Strung (Seaside) (8 page)

I stopped and glanced behind me. “Yeah?”

“Take care of some of this for us?” She pleaded pointing to all the gaping customers.

Ah! The things I did for the girl I liked. I threw my head back and laughed. “Fine, but you owe me!”

I started talking to people and signing autographs while strategically leading them outside. Yeah, Nat owed me, because the thing about me and Alec? We rarely did that sort of thing. We were private for a very good reason. But for once in my life, I was kind of over it. Over that whole ‘secrets’ thing. I just wanted to — live.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Alec

THE LAST TIME
I wrote five songs in a row — I was high as a kite and ended up running around the house naked with my guitar around my neck. So why was I writing songs now?

Oh right, because Nat was with Demetri.

On a date.

In his car.

The same car that made girls swoon and forget their names — as well as their panties — but hey Nat wasn’t one of those girls. Or so I kept telling myself over and over again.

I threw another Swedish Fish into my mouth and cursed myself for being so lame. Was I seriously staying home on a Saturday night pouring my feelings out onto paper and eating Swedish Fish all because I liked a girl?

I checked my phone and let out a growl. No text from him. And nothing from her, not that she’d ever actually texted me, but still. A guy could dream.

Strumming my guitar as I walked, I moved over to the window and looked out at the ocean. Yeah, I could write a lot of songs about that girl. And every single one would fail to do her justice.

I froze as Demetri’s car pulled into the driveway. He slammed the door, ran to Nat’s side, opened it and pulled her into his arms. Swear if he hurt her in any way I was going to murder him.

I ran down the stairs just in time to see Demetri open the door and step inside. Nat was pale and lifeless in his arms. Shit, I hated that my first guess was that he drugged her.

“What did you do to her?” I yelled, unable to control my voice because I was freaking out.

“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,” I grumbled. Fine, it was a low blow.

“What the hell!” Demetri laughed. “Are you kidding me? Seriously? You’re going to bring that up, now of all times?”

I cursed and reached out to touch Nat’s face, she was burning up. “Can you hear me, Nat?”

She moaned and tucked herself further into Demetri’s chest. He looked panic-stricken, totally out of his element.

“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.” I said in a stern voice. “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?” Demetri shrugged. Was he really that stupid?

I pulled back from Nat’s forehead and tried to imagine myself not strangling my brother where he stood. “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?”

I seriously almost went over to the wall and banged my head against it. “Just get some ibuprofen, Demetri, okay?”

“Fine.” He went into the kitchen, opened the pantry and slammed the door. It echoed in my ears making my head pound harder. I focused on opening my eyes and was rewarded greatly for my strain.

He had put Nat on the couch, she looked so frail and helpless lying there and I hated that I couldn’t do anything. “Nat, are you okay?”

“I think so.” Her voice was heavy and groggy. “I don’t feel well.” It looked like she wanted to smile but it came across as a wince instead.

“Aw, sweetheart, I know you don’t.” I rubbed her forehead. “Do you want your fever to go down naturally or do you want some ibuprofen?”

She shook her head and then started to cry. My heart broke over and over again with each tear. Why did her tears make me feel like I was dying?

“Don’t cry, shh, don’t cry.” I gently pulled her to her feet and walked her up the stairs, careful to take most of her weight in my arms. When we reached the bed, I lifted her onto it and laid her down. “You just have the flu or something. You’ll be fine, okay?”

“Promise?” Her voice was so small and trusting. Hell yeah I promise. I’d do anything for her — anything.

I chuckled at her pitiful look. “I promise. And when you get better I may even let you drive my car.”

“Tease.” Her eyes fluttered closed as her breathing evened.

“Got some ibuprofen. What the—” Demetri stopped dead in his tracks. My eyes flickered across his face. He looked angry.

“Don’t you think her boyfriend should be the one in bed with her, Alec?” Demetri snarled.

“Absolutely.” I moved away from Nat. “I’ll check back on you in a few.” I nudged by him and scowled. “Try not to make it worse.”

“Ass,” Demetri mumbled as he slowly approached the bed. I eavesdropped on their conversation. And waited in the hall. Within seconds Demetri stormed by me and ran down the stairs. I knew what he was thinking. God, I thought it every time someone got sick. It was silly but I always went to that place, what if they died? What if they were never the same. A childhood like ours did that to a person.

Once the door slammed shut, I walked back into the room. “He doesn’t like sick people.” Actually Demetri wasn’t a fan of sick anything. When our cat got sick on the tour bus he made us stop at a twenty-four hour vet service just to make sure it was okay. He hated illness. Hated it.

“Clearly,” Nat mumbled and tried to get comfortable.

“Here.” I chuckled and stuffed some pillows behind her back.

“So why doesn’t he like sick people? Is he a germaphobe or something?” she asked.

“No.” I sat on the bed and grabbed a book from the nightstand. “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?”

I laughed at the nice memory. “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.” She yawned.

“Me too.” I offered her an encouraging smile; she needed to sleep. “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?” She gasped and then shifted a bit. “Forget I said that, please forget I said that.”

“Does it seem that way?” I asked carefully.

She 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.” Oh and I kind of ruined his life so I feel like I need to make amends by actually being a good brother. Or just an all-around decent human being.

