Pull

Chapter Sixteen

Demetri

Okay, so it’s possible I’m going a little insane. I mean, I went

to bed last night thinking of one thing. And it wasn’t getting high,

drunk, or even having sex, though that would have been nice, if

you get my meaning.

Nope. It was about a short little girl who had managed to get

herself so fully into my consciousness that I stared at the ceiling for

like three hours doing nothing but smiling like an idiot and

strumming my guitar.

Yeah, I was losing my mind.

I mean, what type of guy sits and stares into space for hours

on end? Okay, let me clarify — what kind of sober guy does that? I

wrote three songs. They were all about her, and I’m not gonna lie.

It’s probably some of the best stuff I’ve come up with in years.

Alec freaked out and immediately called, saying he and Nat

were going to make an impromptu trip back to Seaside to make

sure I wasn’t still on drugs.

Seriously? As if they couldn’t trust me. I mean, I didn’t

screw up that bad, did I? Well, okay fine. So I almost died, but still.

A little trust never killed a person.

They spent the day with me, and I finally caved. I had to tell

them about Alyssa. I mean, clearly some sort of action needed to

happen if a perfectly healthy eighteen-year-old is smiling like a

mad man for hours on end.

They immediately wanted to meet her. Shit, I wanted them

to meet her too. I mean she was slowly changing my world.

Around her I didn’t feel like I had to be anything but myself, and I

hate to admit it, but it kinda felt like she needed me just as much as

I needed her.

With Nat, things always seemed off-balance. It was like I

was pulling all her energy, all her affection, everything that made

her Nat, and trying to suck it into my black hole of depression. She

willingly gave, but I offered nothing back in return. With Alyssa,

well, it felt balanced.

I finally feel balanced without pot or some sort of chemical,

and it was the best high I could ever experience in my life.

At first Alyssa seemed pissed that Alec was breathing the

same air as her, which was totally fine by me. I hated the

competition with my brother, and I… I mean, I knew he loved Nat,

but it would kill me if Alyssa liked him too.

I’d probably get in another car accident or off myself. I

mean, seriously. A guy can only handle so much rejection, right?

But she was freaking awesome. Dude, she even cursed. I

laughed aloud, then realized it wasn’t daydream time with Demetri

when Alyssa nudged me and lifted her totally cute eyebrows.

“Sorry.” I cleared my throat. “So, you guys hungry?” Wow,

good subject change. Almost hurt myself with that one.

“Starving.” Alyssa scooted closer to me. God, I wanted to

kiss her again. And the fact that she made me my own taffy? I

mean, come on. A year ago I would have laughed in her face.

Today I kind of wanted to cry. Stupid sober emotions rearing their

ugly heads again.

“Good.” I pulled her closer. Screw it. I was going to kiss her.

Life’s too short. I leaned down and kissed her cheek. But it was so

soft, and at the moment my lips touched her skin I knew I wanted

more. I tilted her head toward mine and drank in the softness of

her mouth.

“Told you he wanted to make out with her,” Nat announced

from the front seat. I flipped them off while still kissing Alyssa.

Mature, I know.

She giggled and pulled away, a slight blush staining her

cheeks. I sighed happily and grasped her hand. She squeezed back.

Alec drove us through town until we reached Highway 101.

Alyssa’s hand tensed in mine.

I rubbed her skin with my thumb.

Her hands started getting super clammy. I turned to look at

her. Her eyes were closed and she was shaking.

“Lyss,” I whispered in her ear. “What’s wrong?”

“Um…” Her lower lip trembled again. “I just…” Her

breathing became really shallow.

I tapped Alec’s shoulder. “Pull over, man.”

“Dude, we just got on the highway, and—”

“Pull the hell over before I slam my fist into your head.”

“Pulling…” Alec whistled and put the car into park. I

unbuckled Alyssa’s seatbelt. It was like she was frozen, like she

couldn’t move. Could people go into shock like this? I scooped her

up and into my arms placing her on her feet just outside the SUV.

“Lyss, talk to me.”

