“Damn it, Demetri.” Alec shook his head, and his eyes pooled with tears. “Not like this man. Not even close to being like this.”
“Did you get a groupie pregnant?”
“No.”
“Start doing drugs again?”
Alec laughed. “I wish. And no.”
“Find out you’re a chick?”
“No.”
“Get a sex change?”
“Seriously? No.”
I sat down and leaned against the leather seat. “So… I’m out of guesses.”
“Your guesses were sex changes and drugs. I’m surprised you didn’t ask if I woke up this morning thinking I was Batman or something.”
I paused. “Are you Batman?”
Alec laughed and then rubbed his face with his hands. “Not that I know of.”
“So what is it?” I bit my lip and asked the question I didn’t want to ask but couldn’t avoid. “Did you cheat on Nat?”
Alec wouldn’t meet my eyes. Instead he stared hard at the table as if it would somehow sprout the answer for him.
“Alec? Did you?”
“It’s complicated.” He groaned. “I can’t say.”
“You can’t say?” I repeated. “As in you don’t remember if you did or didn’t? Or like you really can’t say because you’ll get your ass sued? I’m sorry, I just don’t understand how the hell you wouldn’t know. You either did or you didn’t.”
Alec ground his teeth together. “Like I said, it’s complicated.”
“Then you’re making it that way.” I fought to keep my voice even. My heart clenched in my chest. What the hell made him think he had a right to even put the girl we both loved in that position? Nat was family. She was like my sister. Suddenly I wanted to puke.
“Well, when you decide whether or not you kept it in your pants, let me know.” I pushed away from the table causing glasses to fall on the ground. The first thing I did was walk outside to find Nat. I had to find her. I had to see her smile and see her face. Maybe if I saw her I’d be reminded of how perfect she was for Alec and how much he loved her. Because right now, I had my doubts. And I really, really wanted to turn around and punch my own flesh and blood in the face.
Since when did I become the mature one?
Chapter Eleven
Alec
Crap. That could not have gone worse. I should have just told him the truth. I wasn’t sure what to say anymore. I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.
She answered on the first ring. “Alec, hey, how’s it going? Keeping it real in Seaside?”
I laughed. At least she still had a good sense humor after all the shit that producer husband of hers put her through. “Yeah, listen… we need to talk.”
“Okay, what about?”
I sighed and told myself to calm down. “Remember how Angelica had… pictures?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s going to go to the media or so she claims. Your ex apparently made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. They’re going to make it look bad. I mean really bad. As in you cheated, he looks like an angel, and honestly, I’m fearful for the kids. All of your kids.” The emphasis was so she would get whom I was talking about. Silence greeted me on the other end. I sighed. “But I’m also really freaked out about what Nat’s going to say. I know we both swore we wouldn’t say a word about anything and make up some insane story if it ever got out, but I have a life and—”
“—Sorry, Alec. I…” She paused. “I know this is difficult, but… if the pictures are leaked it will still be better than you going to the media first. If you go, then it will look even worse. Like you knew it was going to hit the fan and are backpedaling. If they see the pictures, it will blow up in both our faces, but you promised you’d lie. You promised me. You said you’d take all the blame. I have a family to protect.”
“You think I don’t? He is my family! So is Nat, but—”
“Look, Alec. I’ve gotta go. No offense, but you’re the one that was with Angelica that night before we even met. That thing doesn’t hide her crazy, and the way I see it, the only way out is in. Sorry. I gotta run.”
The phone went dead. I stared at it for a few brief seconds before slamming it against the table. The screen cracked. Several photographers looked my way. I waved. “Bad reception.”
Surprisingly, they bought it and ignored me as I pushed through the doors to find Nat. She was laughing with Demetri and suddenly I was brought back to the first time I saw her.
It was a damn pen. She’d dropped it on the floor and I’d picked it up. Stupid, right? I picked up her pink pen and handed it to her. The minute our fingers touched I felt it. This uncontrollable pull. I knew then and there that I wanted her.
