Chapter 121: Chapter Twenty-four

Demetri

“Demetri!” Nat was yelling my name. Why the hell was she yelling for me? Then Alec yelled something that sounded scarily like an unholy amount of F-bombs as Nat flew down the stairs.

Within seconds she was in my arms. “Um…” I hugged her shaking body and looked around in confusion. Seriously. Did someone die? Alyssa squinted next to me. I mouthed for her to help.

She reached out and patted Nat's back. “Hey, what's going on? Are you okay?”

“Do I look okay?” Nat snapped.

“Whoa there.” I pried Nat from my body. “No need to freak out.”

“I'm sorry. I just…” Nat sniffled and wiped her nose. Her shoulders were trembling with effort not to burst into tears. I could tell she was hanging by a thread.

“It's not what you think…” Alec said from the top of the stairs. He took them two at a time and tried to pull Nat into his arms, but she jerked away from him.

The guy needed to stop using that phrase. Even I was getting sick of it.

“Not what I think?” she said. “Not what I think?” Uh-oh, her tone was getting dangerously high-pitched. I took a step back, self-preservation and all that.

“Nat, listen.” Alec grabbed her shoulders from behind. Nat pulled away again and this time turned and slapped him across the face. Hard. I wouldn't be surprised if she cracked his tooth.

“Shit,” I mumbled under my breath and took another step back. “That's like the second time she's hit you in two weeks.”

“It's becoming habitual,” Jaymeson piped up from the couch. “And entertaining, if I might add.”

“Not helping.” Alec glared.

“How, Alec? HOW?”

The camera crew was probably salivating right now as they all waited with bated breath to see what Alec had to say.

I expected it to be something silly, like he called her fat, or stepped on her toe and cracked her nail polish. Hell, I expected him to admit he tried something kinky in bed.

“I—it isn't what it looked like. I was comforting her. Hugging her. The paper's making it look like something it isn't.”

“She's Jaymeson's mom.”

“What?” Jaymeson flew off the couch. “My mom what? What the hell did you do to my mom?” He lunged for Alec, but I stood in the way. Geez, the producers wanted drama, they were so getting drama.

“You mean other than sleep with her?” This from Angelica.

You could have heard a pin drop in that room. I stared blankly at Alec waiting for him to laugh it off, to deny everything.

His face went completely white.

“Dude.” I laughed and shook my head. “Alec would never do that. I mean, I know he's done some crazy stuff… Tell them, Alec.”

“Yeah, Alec.” Angelica purred. “Tell them. Everything.”

“Alec?” Nat whispered.

Alec's eyes glossed over. I remembered that look all too well. It was the look he had the day he told me our dad died. It was the same look he wore after he tried committing suicide. Blocking.

“Alec.” My voice was hoarse. I took a step toward him. “Don't do this. Whatever happened, whatever is happening, you need to tell the truth.

“Don't think about who you're protecting or who you're hurting. Just tell the damn truth.”

Angelica snorted. “The truth—”

“Angelica, I swear to God, if you don't shut the hell up I will freaking slap you so hard across your face you'll have to get plastic surgery to fix the mess.”

Face white, she stepped away from us with her hands up.

“Alec.” I put my hand on his shoulder. His muscles were so tense it seemed like he was going to snap at any minute.

“I gotta run.” He gave me a sad smile but refused to look in Nat's direction. Instead, he grabbed his keys and left.

The door closed quietly behind him.

Silence.

All I could hear was my own breathing and Nat's soft sobs. What the hell was going on? And how was Jaymeson's mom involved?

“Told ya so,” Angelica muttered under her breath.

Next thing I knew, Nat was on top of her pulling her hair.

“Aw, hell.” She got a few chunks of dark glossy hair in her claws before I could get her off of Angelica. It's possible I let her stay on her a bit too long on purpose.

The minute I pulled her off, I fell onto Jaymeson, who was clearly still pissed at my brother. So, yeah, it made sense that he needed something to punch. Or someone.

His fist came flying into my jaw.

I fell to the ground. “What the hell, Jaymeson?”

“Get up!” He slapped his hand against the counter.

“When the hell did I leave my old life and step into freaking Gossip Girl!” I stumbled to my feet and launched myself at him, tackling him to the floor.

I could hear Alyssa yelling behind me, Nat crying, Angelica crying. And, of course, Alec was gone. Bailed. He'd freaking bailed.