Shaking, she hugged me so tight I almost choked on my next

breath. “The — the accident. I haven’t driven this far out of town

since the accident.”

Damn.

“Panic attack?” She nodded into my chest. “Shit, Lyss, I had

no idea! I can be such an ass, I didn’t even ask.”

She sniffled against my chest. “To be fair, it’s not a normal

reaction, so there’s no way you would know.”

“Hey.” I gently pried her away from my body and tilted her

chin up with my finger. “Who am I to say what’s normal and not

normal? I eat freaking taffy to curb my cravings for drugs. You

think that’s normal?”

A faint smile danced across her face.

“Alyssa, look at me.” She did. “I’m terrified of birds. Not just

terrified to get attention, but so freaking terrified that if a bird

landed right next to us, I’d leave you. No joke. I’d get in the car,

and it’s possible you’d hear very unmanly noises coming from my

mouth.”

She burst out laughing and wiped the tears away from her

eyes. “All birds or just seagulls?”

“All birds. I mean, come on. Have you ever seen an ostrich

before? There’s something very wrong about a bird that can look

you straight in the eye. Know what I mean?”

She laughed again and nodded. “Thanks.”

“For what?” I grabbed her hand again. She was so small

compared to me. I liked protecting her, being next to her.

“Making me laugh during my insane freak out. I promise I

can do this. I can ride in a car. How far away are we driving?”

“Ten more miles tops. I promise.”

She nodded. “Okay, I can do it. Just… um I just can’t go any

farther.”

I bit my lip. “One of these days you’ll be able to, Lyss, trust

me. And when you’re ready to go all crazy and hit up eleven miles

or, God forbid, even fifteen, I’ll be there.”

Her eyes widened and for a minute I thought she was going

to freak out again. Instead she launched herself into my arms and

pressed her lips against mine. “I really like you, Demetri Daniels.”

I sighed against her hot mouth. “I really like you too,

Alyssa…” Holy crap. I had no idea what her last name was. I set

her on her feet. “What’s your last name?”

“I’m hurt, you don’t even know?” She swatted me as I led

her back to the SUV.

“Well, one of us is famous, so it’s not my fault you already

know mine.” I opened the door for her and motioned for her to go

in. She crossed her arms and shook her head.

“Guess you’ll have to do your research, huh?”

I grinned like a fool and nodded my head. “Guess I better.”

We got into the car where Alec and Nat were fighting. Of

course they were.

“Okay, guys, we can go now.”

“No, we can’t.” Nat crossed her arms.

“Why?” If the murderous expression on Alec’s face was any

indicator, Nat was a few seconds away from death.

Nat flipped around and directed her attention toward

Alyssa. “You a fan of One Direction?”

Alyssa’s deer in headlights expression didn’t help matters.

She looked from Nat to me then finally exhaled. “Okay, honest

moment, and if you ever tell anyone I’ll swear I never said it. But I

used to be obsessed with Justin Bieber to the point of stalking his

Twitter account daily, and though I haven’t listened to music in a

while… If One Direction is that new British boy band I keep

hearing about then, yes. I’m sure I’ll love them.”

Nat grinned and gave Alyssa a high five. “We shall be

friends forever.” She turned back to her seat and nudged Alec.

“The ladies have spoken. Give us our boy band!”

Alec cursed and flipped the volume up where One Direction

was playing their newest hit.

I wanted to punch the seat in front of me. I totally shared

Alec’s sentiment. I mean, those guys were competition. You don’t

see the Seahawks painting their uniforms red in order to support

the 49ers. It just wasn’t done.

Finally, after Nat belted out the chorus and Alyssa began

moving in her seat next to me, I yelled. “Cheaters! Both of you!”

“What?” they yelled in unison.

“Competition!” I pointed at the radio. “That’s blatant

cheating. From here on out, I say you girls can’t listen to any guy

music, unless it’s us.”

“Agreed,” Alec muttered another curse in Nat’s direction.

Her response was to stick out her tongue. Clearly the honeymoon

phase was over.

