Chapter 196: Chapter Thirty-Four

Priscilla

Pretty sure my face was still as red as a tomato as I sat on the bed and waited for Alyssa to start in on me.

But instead of yelling, she shut the door, turned, and burst out laughing. “Demetri owes me fifty bucks!”

“Huh?”

“I bet him fifty bucks that Jaymeson wouldn't be able to keep his paws to himself. Demetri, poor soul, took the bet.” She jumped onto the bed. “I win.”

“Hmm.” I licked my lips. “Does that mean you aren't going to yell at me?”

Alyssa shrugged. Her long dark hair cascaded over her shoulder. “You're eighteen, you can make your own choices, and by the looks of it, you were doing just fine.

“Huh?”

Smirking, Alyssa grabbed my hands. “Demetri used to be the same way, now look at him. He's drinking water and acting like a forty-year-old dad. Once men like that fall — they fall hard.

“It's like a blind bat trying to fly around with weights around its legs.” She played with a piece of her hair.

“Your examples need work.”

She shrugged. “I've been hanging out with Demetri too much, blame him.”

I looked around the room, feeling immediately guilty that I had been caught red-handed in their new condo on their new couch. “Lyss, I'm sorry, I know it's your condo and—”

“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “Who cares? Oh, and P.S., that shirt looks way better on you, you should keep it.”

“I'll leave as soon as I can.”

“No, you won't.” She yawned. “You'll stay. Plus, I think our friend Jaymeson likes having you next door. Just, no sneaking out. Your parents would kill me.”

“We don't have to sneak out.” I looked at a spot on the wall and swallowed. “Because he's kind of been staying here.”

“On the couch?”

I shook my head.

“In the spare bedroom?”

I shook my head again.

“In your bed?”

I gave a slight nod.

“Well damn, maybe Demetri was right to be worried.”

“Nothing happens. We sleep.”

“You have Jamie Jaymeson in your bed, alone, and… you sleep?”

Yeah, I had to give it to her, it sounded insane.

“Yup.”

“Self-control, thy name is Jaymeson.” Her head shook slightly. “Words I thought I'd never utter.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I took it out and noted my dad's number flashing. Probably not the right time to talk to him.

I hit ignore.

“Parents?” Alyssa guessed.

“Yeah.”

“How's the house?”

“Getting fixed.” I sighed heavily. “I have no idea who's behind it, but everything's been taken care of.”

“Good.” Alyssa wrapped an arm around my shoulders, “Your family deserves a break. I know it's been a rough year financially.”

“Yeah.” It had been hell, but I didn't want to say that out loud. She'd just feel sorry for me.

“Should we join the guys?”

Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I opened the door. Both guys shirtless, wrestling on the floor, yelling obscenities.

Alyssa simply walked over them and went to the fridge. “Water?”

“Sure!”

“Tap out! Tap out!” Demetri shouted.

“Bloody hell, leave my balls out of this!”

“Wanna watch a movie?” Lyss tossed the water to me. “Or you wanna watch them kill each other?”

I took a seat.

She nodded. “Good call.”