People always talk about soul mates and all that shit. Movies and songs are full of it. I’d never believed it, until I met her. Until my entire freaking world was thrown upside-down.
I’d do anything to go back in time. To ignore that stupid pen. Maybe if I would have ignored the pen, I could have kept myself from her and let Demetri have her, or any guy who was more worthy.
Great, now I was blaming my issues on a fuzzy pink pen. I groaned and made a beeline for Nat and Demetri.
“Hey guys.” I stopped in front of them. Demetri glared at me. I gave him a head nod and mouthed sorry when Nat looked away.
He nodded once, but I knew that only meant he was placated, at least for a bit.
“You ready to go?” I asked Nat. She looked really pale. “You don’t look so hot.”
She laughed. “That’s the thing. I feel super hot and just… weird. I don’t know. I think I may really be coming down with something.”
I reached out to her and grabbed her hand. “I’ll take you back to the house, okay? We’ve gotta be up early for filming anyways, you should get your rest.”
“Ugh…” Nat groaned. “Only four more weeks?”
“Yup.”
Demetri snorted. “Let’s not forget what this week’s theme is.”
All three of us groaned together.
“Teambuilding,” I ground out. “I swear, if I’m put on Angelica’s team I’m going to let her get seriously injured.”
“Get in line.” Demetri snorted. “At least you didn’t sleep with her.”
“What?” Nat’s gaze flew to Demetri’s. “You slept with her again? After you already knew she was bad news and after everything you and I went through? Were you on drugs?”
“High. I was high. Alyssa knows, so stop giving me that weird judgmental look, besides I was depressed that someone chose my brother over me.”
Nat sighed. “Sorry. For a second I thought you cheated on her and I was going to have to castrate you.”
Demetri smirked in my direction. “Is that what happens to cheaters, Nat? They lose their manhood?”
Nat punched him in the shoulder. “No. That was me just being kind because I love you. If I ever got cheated on, I’d bury the body in the woods and feign ignorance.”
“Good to know,” I choked out as Demetri gave me a satisfied grin. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“You know…” Demetri fell into step beside us. “I think I’ll come too. I’m just going to go give my keys to Jaymeson so he can get back.”
“What about Angelica?”
“Here’s hoping she doesn’t.” Demetri gave us a thumbs up and walked off.
Nat slumped against me.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Peachy. Now, let’s go home. I’m sleepy.”
Chapter Twelve
Alec
I woke up with a headache.
Probably from all the champagne I was throwing back last night, like that would somehow make all my issues disappear.
Moaning, I got out of bed and threw on my running gear. I needed to clear my head, and I knew the easiest way to do that, and prepare for our teambuilding week with the rest of the cast, was to listen to music and chill.
Who the hell thought up teambuilding w
eek anyways? This wasn’t Survivor! Put AD2 in hilarious situations where they had to learn how to trust their fellow cast mates. Divide the brothers and see who wins.
Um, right. Been there, done that.
Pretty sure I won.
Not that I was going to go saying that out loud, especially with Demetri still being all sensitive now that he wasn’t getting high anymore.
I walked out the front door and stretched, then began my slow stride down the boardwalk. At least the pain throbbing in my legs was strong enough to numb the guilt for a bit. It was turning out to be a crazy beautiful morning. I sprinted the last half mile and then went to the back of the Seaside house to do pull ups.
I did them until I felt like I was going to pass out.
“You do know that it’s teambuilding day, right?” came Jaymeson’s sleepy voice. “You’re going to be absolute crap today if you don’t take a breather.”
“Right.” I dropped down to my feet and grabbed a nearby towel. “I was just lost in thought.”
“Yeah.” Jaymeson grinned. “I run fifteen miles when I want to think too.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Prick. And it wasn’t fifteen.”
“Bro, once you pass ten, it’s all the same.”