“Denied,” Alyssa piped up next to me and gave Nat a high

five, shoving me out of the way. I felt my nostrils flare as I repeated

Alec’s curse and glared at both of the traitors.

It was going to be a really long ten miles.



****

Alec pulled up to the restaurant and turned off the car.

When we first got to Seaside last fall, things got so crazy that the

only place we could actually go to eat was this old run-down bed

and breakfast on the beach. It was owned by an elderly married

couple who, I swear, were alive before electricity was discovered.

Their great-grandkids were also huge fans, which meant

they didn’t think twice about closing the place down for us if we

needed it. But considering it was a bed and breakfast, it wasn’t too

crowded at dinnertime.

I grabbed Alyssa’s hand. It was warm and fit perfectly in

mine. I sighed in excitement. Everything about her felt so right. She

smiled up at me, and my heart stopped in my chest. She had no

idea what she did to me. She was so beautiful, like my own

personal light. I couldn’t help but grin back. I felt my cheeks heat.

How did a girl make me blush?

“Boys!” Old Mrs. Miller greeted us and swatted Alec with a

towel when we walked in. “I just saw you on TV a few days ago!

Are you back for good now?”

Alec grinned and pulled Mrs. Miller into a side hug. “Nope,

just here for the day, but Demetri’s here for a while. Did you know

he works at Seaside Taffy? Show her the jingle, bro.”

Damn brother and his inability to keep his mouth shut. Mrs.

Miller looked expectantly in my direction. I managed to get

through the jingle in record time. Alyssa and Nat clapped. Alec

pursed his lips together and looked away. Payback’s a bitch, and I

was going to get him one way or another.

Mrs. Miller, bless her heart, just sighed and patted my hand.

“That’s so nice, Demetri. Good for you! It’s good for a boy to

work.”

Why was everyone under the impression that I didn’t work?

I nodded and gave her a hug once Alec released her. “Where’s Mr.

Miller?”

“Oh, he saw your car pull up and knew you’d want some

dinner, so he’s firing up the grill out back.”

Excellent. And that was why I loved them. “Come on in. Sit,

sit.” It was a really warm night, even though the breeze from the

beach was a little cold.

She led us outside to the porch, so we could watch the

waves, and passed out blankets to the girls. Our chairs surrounded

the little outdoor fireplace.

“What can I get you to drink?” Mrs. Miller pulled out her

little notepad and stared at the blank page, her pencil hovering

over the paper.

“Coffee for me.” I looked to Alyssa. She tilted her head for a

minute.

“Hot chocolate?”

“Ooo, me too,” Nat agreed.

Alec ordered coffee. Straight up black coffee with no sugar,

no cream. Boring and gross, but Alec ordered food according to his

personality sometimes. I always wanted to add spice to things. He

was perfectly happy with the natural state of everything.

And this is what I mean about losing my mind. How did I

get from coffee to our personality differences? Why did I have to be

addicted to all drugs? Clearly I needed something to pull me out of

my estrogen-like state. I shuddered and had half a mind to roar or

something just to remind myself that I was a dude.

“So, how’s it going in Seaside? I mean, how is it really

going? Are things… hard?” I could tell Alec was trying to ask me

about the drugs and my depression in a covert way, but I had no

secrets from Alyssa. He shifted in his seat and sighed.

“It hasn’t been easy. Actually it’s been hell, but I’m getting

there. I feel better than I’ve ever felt and this one over here…” I

nudged Alyssa. “Has magic taffy powers. She provides me with

everything I need.”

She blushed profusely, and then I realized what I had just

alluded to. I quickly backtracked. “I mean, when it comes to like

food, not physical stuff like… shit.”

Alec’s shoulders shook from laughter. “It’s okay, I knew

what you meant.”

Nat stared at Alyssa and grinned.

“So magic taffy powers?” Alec winked at Alyssa and leaned

back in his chair, his arms crossed behind his head, making his

shirt pull up just slightly. The guy was going to give Mrs. Miller a

stroke if he didn’t keep it in his pants.

