Pull (A Seaside Novel Book 2) Read online

  whole time I’d known her. She was beautiful. Like supermodel, I

  want to screw your brains out, take you home to meet my parents,

  then marry you, beautiful.

  I jumped onto the moving carousel and quickly made my

  way to the seal. The little sign in the middle of the carousel said

  Only one rider per animal. To her right was a frog. I shrugged. I could

  ride a frog. I made my way toward the frog, and that same little

  Darth Vader kid, cut me off and stole my animal!

  I gritted my teeth and looked to her other side.

  A freaking unicorn.

  I lifted my eyes heavenward and moved to the pink unicorn,

  praying that the parents and kids didn’t shoot a video of this and

  send it to TMZ.

  Muffling curses, I jumped on the unicorn and looked at

  Alyssa. She was dying laughing. I soon joined in, but the little

  Darth Vader kid, AKA Satan, started yelling.

  “He’s not wearing his seatbelt!”

  “Fine.” I gave him a tight smile and wrapped the seatbelt

  around me. I still couldn’t figure out why carousels had seatbelts. I

  mean, if you were going to fall off of it, you’d still fall. You’d just

  slide to the side of the animal and look all kinds of inappropriate.

  That’s all I needed. A picture of me humping the unicorn.

  That would go over really well with concert sales.

  “See.” Alyssa leaned over and touched my knee. I was

  suddenly very thankful for the seatbelt, because her touch jolted

  me so much I nearly fell off the damn horse. “This is fun, isn’t it?”

  I laughed. “It’s fun, because you’re fun. Don’t for one second

  think I like riding a unicorn.”

  “You kind of do,” she argued.

  I looked down. Okay, so it was kind of fun. “No, I don’t.”

  “Then why you are smiling?”

  “For the kids.” I nodded. “I want to be a good sport.”

  “You’re a god among men,” she agreed.

  I felt myself blush. Crap, I hadn’t blushed for a girl. Ever.

  “Thanks, Lyss. You’re right, this is fun.”

  “I’m sorry, what?” She cupped her ear.

  I threw my head back and laughed, then shouted. “This is

  the best day of my life!”

  Much to the amusement of several little kids who joined in

  and began clapping.

  Alyssa laughed, her shoulders shaking with amusement. As

  we got off of the carousel, she reached for my hand.

  I held it the entire way to her car.

  “So will I see you tomorrow?” I asked, feeling like a

  complete and total fool for wanting her as much as I did.

  “I have to work.”

  “Me too.” I shrugged. “I also gotta talk to Mrs. Murray. She

  said something about doing group twice a week if we survive our

  first meeting without killing one another.”

  Alyssa tensed.

  “It would be healthy for you, Alyssa.” The rain was coming

  down lightly now, a few drops landed on her cheek before she

  could wipe them away. She sniffed and looked away from me.

  “Just think about it, okay?”

  “Okay.” She leaned up and kissed my cheek.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Alyssa

  The next day at work the shop was deserted, but Sundays

  were always like that. Once everyone got out of church it would be

  bustling with activity again. For now, it was dead, and I was

  irritated. The silence left me way too much time to think about

  group and Demetri.

  I hated how easily I let my walls fall down when I was

  around him. Something about him made me want to be vulnerable,

  and it was terrifying. I picked up some of the taffy samples and

  popped a few in my mouth.

  It made me smile.

  “What are you grinning about?” My dad came around the

  corner with a few bags of mixed taffy in hand.

  I shrugged. “Nothing, just happy.”

  He dropped the taffy onto the counter, his eyes narrowing in

  inspection. “Are you on drugs?”

  I burst out laughing. “Really Dad? Have I been that

  depressing to live with these past few years?”

  His eyes dropped to the counter. “I’ve been worried.”

  Sighing, I walked over to him and put my hand across his. I

  hated this part. Where I was supposed to tell him that everything

  was fine, and I was just going through a phase. I had repeated this

  conversation so many times aloud over the past few years that it

  was second nature.

  But today was different.

  I swallowed and fought the warm tears as I answered. “It’s

  been really hard.”

  “I know, baby.” He immediately pulled me into his arms

  and kissed my hair. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could take the pain

  away, make it better.”

  I sighed into his shirt. “It’s not your fault.”

  “It’s not yours either.”

  He didn’t know it. But it was my fault. If I hadn’t been

  distracting Brady, he would have never pulled over, and if he

  wouldn’t have pulled over he would still be alive. He’d be playing

  football at Boise State. I shrugged in an effort to brush him off. I

  couldn’t talk about it, not with him.

  “Shift’s almost over. Is it okay if I leave early and go to the

  beach?” I patted my dad’s back and walked around him.

  “Of course. Have fun, keep your cell on, okay?”

  “Always.” I smiled, grabbed my purse, and quickly left the

  store. Cool air met me, and I was finally able to breathe without

  feeling like I was suffocating. I reached into my purse for one of my

  anti-anxiety meds.

  I hated having to rely on pills to get me through the day.

