Shatter

“Alec,” April repeated, her eyes slowly taking me in. “He’s your brother?”

“Yup. I like to think he’s the lucky bastard to have me as his other half.”

“He is.” She winked and smiled sadly at the ground. I immediately felt Alyssa tense next to me.

As if April just remembered that Alyssa and I had been acting all kinds of inappropriate just a few minutes ago, she blushed and chuckled. “You two carry on. I’ll just…” Her words trailed off as she walked down the hall.

“I don’t know if I like her,” Alyssa whispered once April was out of ear-shot.

I helped her off the counter and sighed. “You have no reason not to like her.”

Alyssa’s eyes narrowed. “She was eyeing you like… I don’t know. Like she wanted to strip you naked and lick you.”

“That could be arranged if you feel so inclined.” I grinned.

Alyssa swatted me in the stomach. “Shut up. I’m serious!”

“Babe.” I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her forehead. “It’s fine, okay? Besides, she used to be married to one of the biggest producers in Hollywood. I’m sure she’s just used to the attention, okay? Besides, she’s Jaymeson’s step-mom. If anything, she was just putting two and two together, okay?”

“Fine.” Alyssa sucked in her lower lip and grabbed my hand. “But if she makes a move for you, it won’t be just Nat throwing punches.”

“Deal.” I chuckled as we approached Jaymeson and Alec. Whoa. The brooding was officially back. Crap. Now Alec looked like he was ready to murder someone.

“How’s it going?” I directed the question at Jaymeson while anger washed over Alec’s face until I was pretty sure that he was going to start chucking burgers into the air.

“Great.” Jaymeson elbowed Alec. “Anyway, where was I? Oh right, so my father is a maniac. He’s refusing to pay child and spousal support, and I mean, he’s the guy who cheated in the first place! And then had the nerve to ask for a divorce.” He shook his head. “At any rate, I think the stress is really getting to my mom, so thanks for letting her stay at your place.”

“Anytime.” Alec handed me the metal hamburger flipper and stalked off mumbling something about finding Nat.

“He alright?” Jaymeson squinted at Alec’s disappearing form. “I hope the story of my parents didn’t upset him.”

“Nah, he’s just…” I shrugged. “Hormonal.”

Alyssa took the hamburger flipper from my hands and ordered me to move. Apparently I hadn’t graduated to cooking live food yet either.

“Where’s your girl?” I begrudgingly shoved my hands in my pockets and watched my girlfriend cook up a storm.

“How should I know?” Jaymeson snorted. “I can’t even lie. I’m trying, man, really trying to be nice to her, but she’s—”

“Insane,” Alyssa grumbled. Clearly she was still upset over the whole I-slept-with-the-devil thing.

“There’s that.” Jaymeson nodded. “But she’s always on her damn phone. On top of that, it’s like she’s plotting something. I don’t know. Maybe I’m paranoid. But I don’t trust her.”

“World domination.” Alyssa piped up. “She’s going to take over the world.”

“One text at a time,” I agreed.

“Jaymeson!”

“Speak of the devil.” I grinned and slapped Jaymeson on the back. “I think Angelica needs you.”

Angelica rounded the corner in platform heels, a mini skirt, and a midriff shirt that really shouldn’t be called a shirt.

It was smaller than a scarf and strategically wrapped around her body in such a way that I wasn’t sure if I should gape or avert my eyes. Alyssa made the decision for me when she pulled my head to hers and kissed me firmly across the mouth.

Hmm. I could get used to such distractions.

“Lose your clothes again, Angelica?” Jaymeson asked from behind me.

“Ha ha, you’re hilarious. And no. I was just hot, so I decided to put something on that would cool me off.”

The camera crew filtered into the backyard, as they always did when Angelica decided to put on a strip tease. She fanned her face with her hand and stretched. Seriously, they were going to have to censor every scene with that girl.

“Angelica.” Ruben cleared his throat. “You said we needed to have a chat?”

“Off camera,” she demanded.

I rolled my eyes.

“Fine.” He directed her toward the corner of the yard.

“Hey, Ruben.” Jaymeson sneered. “If I promise to take off all my clothes can I have a few minutes without cameras too?”

Ruben ignored him and followed Angelica to the fence, leaning against it as she talked in hushed tones.

“Plotting.” My eyes narrowed. “I would sell Jaymeson to learn what that girl was saying right about now.”

“Thanks man.”

“Anytime.” I slapped him on the back and kissed Alyssa’s cheek. “Can we eat now?”

She flipped all the burgers over and checked them. “They look fine, why don’t you go find Alec and Nat so we can eat?”

“I’ll do it!” Jaymeson offered, running off toward the garage.

I shrugged and looked back to Ruben and Angelica, she was showing him something on her phone and he looked like he was about two minutes away from shitting his pants.