She blushed. “Don’t let him fool you. It’s not near as cool as

it sounds.” Alyssa didn’t seem the least bit affected by Alec’s

peekaboo six-pack, or the fact that he was flashing her a giant ass

smile. She tucked her head into my shoulder. I kissed her on the

hair and grinned.

“Yes. It really is,” I confirmed to Alec, fighting the urge to

tell him mine really was bigger than his. I knew he wasn’t doing it

on purpose, but sometimes I hated how much girls flocked to him.

Couldn’t he just be normal for one day, so the girl would follow me

instead of him? Did I need to take off my shirt? Belt out a song? Get

down on one knee? Oh shit, I just said knee, which meant proposal,

which meant marriage. Why were my hands sweating? I glanced at

Alyssa. Okay, it was more of a stare, a stalker stare that had me

watching every breath that escaped her perfectly bow-shaped lips.

God, I wanted to taste her again. Would I ever get enough? I

adjusted in my seat and cursed the fact that I was a guy.

Mrs. Miller came with our drinks. Alyssa closed her eyes

and took a sip. Damn, what I wouldn’t do to be hot chocolate right

now. Chocolate ran down the side of the white cup. Her pink

tongue darted out and licked the liquid as she moaned to herself. I

take everything back. I just want to be a cheap ass cup. That’s what

I want to be.

“I can tell taffy flavors by smelling the wrappers,” Alyssa

said, interrupting my ceramic daydream.

“No way!” Nat slapped her own leg. “I bet that comes in

handy.”

Alyssa rolled her eyes and took another sip of her hot

chocolate. She needed to be done with that drink before I threw

caution to the wind and mauled her. “Not really. I mean, I was able

to guess what type of taffy Demetri was eating, but that’s it.”

“Let me guess.” Alec leaned forward. “He makes you sniff

all the wrappers after he eats them to see if you’re right?”

“Every time.” Alyssa winked in my direction. My arousal

just jumped into overdrive. Watching her joke with Nat and Alec,

the two most important people in my life and then be so easy-going

while doing it. I wanted her so bad. I wanted to throw the hot

chocolate to the ground, jump onto her lap, and have my way with

her.

She sighed and tucked a piece of fallen hair behind her ear,

giving me full view of her lips and a tiny drop of hot chocolate that

was at the corner of her mouth.

I needed a cold shower stat. Desperate, I looked around for

something to distract me. Anything really. My eyes fell on Mrs.

Miller kissing her husband. He swatted her ass. She wiggled in his

arms and then did a dance I can only describe as something that

should be outlawed in every state. And arousal gone. Good. That

was easy. I cleared my throat and tried to relax. This was supposed

to be fun. I was supposed to be bonding; instead I was resorting to

staring at old people in order to keep my pants on. Hi, my name’s

Mighty, and yes. Yes, I have so incredibly fallen.

“So what else is going on? My mom says you’re leading

group therapy?” Nat asked, sufficiently changing the subject,

which I was thankful for, considering I had just thought of at least

seven different ways I could kiss Alyssa’s neck. Apparently

watching old people wasn’t as good of a distraction as I thought.

“Yup.” I leaned back in the chair. The smell of steak filled

the salty air. “I’ve only led group once. Actually our next meeting is

in a few days I don’t know. I mean, at first I kept saying no. I hate

to admit, I finally said yes, because I wanted to see Alyssa again,

but then… I don’t know. I feel like a chick saying this, but I liked it.

I mean, I liked feeling like I was helping people.”

Nat shrugged. “Demetri, you’ve always been that way, you

just never saw that about yourself.”

“Probably because you were high most the time,” Alec

interjected.

“Thanks, man.” Always good to know I had his support. He

smirked in my direction while I gave him the finger. I glanced back

at Nat and took another sip of coffee. “Anyway, it’s been really

good.”

Alyssa was silent next to me. Crap, I had totally outed her in

front of Nat and Alec. I reached for her hand. She squeezed it and

then winked at me. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until

she did that. Relaxing, I leaned back again and listened to the

waves.

“I like it here.” Alyssa sighed. “It’s peaceful.”

“No autographs,” Alec said.

Nat laughed. “Or panty throwing.”

