because, deep down, they both already knew.

On the BeachCharlie stood up from the swing, dusting the sand off her hands.

She took one last look at the ocean, then turned away.

She didn't need to be here right now.

She needed space.

She needed clarity.

And most of all… she needed to trust that whatever happened next was out of her hands.

As she walked away, Sloan finally stood from his chair.

His gaze followed her, his heart pounding.

He had spent so much time running from what he felt.

But maybe it was time to stop.

Maybe it was time to finally—

Charlie disappeared into the darkness.

Sloan clenched his fists.

He had waited too long.

And now, he wasn't sure if she was walking away from the beach…

Or from him.