Shrugging, I pushed past him just in time to see three sleepy girls walk out of the house. I turned and lifted my eyebrow. “Yours?”
“Well, they aren’t mine,” Demetri said from behind them. “Jaymeson, my man. I don’t know whether to punch you or spray you with Lysol.”
The girls scowled at Demetri and then turned lust-filled eyes toward me. I backed up like a trapped animal and lifted my hands in the air. “Jaymeson, care to call off the wolves?”
“Oh, sorry.” Jaymeson put his phone away. “Thank you for a lovely evening, ladies.” He bent over each of their hands and kissed them on the cheek, taking special care to look each of them in the eyes before sending them on their way.
“Holy hell, it’s like you have a harem.” I squinted as they all happily disappeared out the back gate. “Are they seriously just leaving and not asking for your number? What did you do, drug them?”
Jaymeson shrugged. “It’s how I roll.”
“Crap. You’re worse than Demetri was.” I chuckled and took a swig of water.
Demetri threw a towel at my head. “Thanks, man.”
I threw it back at his face. “Anytime.”
With a scowl Demetri came and stood by me. I shook my head. “It’s like watching a wild animal in its natural habitat,” I said, amused as Jaymeson began stretching and then texting on his phone. “Ten bucks says he’s setting up his next booty call.”
“Twenty and you’ve got a bet.” Demetri held out his hand.
“Gross… she’s my step-mom, gents. Show a little respect.”
The water spewed out of my mouth. I choked wildly as Demetri patted my back. “Dude, you’re supposed to drink water, not inhale it like a mermaid.”
Jaymeson’s head snapped up. “Mermaids inhale water?”
“That’s all you took from this entire conversation? Mermaids?”
“To be fair,” I said, though my voice was scratchy from choking. “To him mermaids are just another type of female he can seduce.”
Jaymeson’s eyes narrowed. “Hilarious.”
“How is that damn sexy newly-divorced mom of yours, anyways, Jaymeson?” Demetri teased.
I pretended to ignore their conversation.
“Brilliant.” He put his phone in his pocket. “She’s thinking about taking a long vacation, you know, to get away from all the media for a while.”
“Where?” The word was out before I could even think.
“Well…” Jaymeson’s eyes narrowed. “She was actually asking me about renting a beach house here. Would you guys be cool with that? I mean, she’s not going to bring any of the brothers and sisters. They’re going to stay with the nanny, but she really seemed stressed out. Like she needed a break. Then again, she’s a female, so spiders and The Bachelor stress her out, you know?”
Shit.
“I have no idea how you get so many girls.” Demetri rolled his eyes. “And it’s fine. She can stay in our house. I mean, that way she can be close to the set. You guys can bond and not have to worry about not seeing one another since we’re all holed up here in the Seaside Producer House Hell.”
“Speaking of.” I pointed to the outside cameras taking in our entire conversation.
Demetri smiled and flipped them off.
“Um…” I scratched my head. “No offense, Jaymeson, but don’t you think your mom would be more comfortable in something smaller? Safer? I mean, people know it’s our house. The media practically camps outside it.”
Demetri hit me on the back of the head. “Dude, manners!” He high-fived Jaymeson. “Don’t worry, they’re too distracted by the show and know we’re here for the next few weeks. Call her back. Tell her she can stay there.”
I looked between the two of them. I should have said something to stop the shit storm that was coming my way. Instead I turned on my heel and walked straight upstairs into Nat’s room.
A producer and camera team followed me as I barged in and sat on her bed. She was still peacefully sleeping.
I reached over and felt her forehead. At least it was cool. She’d been running a bit of a fever last night and still looked kind of crappy when she was finally able to fall asleep.
“Nat.” I kissed her cheek. “Wake up, sweetheart.”
“Mmmm.” With eyes still closed, she opened her arms to me. I was all sweaty but I hugged her anyways. “You smell like sweat.”
