Chapter 60: Chapter Twenty-Five

Natalee

I threw on a pair of sweats the following Sunday night and ran across the lawn to the guys' house. I knocked and waited.

Within seconds Alec appeared. Demetri's voice was yelling in the background, “Since when does she knock?”

Alec rolled his eyes and tugged me in for a heart-stopping kiss. I parted my lips. Things were just getting interesting when we heard Demetri gagging from the living room.

Alec winked and stepped back. I laughed and followed him into the house.

Demetri had only been home for a few hours. It looked like a tornado had attacked their living room. Clothes and medicine were everywhere.

“Moving?” I asked as I noted the suitcases in the corner. The room went quiet. I looked to both guys and waited for someone to say something.

“I forgot to take my medicine!” Demetri blurted, then hobbled out of the living room with his crutches. I glared at his escaping form then turned my attention to Alec.

He sighed and sat on the couch. “We need to talk.”

“I don't like that phrase.”

“Fine.” Alec chuckled. “I need to ask you something.”

Tense, I stood. I couldn't sit. Not if he was breaking up with me, not if he was ending the best thing that had ever happened to me. I knew things were going too well.

My parents and I were finally talking, Demetri wasn't dead, thank God, and Alec and I were on our way toward bliss!

It was only a few weeks until Christmas and I was hoping we would be able to spend our entire break together. I didn't want to spend it alone crying into a pint of ice cream.

“Nat, stop worrying.” Alec pulled me down across his lap. I straddled him, but kept my body from touching his. “I love you.” He kissed my lips and chuckled. “Seriously, you're stressing me out.

I managed a tight smile. “So what is it?”

“We're going on vacation.”

So not what I expected.

“Huh?”

“I imagined lots of screaming, jumping, and lots of kissing. Huh wasn't exactly on my list of answers.” Alec flicked my nose and kissed my mouth.

“But we have like a week and a half of school and—”

“I've taken care of it.”

“And my parents will flip out…”

“Already talked to them.” Alec seemed bored with my excuses.

I glared. “I can't believe you would leave Demetri all by himself!”

Alec threw his head back and laughed. “Okay, first of all, you have trust issues. Second, Demetri is a grown man.”

“Thanks, dude!” Demetri called from the kitchen.

I rolled my eyes.

“And…” Alec's hands moved to cup my backside, pulling me closer against him. “I've managed to convince your parents that you deserve a few days away from all this craziness.

“But…” I had no argument.

“Your teachers are more than understanding. In fact, I'm pretty sure they couldn't care less if a straight-A student skipped out before break. Demetri is going to go crash at your parents'.

“Bob is staying with him, even though he begged for Lloyd.” He would beg for Lloyd, the less scary one. Jerk. “And we'll be back in time to have Christmas together.”

I bit my lip and looked at Alec. “As a family?”

He nodded. “Your grandparents, your parents, Demetri, and myself. That is, if you'll have us.”

I squealed with excitement. “When do we leave?”

“Tonight.” He checked his watch. “You have exactly an hour to pack.”

I scrambled off his lap and nearly fell to the floor.

“Easy, Nat. I want to get you there in one piece.”

I saluted just as Demetri hobbled back into the living room. Alec looked at me and then made some lame excuse about making sure he had everything he needed.

“So…” Demetri plopped onto the couch and motioned for me to join him.

“So.” I repeated.

“My brother.”

“Your brother.”

“Are you really just going to repeat everything I say?”

“You almost died,” I whispered.

Demetri sighed then put his arm around me. “I think I liked it better when you were repeating after me, Nat.” I released a shuddering breath and looked at his face. He licked his lips.

“Nat, I'm happy for you guys. I can't say that it doesn't suck, but I knew. Damn, I knew the minute you guys looked at each other. What can I say? I'm a selfish bastard.

“I knew what I was doing, Nat. Even if you didn't know your own feelings.”

“But I love you!”

Demetri laughed. “Aw, Nat. I know, but it's not the same kind of love you feel for Alec. Believe me, I've felt that love before, and that wasn't it.”

