The waitress returned with the wine and gave him an overly obvious wink as she uncorked the bottle. I refused the drink. Concern washed over me as Demetri engaged in conversation and nearly finished the entire bottle.
He sure could talk a lot about himself. Not that I minded, he was interesting, but still. He hadn’t even asked about my day.
I yawned. I suddenly felt flush and exhausted.
Demetri ignored my yawn and obvious signs of exhaustion and kept talking. I hated his haughty attitude almost as much as I hated that he was right. Within an hour the restaurant was packed. It was so loud we almost couldn’t have a conversation. It also didn’t help that people kept approaching our table. I just wanted them to go away. This was not how I thought our date was going to go.
Demetri never ignored his fans.
But he ignored me.
The entire night.
Finally after dessert was served, I was ready to go.
Demetri was deep in conversation with a young girl who had just walked up and asked for an autograph. She couldn’t be any older than me, and I was instantly jealous. She was flirting with my boyfriend. My boyfriend.
Just as I was about to open my mouth and most likely make a fool of myself, Demetri reached out and grabbed my hand.
A shiver of pleasure ran through me as the girl backed off and glared, then finally left.
“Sorry,” Demetri apologized. “I didn’t know it would get this out of hand.”
“You’re one of the biggest rock stars on the planet, and you didn’t think it would get out of hand?” Was he for real?
He at least looked sheepish when he shrugged. “Sorry, it’s never this bad in L.A. I mean, people usually give us our privacy. I can go to Starbucks and not be stalked.”
“If you haven’t noticed, the most exciting thing in Seaside is the ocean and the fact that we actually have a Starbucks. Of course people are going to freak out.” I was kind of angry and tired. I needed to stop taking it out on him. It wasn’t his fault.
Demetri cursed. “You’re right, Nat. I’m sorry. Forgive me?” His smile immediately disarmed me.
I shrugged. “Fine, but no more ignoring me on our date.”
“I promise a date will never be like that again.”
“Why? Are we going to stay inside and become reclusive?”
Demetri grabbed my hand and kissed it. “No, the record company is sending over some bodyguards.”
Suddenly everything felt very real. “Um, is that necessary?”
“We got a few death threats yesterday.” He shrugged. “Nothing out of the ordinary, but you know, you should always be careful.”
Feeling a little alarmed, I could only stare at him. On what planet was that normal? I was silent as he paid the check and led me out to the car.
Fans were bustling outside the restaurant just as much as inside. Utterly exhausted, I just wanted him to take me home.
“Let’s go.” Demetri strategically led me through the crowds. To say I was freaked out would be an understatement. I mean, he just told me he gets death threats and I can’t even see the street right now.
“Demetri! Is that your girlfriend? Who is that?” A girl shouted, and then a camera flashed.
Demetri’s hand tightened in mine, and then in one swift movement he pinned me against the car and kissed me.
When he pulled away I opened my eyes to at least forty phones pointed at us.
“Guess so.” He nuzzled my hair, then tucked a few pieces behind my ear.
I think people were so excited and shocked, they didn’t even realize we were hurrying to get into the car.
“Are you sure you can drive?” I asked. My throat was starting to feel achy and sore.
He laughed. “I’ve driven in worse situations.”
“I mean the alcohol.”
“So did I,” he shrugged and started the engine. I should have said something more, or at least been more aggressive about him not driving, but I was so freaked out by all the people.
He sped down the road and turned the corner, then finally opened his mouth to speak. “Sorry, did I hurt you?” He motioned to my mouth and arm that he had grabbed while kissing the crap out of me outside.
“No.” I shook my head. “You shocked me a bit though. Why’d you do that?”
“Damn.” Demetri hit the steering wheel.
“What?” I froze.
“We’re being followed. I knew it was only a matter of time. It’s just… We didn’t think it would get this crazy here. I mean, it is Seaside.”
“And again, need I remind you that we have computers?” Exasperated, I leaned against the door and closed my eyes.
“I’ll drive around the block a few times to lose them, then we can go home, okay?”
I’m not sure if I said okay or nodded or what. My eyes felt so heavy. I had to close them. It was as if someone had drugged me. Maybe I should have been smarter about trying to do so much in one day.
With a yawn, I curled up in my seat and fell asleep.
Chapter Twelve
“What did you do to her?” Alec yelled. He never yelled. Why was he yelling? And why couldn’t I open my eyes? I moaned and immediately a cool compress was pressed to my head. I shivered.
“I kissed her! That’s it! We went to dinner and she fell asleep in the car!” Demetri cursed. “Geez, what, you think I drugged her or something?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Alec grumbled.
“What the hell!” Demetri laughed. “Are you kidding me? Seriously? You’re going to bring that up now of all times?”
Alec cursed. I felt his hand on my face. “Can you hear me, Nat?”
I moaned again and tried to pull away from him.
“We’ll just take her home. She can sleep it off. She’s probably sick,” Demetri said a lot more calm now.
“No, we can’t.” Alec was stern. “Her dad and mom decided to extend their date night to a date weekend. They won’t be back until tomorrow night. They kept leaving her messages but her cell phone must have died. Nat’s mom knew you guys were out, so she left a message with me before they took off. They’re gone.”
