Tyler's POV
When I got home, I could feel the emptiness, realizing I had already missed Ara. And I knew I should stop myself from feeling this way, but there was no way I would stop seeing her. I can't stop thinking about Arabella from the time I drove away from her house.
I walked around my home, and this was the first time I hated being alone in my prominent place. I love the solitude I felt inside my residence, but today I wouldn't say I like the emptiness because I know deep inside my heart that I long to see her again and have her in my house.
I jumped to my feet when I suddenly heard the doorbell ring, and I felt excited when I thought it was Ara. I know it would be impossible for her to come after me, but who knows, a miracle can happen. I was smiling when I opened my door, and my face fell when I found my cousin standing on my doorstep.
"What are you doing here, Earl?" I asked him, and I saw his face saddened.
"You just got back on the island, and you didn't inform me you are home. It feels like you were avoiding me, my dear cousin." He declared.
"And it feels like you were waiting for someone because you were smiling when you opened your main door, but you scowled and got disappointed when you found out it was me." He declared, and I felt a little guilty.
"I don't know if I will hate you now, Ty. You left without saying goodbye, and you come back without calling me." He added, and I walked back inside the living room while I heard his footsteps behind me.
"I am sorry if I bailed on you the last time. I got busy running my restaurant, and you know I will always have time for you." He said, and I suddenly remembered why I didn't call my closest cousin on my way to the Island.
I was so distracted with Ara riding on my yacht that I forgot to tell him I was back on the island. Earl and I grew up together, and we are super close, and he was like a brother to me.
"I am not upset that you bailed on me at my last party. I didn't call you because I got busy too." I replied.
"I heard a rumor." He said, and I raised my head and looked at him, and I could tell right away he had something to say to me.
"What kind of rumor?" I asked.
"One of our friends spotted you in pearl street kissing a girl." He said, and my eyes widened, and I couldn't stop smiling at him.
"Oh, boy, I know that kind of smile, Tyler." He declared.
"You better tell me now because I could see the happiness on your face, and this is the first time I see you like this, and it has been a long time since I saw you smile this way, a genuine smile, should I say." He said, and I felt like an idiot because I couldn't stop grinning.
"Her name is Arabella," I said.
"Wow, a beautiful name." He said.
"Yes, indeed, but she is not my girlfriend yet," I replied.
"Well, that is not a question anymore since you don't do the girlfriend thing." My cousin responded, and I looked at him intently.
"No way." He said as he read the expression on my face.
"Yes, I like her, Earl, but it is complicated. Matthew Hydenson cheated on her." I said, and his eyes got so big.
"He was Matt's girlfriend?" He asked as his eyes widened in disbelief, and I nodded.
"The one we saw him the last time?" He asked, and I shook my head.
"No, that girl was the third party, and she was the one he cheated his ex-girlfriend with." I declared.
"Well, I felt glad it wasn't that girl because I could tell during the entire party she was stealing glances at you even if Matthew curled his arms around her waist, and I think she is not the type of girl that can capture your elusive heart." He said, and I laughed at his description of my heart.
"How could you say that?" I asked.
"Well, your reputation as the heart breaker on this island is known in every corner of the Perfect Blue, but I haven't seen you go crazy over a woman, and this is the first time I saw that kind of smile after Emily left you because of your foolishness." He said, and it hurts me because only Earl can speak to me in this manner. I released a heavy sigh as I looked at my cousin.
"Yeah, I know, right, " I said, and since he was the only one who knew all of my secrets and deepest desires and fantasies, I told him all about Arabella and everything that took place after I met her. And I could tell based on the expressions on his ruggedly handsome face; that he disagreed with my plan.
"I don't think that is a good idea, Tyler, I could tell that this girl is very innocent, and I guess she doesn't need that kind of situation. She gets hurt and humiliated by Matt, and now you are offering her something she cannot refuse, and I doubt she won't fall for you. You have to think about it, Ty." My cousin said, and I was speechless because he had a point.
"Why do you sound so sure she will fall for me, Earl?" I asked him, and my cousin laughed and shook his head.
"I couldn't believe until now you don't realize your ability to make girls go crazy over you; just one smile of yours girls would drool over you; your dimples alone could melt any woman's heart, Tyler." He responded.
"Every time we travel abroad, girls will always take a double glance at us. I hate you that you got almost everything in life, especially in terms of physical appearance, and you are so lucky to be bestowed that kind of gift." Earl added, and I shook my head.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Earl. If all you said were true, I should be with Emily right now." I said.
"Well, Emily will come back to you one of these days; you don't need to find another girl, Ty. Stay away from that innocent girl." Earl said, but I know I am too far gone. I got involved with Ara, and just thinking about her beautiful face right now makes me smile.
"I think it is too late for that Earl," I said, and his face fell.
"Tyler, you need to listen to me; you are going to hurt that girl even if you want her to get over with Matt. Don't blame me in the future if you end up hurting yourself and her." Earl said, and I smiled at him.
"Don't worry, we have an agreement; the moment she falls for me, we need to end our relationship," I replied.
"I couldn't believe you, Tyler, I thought you had already grown up, but it seems you still like playing girls with your fingers." He responded, and I cocked my head.
"Come on, Earl, you know that is not true," I said and couldn't hide the hurt that registered on my face.
"Tyler, for how often I told you to stay away from those girls because even if they don't want to fall for you, it will happen, even if you warned them. You never learn your lesson Edgebright." He said, and I laughed because I knew he was pissed with me every time he called me by my family name. I know Earl is not happy with me.
"Don't worry, Earl. I will be careful with her heart." I said, and he shook his head, and he fell silent. I could tell he would be spending the night at my place, and I felt so glad I got company because I could tell I would feel lonely after having Ara around my house.
We went to the resort to eat dinner, and I felt so glad the ocean was now calm, and I am sure tomorrow I could swim with Ara. I could tell the staff of one of the restaurants were happy to serve me again. We owned the restaurants inside the resort, while my cousin owned the floating restaurants in Cobalt and Cerulean towns.
The moment we returned to my house, we drank some beer and talked some more, but I could tell my cousin avoided talking about Ara. It was past ten o'clock in the evening we decided to call it a night.
After taking a bath, I put on my sweat pants and sleeveless tank top. And as expected, I found it so hard to sleep because once again, Arabella Ravalli occupied my mind, and no matter how hard I tried to sleep, I couldn't stop thinking about her.
When my alarm buzzed, I got up quickly and a beautiful smile plastered on my face as I walked to my bathroom. I couldn't believe Earl was already drinking coffee, and he handed me my mug when I joined him in the dining hall.
"Aren't you going to report to your office today?" He asked, and I shook my head.
"I am still on leave until tomorrow. Dad didn't know I was already back on the Island." I said, and he nodded his head at me.
Earl is my cousin on my maternal side. I don't have cousins from my father's side since my dad and my grandfather are only children, just like me; that is why I am the sole heir of my father's businesses.
My cousin left ahead of me, and we agreed to meet tonight. I felt so energetic as I put my bag in the back of my car. And I got inside my car in a hurry. I was only wearing my board shorts and a white t-shirt.
I couldn't stop myself from feeling so excited to see Ara, I know I told her to meet her at the souvenir shop, but I wanted to pick her up and drive her to the shop because I can't deny I miss her like crazy.