I laughed. “I thought you liked my sweat?”
“Only when—” Her eyes popped open. She jolted back and threw the covers over her head the minute she saw the cameras. “Go away!”
The producer laughed and stepped closer. I had half a mind to punch him in the face. Instead, I glared in his direction and said very loudly, “You sleep naked, right, Nat?”
“Yes.” She sounded irritated. “Or I will be in five seconds. You know the nakedness clause for Seaside…”
Glaring, the producer stood his ground as Nat’s hands reached out from under the covers and threw down articles of clothing. First a sock, then a shirt, then another sock. I tried to hide my laughter but it was too funny. They were the ones who made the rules, not me.
With a curse, the producer pulled the camera crew out and slammed the door behind them.
I ran over to lock it, laughing the entire way.
“That was close!” Nat said from under the covers.
“So close.” My mind was elsewhere, like Nat’s naked body…
With a squeal she jumped out of bed fully clothed.
“What?” Yeah, it was impossible to hide my disappointment. I looked at the floor, then back at her. “Okay, Clark Kent, what gives?”
With a satisfied smirk she got to her feet and stood on the bed, then put her hand to her head and sat back down. “I’m brilliant, that’s all, and a bit dizzy. Weird.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve always known that. I mean, you beat Demetri at Cranium every game night.”
“Not my fault he doesn’t have my skills.”
“Right.” I jumped onto the bed and stood, my head nearly touching the ceiling. “And it’s not his fault you cheat at every single game you play.”
“Do not!”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Good God, woman. You cheated at checkers last week when we went to that elementary school for volunteer day.”
With a huff she crossed her arms. “That kid was pulling one over on me! He was eating my checkers!”
I licked my lips to keep from laughing. “They were chocolate.”
She pointed at my face. “He was still cheating.”
“Didn’t mean you had to scare the crap out of him and tell him all cheaters go to hell, and then eat his checkers while he took a potty break.”
With a devilish laugh Nat fell to the bed in a hea
p. “Ah, yes. Taught him a lesson.”
“Yes.” With a loud thump I fell onto the bed to join her. “Good one. Way to show a six year old. I’m so proud to call you my girlfriend.”
“You should be.” Her chin jutted out in a challenge as she tackled me against the mattress. “Say it. Say ‘Nat’s a winner’.”
“Nope.”
“Say it!” Her hands flew to my sides where she knew I was most ticklish. It had taken her almost our entire relationship to finally find out my weak point, and even then, I told her if it ever ended up on TMZ I was going to hide all the Swedish fish in the house.
She still hadn’t told Demetri, so I figured the secret was safe.
“Nat is…” I bit my lip and squinted down at her. “Beautiful?”
“Hmm, that’s—”
“Wait.” I pressed my finger to her lips. “I wasn’t finished.”
“Oh, do go on then.”
“Funny, charismatic, a damn good ping-pong player—”
“True story. Just ask Jaymeson.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Sorry. Please continue telling me how awesome I am. I’m waiting.”
I leaned over to kiss her neck. “Thoughtful, sexy…”
She arched against me as my lips moved to her ear. “And mine. All mine.”
Chapter Thirteen
Demetri
“I want to know how the hell I ended up on the pink bunny team?” I shouted so everyone could hear my irritation. I was shirtless and showing the entire world my nipple rings like some escaped convict. But I didn’t care. I’d go naked if that’s what it took to prove my point.
Demetri Daniels does not wear pink shirts with fluffy bunnies on them. Bunnies? Were they high when they thought up this idea?
Alyssa came up behind me and jumped on my back. “Aw, is someone a poor sport?”
Ignoring her I pointed in Jaymeson’s direction. “If anyone should be the bunny it’s him. He’s the one screwing like a rabbit every second of every—”
I stopped mid-sentence when I noticed Alec’s shirt.
“You were saying?” He pointed at his shirt and shook his head in disbelief.