It’s all part of my evil plan to take over the world. One hot girl at a
time.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. The jerk, he would make me
laugh when I was trying to wrap myself up in all that pain.
“Truthfully?” He walked toward me and leaned against the
concrete wall. “I figured this was where I would go if I were you. It
has happy memories, and right now you need to be cheered up.”
“They told you.”
“I guessed.”
I sighed. “So now you know.”
“No.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug. “I
know nothing. I want to hear it from you, but not until you’re
ready. In fact, I remember a while back making a little deal with
you. I tell you something hard and you tell me. Technically
someone else told me, but I’ll still count yours for the day.”
I closed my eyes and nodded as I placed my head against his
chest and sighed again. He felt so comfortable, so good.
“I loved my girlfriend, Cassie, so much.”
I wanted to tense and push away, but really, wasn’t I
mourning a lost love too? I would be the biggest hypocrite on the
planet if I did that. So I waited for him to continue.
“My brother and I were drunk one night and made a bet. I’d
been wanting to sleep with her for months. I was fifteen and
horny.”
“And you’re different now…?” I whispered into his chest.
His laugh warmed me from the inside out. “Very funny.”
His hand moved to my head as he caressed my hair. “Anyway, my
brother was giving me so much crap about it that finally I had
enough. I told him that even he couldn’t get in her pants. Before all
this happened Alec had always been the lady killer. I know, hard to
believe, but it’s true.”
I felt him gulp as he held me tighter and whispered, “He
gave her heroine.”
Shocked, I pulled back and looked at his face to see if he was
kidding. He wasn’t smiling. In fact, that all too familiar look of pain
was etched in his eyes. “They had sex and she got pregnant.”
“With his baby,” I whispered hoarsely. “The girl you loved?
And your brother? So you have a nephew?”
“No.” His lower lip trembled, as he pulled away and leaned
against the concrete container. “But, that’s a story for another
time.”
I had pushed him to his limit. It was clear he didn’t make a
habit of telling this story — it was private. Nobody knew about it,
otherwise I would have been told by now. He trusted me with
something deep and dark.
And I owed him the same thing.
I reached for his hand and pulled him into a hug.
Well, it was supposed to be a hug, until I reached up and
touched his face. He closed his eyes and moaned.
I wasn’t sure if I moved first or if he did, but our lips met,
and in a frenzy he picked me up and slammed me against the wall.
“Sorry,” he mumbled setting me down. “I’m just
overwhelmed a bit. Kind of used to using this as a way to…”
“Mask the pain,” I finished looking into his hurt eyes.
“I don’t want to use you.”
“You aren’t.”
“How do you know?”
He doubted himself so much, but I knew what type of guy
he was. He was one of the good ones, as much as he whored
around. It was all a mask, a smokescreen. I took a deep breath.
“Because I do. Now kiss me.”
Demetri’s eyes widened just slightly before his mouth
crushed mine. I parted my lips as his tongue plunged in and out.
His hands moved to cup my butt and pull me against him.
His kiss was nothing like Brady’s.
Nothing.
Demetri’s hands moved against my skin, slowly lifting my
shirt. When I felt his fingers graze the skin above my hipbone it
sent a shot of electricity through my body, and my head jerked
back. His mouth worked down my neck. Clearly, the guy knew
how to kiss.
I shuddered beneath his kiss, his touch. I’d never in my life
experienced anything like it. Part of me wanted to pull back,
because it felt like I was cheating on Brady’s memory, that I wasn’t
being faithful to the relationship we had, but another part craved
Demetri.
A throat cleared in the distance.
Slowly, Demetri put me back on my feet, his eyes never left
my face. A sense of awe reflected in them as his forehead touched
mine.
The throat cleared again.
“What is it, Bob?” Demetri’s voice was hoarse.
“People are waiting to come in.”
“Right.” He reached out and pulled down my shirt then
tucked my hair behind my ears. “Do you have any lip gloss?”
I nodded.
“Put it on.”
I nodded my head numbly and reached for my lip gloss.
With shaking fingers I dabbed a bit on my lips and rubbed them
together. I ran my fingers through my hair so it didn’t look so
mussed, but I’m sure it probably still looked awful. After all, I had
been sobbing and making out with the hottest guy on the planet.
“Any cameras?” Demetri asked Bob before we went out the
entrance.
He shook his head. “One, but he left a while ago.”
“Good.” Demetri’s grip tightened on my hand as he pulled
me through the door and walked me outside. “Sorry, I’ve had the
same damn photographer following me for the past year. Everyone
else gave up on my boring life, but this one’s convinced I’m not
going to stay clean. So he’s like a friendly stalker. Sometimes I even
buy him Starbucks.”