“So?”
Alec’s hand left my forehead. “So, if we leave her at her house and she’s this sick, what do you think is going to happen to her? She’s burning up.”
“Oh.” Demetri was quiet for a few minutes. “Does that mean she has a fever?”
“Just, go get some ibuprofen, Demetri.”
“Fine.” The door slammed behind him. It echoed in my ears making my head pound harder. I focused on opening my eyes and was rewarded greatly for my strain.
Alec was hovering over me, concern marked his features. “Nat, are you okay?”
“I think so.” My voice was heavy and groggy. I felt emotional, like I wanted to cry. I wanted my mom. But she wasn’t there. All I had were two rock stars, one who wanted to drop me off at my house and let me sleep off a sickness as if I was hung over. “I don’t feel well.” I tried to smile but it hurt my face.
“Aw, sweetheart, I know you don’t.” Alec rubbed my forehead. “Do you want your fever to go down naturally or do you want some ibuprofen?”
I shook my head. I hated swallowing pills. I choked one time when I was little and even now I had to crush them up with a spoon and eat them with peanut butter.
A tear escaped my eye and went down my cheek.
“Don’t cry, shh, don’t cry.” Alec gently walked me up the stairs to his room and lay down next to me. His strong arms lifted me into his embrace. “You just have the flu or something. You’ll be fine, okay?”
“Promise?” I asked in a tiny voice.
He chuckled and brushed my hair from my face. “I promise. And when you get better I may even let you drive my car.”
“Tease.” I closed my eyes, liking the way his deep chuckle sounded with my head against his chest.
“Got some ibuprofen. What the—” Demetri stopped dead in his tracks. My eyes flickered acros
s his face. He looked angry.
“Don’t you think her boyfriend should be the one in bed with her, Alec?” Demetri snarled.
“Absolutely.” Alec moved away from me. “I’ll check back on you in a few.” He walked by his brother and said in a low voice, “Try not to make it worse.”
“Ass,” Demetri mumbled as he slowly approached the bed. For some reason I felt like I was letting him down, like my being sick made him upset with me.
“I’m sorry,” I said, choked up again.
He shrugged. “It’s okay.”
Wait, did he just accept my apology for being sick? What?
“I wish you felt better. I had some plans for you tonight, Nat. Ones that would have put a smile on that gorgeous face of yours.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again, because I didn’t really know what else to say.
He shrugged. “We can’t control when we get sick. It’s no biggie.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “I’m gonna let you sleep, okay?”
I nodded, even though I felt a stab of disappointment as I watched him walk out of the room.
Seconds later I heard one of the cars start outside.
What the heck?
“He doesn’t like sick people,” Alec announced from the doorway.
“Clearly,” I mumbled, feeling more and more dejected as the minutes ticked by. My head wasn’t pounding near as much. I tried to sit up against the pillows and failed.
“Here.” Alec chuckled and stuffed some pillows behind my back.
“So why doesn’t he like sick people? Is he a germaphobe or something?”
“No.” Alec sat on the bed with a book in hand. “Our mom left us when we were little, and our dad died of cancer a few years afterwards. Most of Demetri’s memories are of the hospital.”
“What about yours?”
Alec laughed. “Playing checkers with dad when he didn’t feel well enough to walk. Holding his hand when they told him there was nothing else they could do. Reading him books even though I was only ten and probably the worst reader on the planet.”
“I like your memories.” I sighed.
“Me too.” He gave me a smile. “Demetri just deals with things different than most people. It doesn’t mean he cares for you any less.”
“Why are you always defending him?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Forget I said that, please forget I said that.” I couldn’t escape him, I was trapped in the bed and if I even tried to stand up I was convinced I would collapse on the floor.
“Does it seem that way?” Alec asked looking at me speculatively.
I nodded.
“Hmm, I guess it would. I don’t know, Nat, I’m just protective of him. I’m older by a year, it’s my job to be protective.”
Lame answer, but it was all I was going to get.
“If you’re older by a year, and he’s a senior and you’re a senior.”
“Good math, Nat,” Alec teased.
“How are you in the same grade?”
“I live to learn,” he joked then nudged me.
“High school is like going to hell every day, so why would you willingly choose to go?”
“I never finished. We got busy touring and I kept putting it off. It’s as easy as that. Demetri actually likes learning. He likes studying, even though it doesn’t come easy to him. I’d rather do things. I can’t sit and listen to someone drone on for hours without wanting to jump out the window.”
“And here I thought you liked to sit and contemplate.”
He shuddered. “No, it just appears that way.”
I yawned.
“You’re tired. Go to sleep, Nat.”
I shook my head, I knew I was being a baby but I really didn’t want to sleep, not if when I woke up he’d be gone too. I hated being alone, which was so silly! I was alone all the time!
“I brought a book.” Alec grinned. “I’ll be right here, okay?”
“Promise?”
His eyes darkened. “Promise.” His whisper lulled me to sleep.
