If Alec knew, he wouldn’t have left. It was the only thing keeping me from running him over with my car.

“Time to go back.” I stepped away and grabbed her hand. “The production crew will want to film the drama of today.”

“They had a frenzy last night.” Nat snorted.

“Yeah, well… it was good TV, you can’t script that shit. It was media gold.”

Nat sighed. “People’s lives getting ruined always is.”

Chapter Twenty-nine

Alec

I slept like shit.

I had such a bad headache that I wanted to crawl into a tiny dark hole and die, and then I thought of Nat. I ran into the bathroom and heaved all the contents of my stomach into the toilet.

This had to end. I had to end it. Mrs. Murray was right. She couldn’t fix me, but I couldn’t keep going on like this. Carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders and pretending that I had a damn rainbow stuck up my ass.

Where to begin? I couldn’t just walk up to Demetri and say, “Hey man, sorry for being caught in a compromising situation with your mom. Oh, and sorry about lying to you for your entire life.”

Saying it out loud just made it sound so much worse.

I heard my phone go off.

With a groan I walked into Nat’s old bedroom and snagged my phone from the charger.

WE NEED 2 TALK.

It was Demetri.

Great. He was probably planning on running me over with his car. I’d welcome it at this point. I texted him back.

GVE ME 15.

I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

My phone buzzed again.

IN FRNT OF THE RESORT @ SEASIDE.

I stuffed the phone into my back pocket and ran down the stairs to grab a granola bar. I needed something to eat since I’d just thrown up whatever was left in my stomach.

Mrs. Murray was sitting at the counter, a cup of coffee in her hand. Her eyes were glued to her iPad.

“Alec?” She looked tired. Her hair was thrown into a messy bun. She took her glasses off and rubbed her eyes. “Is there something you need to tell me about Nat?”

Nothing that would make her feel any better about our relationship. “No. I… I love her. That’s about it.”

“And you’ll do anything to protect her?”

“Of course.”

“Even from things like this?” She showed me her iPad and sighed. “What will you do when they do this to her in the media? I need to know you are on her side.”

“I am.” My eyes scanned the article and then my blood ran absolutely cold.

Demetri and Nat hugging.

Demetri kissing Nat’s head.

Nat crying.

Demetri cupping her face.

“Son of a—” I stopped myself, set the iPad back on the counter and stormed out of the room. I was going to kill him. What the hell was he thinking? He had Alyssa! He didn’t need to be comforting my girlfriend! It wasn’t his damn job, it was mine!

A voice in my head said I was acting insane, but possessiveness washed over me. Well, that and a mixture of insecurity. What the hell was wrong with me?

I ran as fast as I could to the resort in front of the bustling boardwalk.

Demetri was sitting on one of the park benches waiting for me.

He stood, disapproval practically radiated from him. “So the prodigal returns?”

I punched him in the face.

Demetri stumbled to the ground with a curse. I heard the clicking of cameras. Crap. I knew better than to bring all our baggage out into public, but I couldn’t control myself. Anger pulsated through my body. I wanted to punch him again, to kick him, to make him hurt. He groaned, I flexed my hand into another fist and made a lunge for him.

He sighed heavily. “Do it again, man. Do it if it makes you feel better.” And then my irresponsible younger brother lowered his hands and gave me the perfect opportunity to beat the shit out of him. Hell, he even turned to the left which he always claimed was his money-making side.

I was an ass.

I fell to the ground next to him amidst the cameras and whispers and fought for control over my emotions. Everything felt so out-of-control, and it was in moments like these that I realized I was toeing the edge of self destruction. I was one bad choice away from prison or hurting someone I loved.

“So.” Demetri rubbed his face as blood trickled down his cheek. “About that talk.”

I bit my lip and nodded. “Yeah, about that.”

Demetri was silent and then. “Let’s go see the seals.”

We helped each other up and walked toward the Seaside Aquarium. Ever since Demetri and Alyssa started dating, they made it a regular Saturday pilgrimage. Something about her reminding him of a seal, which I always assumed a girl would take as a fat joke, but she loved it and he loved her, so they went.

Demetri also knew the owners so it was easy for him to get them to shut it down while he and Alyssa visited, especially considering how crazy the paparazzi had gotten.

I tried to look happy as I walked along the boardwalk. People openly gaped, and for the first time in my life it made me feel uncomfortable, vulnerable. As if bits and pieces of my soul were getting stolen away from me with every snap of a picture.

We arrived at the aquarium and went in, closing the door behind us. Demetri motioned to the guy at the desk. He nodded once and put the Will Return sign on the door.

“Fish.” Demetri handed me a bucket full of fish. I took it and began throwing them mindlessly into the water. The seals splashed and fought over the fish. Greedy little bastards wanted more, so I kept throwing them, getting lost in my own thoughts as I watched them happily swim around.