  I played with the pill bottle and decided against taking one.

  Instead, I walked the boardwalk and listened to the waves. People

  walked by me, some waved, others were holding hands.

  Seriously. Seaside had to be the worst place in the world to

  live if you were trying to nurse a broken heart. Something about

  being on a beach was a little too romantic for me to take in.

  My cell phone buzzed.

  COME OVR.

  It was from Demetri.

  After our non-date the night before, I hadn’t heard from

  him. I couldn’t help the broad smile that spread across my face.

  ON MY WAY.

  GR8.

  I shoved my phone into my pocket and walked toward his

  house. It was only a mile away from city center. You could easily

  walk there from the boardwalk.

  Once his house came into view, I picked up the pace. I was

  totally out of breath by the time I reached his door. I knocked twice

  and waited.

  The door flung open.

  It wasn’t Demetri.

  “Hey,” the guy said. My eyes bugged. Holy crap! He had

  super dark hair and crystal blue eyes. He was just as big as

  Demetri, and his smile was absolutely killer. I felt myself blush, so I

  looked away.

  “I, uh, I’m here to see Demetri.”

  “Interesting,” hot guy said, crossing his arms. I assumed it

  was Demetri’s brother but couldn’t be sure. I’d never seen him up

  close.

  “How so?” I countered.


  The guy threw his head back and laughed. “You look

  nothing like I thought you would.”

  “Um…” I tried to think of something to say, but my mind

  was completely blank. Was he making fun of me?

  He laughed again.

  This time I was pissed. “Look…” I braced my hand against

  the screen door and glared. “I don’t know who the hell you are, but

  I’m here to see my friend. Now wipe that ridiculous grin off of your

  face and let me in. Otherwise, I’m going to tell Bob you hit on me.”

  His grin widened. He pushed the door open revealing

  Demetri. “She passed bro with flying colors.” He nodded his head

  in my direction and held out his hand. “Alec Daniels.”

  “Your brother’s an ass.” This I directed toward Demetri,

  who looked like he was about ready to kiss me senseless and peel

  my shirt from my body. What did I do? How did I pass?

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Demetri said, his eyes twinkling

  with amusement. “Come on in, I want you to meet someone else.”

  I inched past Alec, who was at that very moment trying his

  hardest to keep me from actually entering the house, and grabbed

  Demetri’s outstretched hand.

  “Nat!” he yelled.

  I winced when he yelled for a second time.

  “Hey!” Mrs. Murray’s daughter was suddenly in front of

  me. Honestly, it was like watching one of those teenage soap

  operas. Every player in the room was drop-dead gorgeous. I

  suddenly had the urge to burn all my clothes and get a makeover.

  Her long golden blond hair was streaked with honey highlights.

  Her brown eyes had little makeup surrounding them, and her smile

  was freakishly bright.

  “Hi,” I mumbled, stepping closer to Demetri for protection.

  The only experience I had with friends that were girls came from

  when I was on the cheerleading squad. And every single one of

  them abandoned me when Brady was out of the picture, and I was

  kicked off the squad for missing so many practices. It wasn’t long

  after that, that I quit school and finished my last year and a half

  through online courses.

  She tilted her head. “Alec’s right, you know. You’re way

  prettier than I could even imagine. And you’re super short!”

  “Thank you?” I offered looking between her and Demetri.

  Alec walked around me and pulled Nat into a hug, kissing

  the top of her head. “So…” he began. “You the chick my brother’s

  been writing songs about?”

  “What?” My voice shrieked. I looked at Demetri. A guilty

  smile plastered across his face, and then I looked back at Alec who

  seemed pleased to throw his brother under the bus. “Okay,

  Edward-wannabe, explain.”

  Alec laughed. “Demetri, I think your girlfriend just insulted

  me.”

  “I’m not his —”

  “She’s good at making men feel small.” Demetri laughed.

  Nat clapped her hands. “Then she’s perfect for you.”

  Okay. They were all high. Or something! They even finished

  each other’s sentences. What the heck kind of house did I just walk

  into? Didn’t help that I felt like I had just stepped into Twilight. I

  mean, who actually looks this perfect up close? Alec was beautiful.

  Nat was I want to scratch your eyes out, but you’re too nice gorgeous,

  and then there was Demetri. Perfect Demetri.

  He cleared his throat.

  Nat punched Alec. “We, uh, we were just leaving. We only

  flew in for the day to grab the rest of my stuff for school, and I sorta

  begged Demetri to meet you.”

  “Oh.” I didn’t know what to do with that. “Well, we can,

  um, hang out if you guys want to.” I looked at the three of them.

  Shock registered on Demetri’s face. He opened his mouth to speak,

  but Nat began pumping her fist in the air.

  “No.” Demetri crossed his arms. “I will not subject her to

  you guys. Not now, possibly not ever.”

  “Why?” everyone asked in unison, totally cornering

  Demetri.

  “You ashamed of me?” I teased.