“So, why are you nervous about him all of a sudden?”
Demetri put his arm around me. “I don’t want him taking
your picture.”
I tensed. Was he ashamed of me?
“Stop being a girl,” he whispered into my hair. “It has
nothing to do with not wanting to be seen with you. Hell, I’ll shout
it in the streets if you want. I just don’t think you want people
digging into your past right now. Am I right?”
I hadn’t even thought of that. Terror swept through me at
the thought of seeing the news again. Pictures of the totaled truck,
our prom picture, and finally the service at the football field.
“Thanks.” I shuddered.
“No problem.” His face brushed against the top of my head
as his lips found my cheek. “Sorry.” He seemed almost
embarrassed.
“What for?” I fought back a grin.
“I can’t seem to help myself.” He smiled mischievously and
pulled me down the alleyway and flush against his body. Instantly
his lips found mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck. With a
moan he pulled back. “Let’s go do something.”
My eyes widened.
He rolled his. “Good Lord, not that. Get your head out of the
gutter.”
“Not my fault you put it there.”
“Really?” His smile was contagious as his teeth grazed my
lower lip and gave it a little tug. The guy was way too good at
kissing. In fact there should be strict laws agai
nst really attractive
celebrities and kissing.
“Stop.” I put my hand against his chest and froze.
Everything about him was so solid and strong. I ran my hand down
the middle of his chest across his abs, somewhat in awe.
“If you keep doing that I’m going to toss up your skirts here
in the alleyway.”
“I’m not wearing a skirt.”
“Damn.” He looked down. “Next time. It’s so much easier
that way.” He winked. I punched him in the arm.
“Okay, so what do you want to do? I have to work
tomorrow, so we can’t stay up super late.”
Demetri put his hand over his heart. “Alyssa, are you
agreeing to hang out with me? As a friend?”
“Do friends kiss?” I countered.
“My friends do.”
“Good thing I’m your only one.” I rolled my eyes.
“Not true, both Sam and Connor gave me friend vibes at
group. I also have their numbers.”
“And you’re planning on kissing them too?”
“Nah, I mean, I’m not like that. I don’t just go kissing other
people… now if one of them made the first move…” He put his
hands in the air signaling he’d be okay with it.
I burst out laughing.
His face was serious. I immediately stopped laughing. Oh
my gosh, was he serious?
And then he smirked and laughed. “Wow, did you really
think I played for both teams? I’m not sure if I should be offended
or complimented. I guess I do have great style. I mean we already
know how awesome I look in that Seaside Taffy visor.”
“Yes. Homeless,” I answered.
“Hot and homeless?” He looked hopeful.
“Not so much.”
“Can’t win ‘em all!” He winked and grabbed my hand.
“Come on, I know just what we can do.”
Chapter Fourteen
Demetri
I was still so stoked she was holding my hand that I nearly
tripped on my own feet as I led her out of the alleyway.
Classy. I had officially made out with the hottest girl on the
planet in the middle of an alleyway in Seaside, Oregon. The old
Demetri would have given me a high five. But she deserved better
than that.
Which is why it was important that she have fun right then.
“Hurry.” I tugged her arm toward the opposite end of the
street. When we reached the destination I triumphantly threw my
hands in the air and yelled “Bumper cars.”
“I’ve never done this before.” She laughed breathlessly.
“You live here! How could you just pass it by?”
She shrugged. “I know it’s strange. I was always too scared
when I was little and then after the accident, the whole car thing…”
Her crystal blue eyes met mine. I wanted to punch myself for being
so insensitive. She had survived a car crash, and I was taking her to
bumper cars. Really? How stupid could I be?
“Its fine. I want to do it.” She put her hands on her hips and
exhaled. “I can do it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Totally.” She nodded once and walked further into the
outdoor carnival area. It was like a garage on the street. They had
the bumper cars and Tilt-A-Whirl covered just in case it rained,
which it usually did nearly every day during the winter and spring.
It wasn’t helpful for those who were fighting depression — or drug
addictions for that matter. I swear I still couldn’t figure out how
half the population wasn’t addicted to something or other.
I paid the man and ran to the red car. Little kids shuffled
around us. Being competitive, I felt the need to trash talk a bit. The
kids ate it up. And one tiny nerdy kid stole the red car. I’ll get him
later.
Alyssa chose the pink car, naturally.
I chose the black one, because I’m bad ass. At least that’s
what I announced in front of a few first graders, much to their
parents’ horrified stares.
I mouthed sorry and looked over at Alyssa, who was trying
to keep herself from laughing.