****
“Nat?” Demetri’s voice was really close to my head. I opened my eyes and jumped. He was lying on the bed, holding me in his arms. What happened to his phobia of sickness? And where the heck was Alec? He promised.
Defeated, I looked at my boyfriend and managed a small smile.
“These are for you.” Demetri reached behind him and pulled out a bouquet of white roses. White, not red. Interesting, and a really good gift, too. Darn him.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, and shook my head in hopes that it would clear the sleep and grogginess away.
“I’m sorry I bolted.” Demetri sighed “Being sick just freaks me out. Alec said he told you, but it’s not really an excuse to leave my girlfriend.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.” Demetri snapped. “Damn, why are you so easy on me?”
“Fine. It’s not okay. I hate you. Take your stupid flowers.” I threw them on the floor and crossed my arms.
Demetri grinned. “Much better. What am I going to do with you? Hmm?” His hand blazed a trail down my neck. “You’re beautiful, funny… I can’t even look at another girl.”
“Well, I’m glad the man-whore has finally settled on one girl.” Sickness made people braver, I decided.
“Only one.” He vowed, then reached down and gently kissed my lips. “Are you really feeling better?”
I thought about it for a second. My head wasn’t pounding anymore, though I still felt kinda dizzy even though I was lying down. My legs felt like lead, and my mouth tasted like cotton, but all in all, at least I wasn’t as tired as I had been before.
“I think I’m better.”
“Hmm…” Demetri threw off my covers, I looked down. Holy crap. Someone undressed me and put me in sweats. Mortified, I closed my eyes.
“Chill, babe. It’s not like you’re the first girl I’ve seen naked.”
Right. Because that makes me feel better. I grit my teeth and pushed off the bed. “Did you undress me then?”
“It was a team effort.”
I wanted to die. “Both you and your brother undressed me? Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that sort of thing illegal in all fifty states?”
“Chill, Nat. It’s not like we took turns with you or anything.”
Without responding, I tried to get up. I needed to get out of there and go home. I was too confused to stay and felt so sick I just wanted to be in my bed. My head was spinning. I put my weight on one foot and then the other, trying to make it to the door. “You can’t go around stripping people of their clothes, just because they’re sick.”
Demetri frowned.”But you were uncomfortable. Plus, I’m the one who did it. Alec was here supervising. For some reason he didn’t trust me to do the deed without peeking.”
“I’m going home,” I announced.
“Like hell you are!” Demetri grasped my arm, his fingers digging into my sensitive skin. “You’re staying here and that’s final. You’re sick. You shouldn’t be up and walking anyways. Come on.” With a grunt he lifted me up and cradled me in his arms. You would think I only weighed ten pounds. He walked briskly down the hall and then down the stairs.
“She try to escape or something?” Alec asked suddenly appearing at the bottom of the stairs. I glared.
Alec put his hands in the air. “She’s scary when she’s sick.”
“She’s also suicidal. She wanted to walk home.”
Alec scowled. “Nat, you’d make it as far as the kitchen table, pass out, and most likely crack a tooth in the process.”
I clenched my teeth to keep form yelling. It wasn’t that I wasn’t thankful, but I didn’t look my best, I didn’t feel well, and they were both acting like I was totally unable to take care of myself. Now that my fever was gone I knew I would be fine on my own.
“Lock the doors.” Alec’s intense gaze met mine. Stupid mind reader.
Demetri put me down on the couch and then walked to
the doors, locking each of them. “Crap, how long have they been camped out?”
“Since you came back with the flowers.” Alec answered.
“Who’s camped out?” I piped up.
“Photographers, news crews, fans. Basically everyone in Oregon.” Alec cursed and took a seat next to me. “Thanks to my brother’s heroic kiss downtown Seaside, the media can’t wait to dig in to you.”
“Great,” I grumbled at laid my head on the arm of the couch. “If they saw me now they’d wonder what the fuss was all about.”
Alec tilted his head. “You really don’t see it do you?”
“See what?” I swallowed out of nervousness. Alec’s eyes bore into mine as if he was trying to figure out a piece to some giant puzzle. His gaze made me want to squirm, but I was able to keep myself still.
“How breathtaking you are.” His eyes shone with appreciation. “Nat, you’re absolutely gorgeous without any help from make up or fancy clothes. And you’re the only person in the known universe who hasn’t asked for one of our autographs.”
“She hasn’t?” Demetri said walking back into the living room only picking up on the last part of the conversation, “Rude, Nat. Rude.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “So that’s how I get rid of you two? Ask for your autograph and throw my panties like the rest of them?”
Demetri plopped onto the couch in between us. Of course. “I could live without the autograph part, but the panty-throwing sounds intriguing. You planning on doing that soon? I’ll wait.” He grinned like a little boy. I reached over and kissed his cheek on impulse.
Alec cleared his throat. His eyes moving from me to Demetri then back again. “I’ll go see what I can do about the media for now. Why don’t you guys watch a movie or something?”
I sighed. “My pick. I’m sick.”
Demetri cursed. “My head hurts, does that count?”
“Your head always hurts when you use it, silly, so no, doesn’t count,” I joked.
Alec left the room laughing, while Demetri scowled playfully.
Chapter Thirteen