  Alec snickered. “More like he’s afraid we’ll tell you all his

  secrets, and you’ll realize how lame he is and drop his sorry ass.”

  “Thanks, man.” Demetri glared. “But I kind of thought

  Alyssa and I could…”

  “Make out?” This from Nat.

  “No.” Demetri groaned. “Go on a real date. We haven’t

  actually done any of that yet, and I’m still trying to convince her

  that I’m worthy of at least a dinner and a movie.”

  “He’s worth it,” Alec confirmed.

  “Yes, because she’s going to blindly take your word for it. A

  man who, not five minutes ago, she called an ass. Awesome.”

  Demetri cursed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Sorry, Lyss.

  Really, don’t let them pressure you. They don’t have to stay. In fact,

  they can leave. Don’t you guys have a plane to catch in like six

  hours?”

  “Seven,” Nat answered.

  I touched Demetri’s arm. He was shaking. Odd. He seemed

  totally in control and at ease. Subconsciously, I wondered if he was

  angry, but he seemed more alert than anything.

  “Here.” I gave him three pieces of taffy and smiled.

  His face relaxed. “How’d you know?”

  “Maybe my thing is being on taffy patrol?” Oh my gosh, that

  sounded so lame. I wanted to run out of the house right then, but

  everyone was grinning at me like I’d just cured world hunger by

  giving Demetri taffy.

  “She cares,” Alec said.

  “I like her,” Nat added.

  Demetri rolled his eyes and popped a piece of taffy into his

  mouth. “What the heck kind of flavor is this, it tastes like…”

  I shifted nervously. It was a new flavor. One I had my

  parents make especially for him. I hadn’t meant for it to be a big

  deal, or for him to discover it in front of his brother and Nat, but oh

  well. No going back now. Plus, I’d already embarrassed myself

  thirty times over.

  “It’s, um, Jack Daniels taffy.”

  The room fell silent.

  Oh crap. What did I do?

  Without any sort of warning Demetri pulled me into his

  arms and kissed me firmly across the mouth. He tasted like sugar

  and whiskey. Like heat and passion. I sucked on his tongue. I

  couldn’t really help it.

  He pulled back and kissed my cheek. “That was really sweet

  of you. Alec used to buy me the alcohol flavored ones to help me

  get over the addiction.”

  “Oh.” I felt myself blush. “It was nothing. I just thought…” I

  shrugged lamely.

  “You thought,” Nat said. “About him. I say you’re a keeper.

  Now can we please put you guys in some freaky disguises, so we

  can go to dinner and a movie?”

  “Wait, I never said yes,” Demetri argued.

  “You didn’t really say no either,” I pointed out and then

  snapped my mouth shut as Nat burst out laughing.

  “Girl’s got a point.” She looped her arm with mine and tilted

  her head toward Alec. “Go get the costumes.”

  “Costumes?” I re
peated while Demetri stomped up the stairs

  and cursed, with Alec leading the way.

  Nat released my arm and looked at me. “It’s kind of a long

  story, but usually when the guys go out during the day, there’s so

  many people around here that they don’t really get bothered that

  much. But for some reason, whenever they go to restaurants they

  get hounded. It’s kinda freaky if you aren’t used to it. So I came up

  with a brilliant plan.”

  I really liked Nat. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Honestly,

  I wish she was the type of girl I could easily hate. Then I could

  forget the fact that she and Demetri briefly dated. But she was

  awesome. And I hadn’t had a friend in a long time, which meant

  her warmth was like food to someone starved.

  She clasped her hands together. “I make both boys wear

  hats, backwards, so they still look like they are in high school. They

  throw on some old football sweatshirts from Seaside High and take

  off the skinny jeans.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, the skinny jeans are a huge indicator.

  Sorry to say.”

  Nat rolled her eyes. “Right? I mean what guy in Seaside

  actually pulls them off that well? It’s basically like wearing a poster

  that says ‘Rock star Coming Through’.”

  I burst out laughing and nodded my head. “Doesn’t help

  that Demetri’s gorgeous.” Whoops. I felt myself blush as Nat

  smiled warmly at me.

  “He is, and he seems to really like you.”

  I shrugged.

  “Look, I love this whole humility thing you’ve got going on,

  but seriously, you’re beautiful, and I don’t know, maybe it sounds

  weird, but I see this inner strength about you.” She looked away.

  “Great, now I’m sounding like my mom.”

  I swallowed and bit my lower lip. “Don’t worry. You’re a far

  cry from sounding like Mrs. Murray.” I wasn’t ready to tell Nat that

  I saw her mom on a regular basis. “Besides, I’m not really that

  strong.”

  Nat got really quiet. I looked up to see what she was doing,

  but she was staring at me, as if I was some sort of alien or

  something. She shook her head back and forth and looked toward

  the stairway, then back at me. “Any girl who can handle five

  minutes with Demetri is strong, Alyssa. Believe me, you hold your

  own, not many girls could.”

  “Did you?” Whoa, seriously someone shut me up. Put

  masking tape over my mouth and send me out the door.