The alarm went off and I went straight for her.
She threw her head back and laughed, then moved her car
forward toward the little kid in front of her.
“Watch it!” he yelled. He was missing several of his teeth
and wore a shirt that said “Darth Vader Lives.”
She hit him again.
Good girl.
“Mom!” the kid yelled and rammed his car back into Alyssa.
She didn’t even flinch, just waved at the little guy and took off after
another one.
I seriously needed to take her to laser tag.
“Gotcha.” I hit her car, softly, because she’s a girl. She
whipped her little bumper car around so fast I didn’t have time to
get away. I quickly realized my error, but it was too late. I was
trapped.
She rammed me with her car so hard mine went backward.
Girl-shmirl. It. Was. On.
With a war cry straight out of the movie 300, at least that’s
how I envisioned it, I drove after her.
Tunnel vision took over as I steered my car toward hers. I
had five feet and then. Crash.
A little car rammed me from the right.
Darth Vader kid was nodding his head and blowing smoke
from his pudgy little hands. I tried to get out of my car, you know
to teach him a lesson, but it was so small that I was stuck.
The cars stopped. And all the little kids hopped out.
I was still stuck.
“Need help?” Alyssa asked, leaning over my shoulder. My
right knee was caught underneath the car. I was seriously
contemplating just lifting the car like a skirt and walking off, but
then I’d be Flintstone-ing it all the way back to the house in the
rain.
“I got it.” I didn’t mean to snap, but my manhood was at
stake.
“Do you?” She walked around the car and stood in front of
me, arms crossed. “Prove it.”
“Fine.” I bit out then tried to push out of the car. Seriously, I
fit in it, how could I not get out of it?
“Need help yet?”
I looked down and shook my head. “No, I can do this.”
She gave me a patronizing smile as I tried to move my foot
to the side and get my knee out from underneath the metal car. The
little alarm went off again, signaling the next riders to get in their
cars.
Great, my hell was right here surrounded by little kids in a
tiny car forever going nowhere.
“Stop panicking.” Alyssa stepped toward me and reached
into the car. Okay, so I wasn’t panicking, per se. I was actually
doing fine until she reached her delicate hand into my personal
space and slowly ran her hand down my knee and pulled it out
from underneath the metal entrapment with ease.
Her eyes met mine as she slowly pulled back.
Holy hell. I was going to be showing a lot more than a smile,
if I had to get out of this car now. And there were children present.
Great, I’m sure somewhere that meant a ticket, or at least prison.
I swallowed and took a few deep breaths before quickly
jumping from
the car and grabbing her hand. Together, we ran out
of there into the cool night air, which helped me alleviate the
situation.
Well, that and the cold rain then pelting my face.
“Did you drive down here?” I pulled her into a nearby store
so we wouldn’t get soaked.
“Yeah, my car’s down C Street.”
“Mine’s down that way too. I’ll walk you to your car.”
Her face scrunched up into a frown. “Is our date over?”
I grinned like a fool. “Lyss, this wasn’t a date.”
Her face fell.
I pulled her into a hug even though she fought me. “My
dates are way cooler than this. I can promise you that.”
“Oh yeah?” she challenged.
I chuckled and kissed her hair. “Yeah, this was just for
cheering up.”
“Who says I’m sufficiently cheered?” She pulled away and
put her hands on her little hips.
“Fine.” I licked my lips and leaned in. “What else will cheer
you up?”
“My turn.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me outside.
We ran down the street until we reached the old carousel mall.
With a giant grin she tugged me inside. We jogged past people and
then stopped right in front of the carousel.
“No.” I crossed my arms. “I’ve gotta put my foot down. No
riding with little kids. They have germs.” And there was just
something about riding a fake horse or bunny in circles that
reminded me of too many drug trips gone bad.
Alyssa rolled her eyes. “You aren’t going to be riding the
horse or the bunny, so stop complaining. I promise it will be really
fun, okay?”
I exhaled. “Fine. So what are we doing?”
My eyes kept focusing on the animals as they went in circles.
The music only made it worse. How does this cheer a person up?
And then I saw it.
Alyssa jumped onto the carousel.
She was riding the seal.
Like a little kid.
She even put the seatbelt around her.
Her laugh was like a punch to the gut. So clear and pretty.
She threw her head back and laughed as the carousel continued
going in circles. I pulled out my phone and took pictures. And then
I just couldn’t handle it anymore.
I had to be by her.
It was like she was giving me a glimpse of the girl she could
be. Happy, carefree. God, I’d never seen her smile so big in the
whole time I’d known her. She was beautiful. Like supermodel, I