Shatter

Who the hell thought up teambuilding week anyways? This wasn’t Survivor! Put AD2 in hilarious situations where they had to learn how to trust their fellow cast mates. Divide the brothers and see who wins.

Um, right. Been there, done that.

Pretty sure I won.

Not that I was going to go saying that out loud, especially with Demetri still being all sensitive now that he wasn’t getting high anymore.

I walked out the front door and stretched, then began my slow stride down the boardwalk. At least the pain throbbing in my legs was strong enough to numb the guilt for a bit. It was turning out to be a crazy beautiful morning. I sprinted the last half mile and then went to the back of the Seaside house to do pull ups.

I did them until I felt like I was going to pass out.

“You do know that it’s teambuilding day, right?” came Jaymeson’s sleepy voice. “You’re going to be absolute crap today if you don’t take a breather.”

“Right.” I dropped down to my feet and grabbed a nearby towel. “I was just lost in thought.”

“Yeah.” Jaymeson grinned. “I run fifteen miles when I want to think too.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Prick. And it wasn’t fifteen.”

“Bro, once you pass ten, it’s all the same.”

Shrugging, I pushed past him just in time to see three sleepy girls walk out of the house. I turned and lifted my eyebrow. “Yours?”

“Well, they aren’t mine,” Demetri said from behind them. “Jaymeson, my man. I don’t know whether to punch you or spray you with Lysol.”

The girls scowled at Demetri and then turned lust-filled eyes toward me. I backed up like a trapped animal and lifted my hands in the air. “Jaymeson, care to call off the wolves?”

“Oh, sorry.” Jaymeson put his phone away. “Thank you for a lovely evening, ladies.” He bent over each of their hands and kissed them on the cheek, taking special care to look each of them in the eyes before sending them on their way.

“Holy hell, it’s like you have a harem.” I squinted as they all happily disappeared out the back gate. “Are they seriously just leaving and not asking for your number? What did you do, drug them?”

Jaymeson shrugged. “It’s how I roll.”

“Crap. You’re worse than Demetri was.” I chuckled and took a swig of water.

Demetri threw a towel at my head. “Thanks, man.”

I threw it back at his face. “Anytime.”

With a scowl Demetri came and stood by me. I shook my head. “It’s like watching a wild animal in its natural habitat,” I said, amused as Jaymeson began stretching and then texting on his phone. “Ten bucks says he’s setting up his next booty call.”

“Twenty and you’ve got a bet.” Demetri held out his hand.

“Gross… she’s my step-mom, gents. Show a little respect.”

The water spewed out of my mouth. I choked wildly as Demetri patted my back. “Dude, you’re supposed to drink water, not inhale it like a mermaid.”

Jaymeson’s head snapped up. “Mermaids inhale water?”

“That’s all you took from this entire conversation? Mermaids?”

“To be fair,” I said, though my voice was scratchy from choking. “To him mermaids are just another type of female he can seduce.”

Jaymeson’s eyes narrowed. “Hilarious.”

“How is that damn sexy newly-divorced mom of yours, anyways, Jaymeson?” Demetri teased.

I pretended to ignore their conversation.

“Brilliant.” He put his phone in his pocket. “She’s thinking about taking a long vacation, you know, to get away from all the media for a while.”

“Where?” The word was out before I could even think.

“Well…” Jaymeson’s eyes narrowed. “She was actually asking me about renting a beach house here. Would you guys be cool with that? I mean, she’s not going to bring any of the brothers and sisters. They’re going to stay with the nanny, but she really seemed stressed out. Like she needed a break. Then again, she’s a female, so spiders and The Bachelor stress her out, you know?”

Shit.

“I have no idea how you get so many girls.” Demetri rolled his eyes. “And it’s fine. She can stay in our house. I mean, that way she can be close to the set. You guys can bond and not have to worry about not seeing one another since we’re all holed up here in the Seaside Producer House Hell.”

“Speaking of.” I pointed to the outside cameras taking in our entire conversation.

Demetri smiled and flipped them off.

“Um…” I scratched my head. “No offense, Jaymeson, but don’t you think your mom would be more comfortable in something smaller? Safer? I mean, people know it’s our house. The media practically camps outside it.”

Demetri hit me on the back of the head. “Dude, manners!” He high-fived Jaymeson. “Don’t worry, they’re too distracted by the show and know we’re here for the next few weeks. Call her back. Tell her she can stay there.”

I looked between the two of them. I should have said something to stop the shit storm that was coming my way. Instead I turned on my heel and walked straight upstairs into Nat’s room.

A producer and camera team followed me as I barged in and sat on her bed. She was still peacefully sleeping.

I reached over and felt her forehead. At least it was cool. She’d been running a bit of a fever last night and still looked kind of crappy when she was finally able to fall asleep.