“Or taffy jingles.” I lifted my cup into the air. “Cheers,

everyone.”

We all laughed and clinked glasses. After a few minutes of

silence, where I’m happy to announce Justin Bieber and One

Direction did not make a musical appearance, Mr. Miller came out

with a huge platter of food.

My stomach growled on cue.

“Okay, boys, got some steak here for you. Rare, just how you

like it. The missus cooked up some potatoes, carrots, and of course,

chicken, just in case the girls don’t want red meat.” He set the

platter down while Mrs. Miller came around and put the plates on

the tables sitting next to each of our chairs.

“Oh.” Mr. Miller held up his finger. “I almost forgot the

applesauce, I’ll be right back.”

“Applesauce?” Alyssa asked.

“Yeah, for the steak and potatoes.” Duh, it was a staple! Like

ketchup or mustard.

“Not following.” Alyssa laughed and looked at Nat. “Is he

being serious?”

Nat shook her head. “Don’t knock it till you try it. I

remember the first time Alec introduced me to applesauce at

dinner. I thought he was crazy, but it’s pretty good.”

Mr. Miller returned with a huge bowl of applesauce. I threw

it onto my plate and gave Alyssa a wink.

She scrunched her nose. “Are you really going to eat that

with your meat and potatoes?”

“It’s tradition.” I acted offended, but really I knew it wasn’t

that normal for people to put applesauce with dinner. “Actually, I

blame our Dutch friends from Canada. They used to always eat like

that when we were kids, and it just kinda stuck.”

“Hmm.” Alyssa took a spoonful of applesauce and tossed it

onto her plate. “If I hate it, I’m blaming you guys.”

“Fine.” I chuckled and cut up my meat.

“No way!” Alyssa yelled. I dropped my fork.

“What? What’s wrong?”

Her eyes lit up with astonishment. “That’s amazing!”

I took a large bite and shrugged. “So from here on out you

should just take my word for it. Demetri is always right.”

“And Demetri shouldn’t refer to himself in the third person.

It’s weird,” Alec interjected.

“Also true.” I thrust my fork into the air. “So what movie are

we seeing?”

“Romance,” Nat answered. “And before either one of you

argue with me, just know that I had to go to not one, not two, but

three movie premiers when I was with Alec, and they were all gory

action movies that made me want to bang my head against my own

hand.”

“They were pretty rough,” Alec agreed. “But he’s a cool

dude, so I wanted to support him.”

“He?” Alyssa asked tentatively.

Alec grinned. “Jamie Jaymeson. He’s from England. Girls

love him, but he sports an American accent in all his action movies.

Anyways He’s good people.”

Alyssa nodded. This was the part that made me nervous.

Everyone knew who Jaymeson was. I mean, next to Robert Pattison

he was the biggest thing to cross the Atlantic since Twilight. Did it

freak her out to know we were all friends? That it was part of our

world and would soon be part of hers too? It scared the hell out of

me when I thought of merging my life with the one in Seaside. It

didn’t fit. I wanted it to, but it was like two puzzle pieces that

weren’t cut to go together, and I didn’t know how to fix it. I looked

down at my food and sighed.

We ate the rest of our food in silence. I was too hungry to

talk, and then when I was finished I couldn’t help but stare at

Alyssa. Everything about her was sensual. The way she ate bread

was freaking sensual. I really needed to get a hold of myself if I was

going to be in the same room with her without dying.

Pretty sure I read somewhere that it could happen to a guy.

It seriously felt like it now. I cleared my throat and looked away,

even though all I wanted to do was be the creepy dude that

watched her cut her meat.

Yes. I wanted to watch her cut her meat. That was how hard

I had fallen. I dug out a piece of taffy from my pocket and popped

it into my mouth.

Jack Daniels taffy sure did take the edge off. What I

wouldn’t do for a joint.

“Movie?” Alyssa asked once the plates were cleared.

“Let’s do it,” I said, this time watching her as she stood and

stretched her little arms above her head, giving me an amazing

view of a tight little stomach. God, I was going to die this way.