Her eyebrows scrunched together. “If you’re older by a year, and he’s a senior and you’re a senior.”

“Good math, Nat.” I kept a teasing tone even though I was a bit panicked.

“How are you in the same grade?”

“I live to lear.,” I nudged her and smiled again. Wow I was a really bad actor.

“High school is like going to hell every day, so why would you willingly choose to go?” Why wouldn’t she let it 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.” At least that was true.

Her eyes examined me for a minute before she said, “And here I thought you liked to sit and contemplate.”

“No, it just appears that way.” Because if I actually appear interested, or make a move, everything will be lost.

Nat covered up her yawn.

“You’re tired. Go to sleep, Nat.”

She shook her head.

“I brought a book.” I held it in the air. “I’ll be right here, okay?”

“Promise?”

I felt my control weakening as I took in her innocent form. “Promise.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Demetri

I DROVE OFF
like a complete jackass and then slammed on the brakes. What was I doing? Did I seriously get in my car and leave my girlfriend behind? My sick girlfriend?

I hit the steering wheel; my hands shook as I gripped until my knuckles turned white. It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t know about my dad. The smell of hospitals freaked me out — stuffy noses made me immediately think the person was going to get pneumonia. I mean, when people are terminally ill, they can die from a cold.

Seeing Nat lying in that bed, her face pale. I died a bit inside, maybe it was because I wasn’t on the drugs but my damn feelings were physically hurting me. Swear, I never knew you could actually feel your heart clench. Mine did. I felt it squeeze and then I just… panicked.

I don’t know how long I sat in the car staring out the windshield, but eventually, I turned around and drove back to the house, but not before stopping off and grabbing a bouquet of flowers.

Alec was downstairs watching TV. He didn’t look up. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I ran my fingers through my hair, holding my keys in one hand and the flowers in the other. “It’s just — she’s sick.”

He sighed and put the TV on mute. “I know man. You wanna talk about it?”

No. I wanted to get drunk. I wanted to forget that sickness existed; I wanted to forget that people died. I wanted to forget that when you get close to people it just hurts that much more when they leave.

“I’m good.” I flashed a smile. “Has she woken up at all?”

“Nah” — Alec licked his lips and picked the remote back up again — “Maybe it would be good for you to go check on her? Just so you know she’s okay?”

“Yeah.” I fidgeted with my keys. “Yeah, I’ll do that.”

I made my way slowly up the stairs and let myself in Alec’s room. Nat looked so peaceful, she had a small smile on her lips as her even breathing made my own pick up. She was fine. She was totally fine.

She was so defenseless so… pure. I walked up to the bed and took a seat. When she didn’t stir, I lay down and pulled her warm body into my arms.

“Nat?”

Her eyelids flickered open in confusion as if she wasn’t expecting me to be there. I couldn’t blame her. I’d let her down — again.

“These are for you.” I placed the flowers on the nightstand and gave her an encouraging smile — the type of smile that says ‘I’m not leaving your side.’

Nat’s eyes took in the flowers, her smile grew and then she mumbled a ‘thanks.’

I reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry I bolted.” I 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.” I snapped. “Damn, why are you so easy on me?”

“Fine. It’s not okay. I hate you. Take your stupid flowers.” She reached for the flowers, threw them on the ground, and smirked.

I grinned and had to fight to keep myself from barking with laughter. “Much better. What am I going to do with you? Hmm?” I ran my hand down her neck, my fingertips grazing her soft skin. “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.” Her eyes narrowed.

“Only one.” I vowed, then reached down and gently kissed her lips. “Are you really feeling better?”

Nat scrunched up her nose. “I think I’m better.”

“Hmm…” I threw off her covers. She looked down, her eyes wide as saucers. Yeah, she was totally in Alec’s sweats.
Damn him.

“Chill, babe. It’s not like you’re the first girl I’ve seen naked.” I joked, trying to make her think I was somehow involved when it was my brother who had taken care of her, my brother who had helped her.

“Did you undress me then?” Her voice squeaked.

I wish.
“It was a team effort.” Hopefully that would make her feel better.

“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, she tried to get up, putting weight slowly on one foot and then the other. “You can’t go around stripping people of their clothes, just because they’re sick.”

I frowned. Okay so maybe lying wasn’t the best option. I thought it would make her feel better not worse! “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.” There, totally fixed.

“I’m going home,” she announced.

Just kidding. Not fixed. I reached for her arm, “Like hell you are. You’re staying here and that’s final. You’re sick. You shouldn’t be up and walking anyways. Come on.” With a grunt I lifted her into my arms and carried her down the hall towards the stairway.

“She try to escape or something?” Alec asked, suddenly appearing at the bottom of the stairs. I rolled my eyes and nodded.

Alec put his hands in the air. “She’s scary when she’s sick.”

“She’s also suicidal. She wanted to walk home.” I snapped.

Alec scowled. “Nat, you’d make it as far as the kitchen table, pass out, and most likely crack a tooth in the process.”

Nat tensed in my arms. Damn she was a firecracker.

“Lock the doors.” Alec’s intense gaze flickered from me to Nat.

I put her 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?” Nat piped up.