“Before?”

He nodded. A shadow fell across his features. “Once, and she died. I think in a way you reminded me of her. I was trying to fix things, by not really fixing them, Nat.”

I leaned my head against his shoulder. “So what do we do now?”

“You mean other than make noises so my brother thinks I'm totally making out with you?”

I pinched him.

“Or that.” He winced. “We stay friends, and you keep me far, far away from parties and alcohol-induced stupidity.”

“We can always put one of those dog collars on you and press the shock button when you act stupid or make a bad choice.”

Demetri threw his head back and laughed. “Kinky, I like it.”

“Who's kinky?” Alec growled as he came around the corner.

“Your fiancée.”

“We aren't—” I felt myself flush red. “We aren't engaged. It was just pretend.” I assured them both and myself.

Alec said nothing, but Demetri grinned like a fool. “Yeah okay, Nat. You

just keep telling yourself that you won't be marrying this one over here the minute he asks you.”

I felt my cheeks heat even more! Glancing away I offered a nervous laugh and felt my treacherous heart jump at the thought. I was only eighteen for crying out loud!

“We good?” Demetri grabbed my hand in his.

I squeezed. “We're good.”

“Love you, Nat.”

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I love you, too.”

Alec lifted an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine, I'm going to go pack!”

Alec followed me outside. The minute the door closed he pushed me up against it. “I can't wait to be alone with you.”

I giggled as he kissed my neck and squeezed me against his hard body. “Finally, all mine.”

“All yours.” I hungrily searched for his mouth as he lifted me into his arms. Wrapping my legs around his body, I hung onto his neck and went about proving to him exactly how much of me he had.

Epilogue

“Merry Christmas!” I shouted, suddenly feeling like the girl jumping out of the giant present! Only I was jumping up and down and clapping my hands.

After much convincing, Demetri and Alec both agreed to dress up as Santa and hand out gifts to the family. My little cousins decided to visit. They were twelve and fourteen. Both girls.

“Ho, Ho, Ho,” Demetri said very unconvincingly as he glared in my direction then tossed the girls presents. “My tummy is rumbling like a bowl full of jelly.”

I wrote the script.

Pretty sure they both hate me right now.

“I feel warm and cozy,” Alec added, shaking his head. “But you know what will make me feel better, Santa?”

Demetri smirked, once a pervert always a pervert. “What, Santa?”

“A song.”

The adults knew what was going on, as did I. We all clapped happily while Demetri and Alec grabbed their guitars and sat on the couch.

As the music started up, my cousins narrowed their eyes.

And then as both boys began to sing, I walked over and pulled off the beards and hats.

I've never heard girls squeal so loud in my life.

“Baby, I see your smile, it lights the sky, it makes me high with… Love is so deep, and feelings are strong. I need to feel close so I can carry on.”

Then Alec's voice crooned, “My Christmas star, I'll follow you far away. Far away. I'll be where you are, just promise me that you'll stay. Stay.”

They harmonized together, and I have to admit I was just as starstruck as my cousins. In fact, I was ready to pull out my cell phone and swing it back and forth in the air like a concertgoer.

So many things had changed since my trip with Alec. We'd bonded more than I could ever imagine.

He showed me all his favorite spots and even took me into the studio so he could start recording his acoustic album.

Demetri called us every day and every day my parents begged Alec to adopt both of them so they would be a part of the family, which I found alarming considering I was dating Alec.

The parents who seemed not to care less about kids now had three. And it was awesome.

They weren't even staying at their own house during Christmas. My parents made up rooms for them, even though Alec was a little irritated that he couldn't sleep in my bed.

But my dad gave him the look, so he backed off and promised he'd sneak in later.

If anyone would have told me that my boring life would turn into what I was currently watching — two rock stars serenading my family on Christmas — I would have laughed.

But I guess that's what makes life special. It's unexpected. Scary as hell. But in the end, totally worth it.

^Loved Tear by Rachel Van Dyken?^

^Tap to start reading Pull & find out what happens next in The Seaside Series!^

^If you have any questions, use the Support button.^