Strung Read online

  “I’m good.” I flashed a smile. “Has she woken up at all?”

  “Nah” — Alec licked his lips and picked the remote back up again — “Maybe it would be good for you to go check on her? Just so you know she’s okay?”

  “Yeah.” I fidgeted with my keys. “Yeah, I’ll do that.”

  I made my way slowly up the stairs and let myself in Alec’s room. Nat looked so peaceful, she had a small smile on her lips as her even breathing made my own pick up. She was fine. She was totally fine.

  She was so defenseless so… pure. I walked up to the bed and took a seat. When she didn’t stir, I lay down and pulled her warm body into my arms.

  “Nat?”

  Her eyelids flickered open in confusion as if she wasn’t expecting me to be there. I couldn’t blame her. I’d let her down — again.

  “These are for you.” I placed the flowers on the nightstand and gave her an encouraging smile — the type of smile that says ‘I’m not leaving your side.’

  Nat’s eyes took in the flowers, her smile grew and then she mumbled a ‘thanks.’

  I reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry I bolted.” I sighed. “Being sick just freaks me out. Alec said he told you, but it’s not really an excuse to leave my girlfriend.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” I snapped. “Damn, why are you so easy on me?”

  “Fine. It’s not okay. I hate you. Take your stupid flowers.” She reached for the flowers, threw them on the ground, and smirked.

  I grinned and had to fight to keep myself from barking with laughter. “Much better. What am I going to do with you? Hmm?” I ran my hand down her neck, my fingertips grazing her soft skin. “You’re beautiful, funny… I can’t even look at another girl.”

  “Well, I’m glad the man-whore has finally settled on one girl.” Her eyes narrowed.

  “Only one.” I vowed, then reached down and gently kissed her lips. “Are you really feeling better?”

  Nat scrunched up her nose. “I think I’m better.”

  “Hmm…” I threw off her covers. She looked down, her eyes wide as saucers. Yeah, she was totally in Alec’s sweats. Damn him.

  “Chill, babe. It’s not like you’re the first girl I’ve seen naked.” I joked, trying to make her think I was somehow involved when it was my brother who had taken care of her, my brother who had helped her.

  “Did you undress me then?” Her voice squeaked.

  I wish. “It was a team effort.” Hopefully that would make her feel better.

  “Both you and your brother undressed me? Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that sort of thing illegal in all fifty states?”

  “Chill, Nat. It’s not like we took turns with you or anything.”

  Without responding, she tried to get up, putting weight slowly on one foot and then the other. “You can’t go around stripping people of their clothes, just because they’re sick.”

  I frowned. Okay so maybe lying wasn’t the best option. I thought it would make her feel better not worse! “But you were uncomfortable. Plus, I’m the one who did it. Alec was here supervising. For some reason he didn’t trust me to do the deed without peeking.” There, totally fixed.

  “I’m going home,” she announced.

  Just kidding. Not fixed. I reached for her arm, “Like hell you are. You’re staying here and that’s final. You’re sick. You shouldn’t be up and walking anyways. Come on.” With a grunt I lifted her into my arms and carried her down the hall towards the stairway.

  “She try to escape or something?” Alec asked, suddenly appearing at the bottom of the stairs. I rolled my eyes and nodded.

  Alec put his hands in the air. “She’s scary when she’s sick.”

  “She’s also suicidal. She wanted to walk home.” I snapped.

  Alec scowled. “Nat, you’d make it as far as the kitchen table, pass out, and most likely crack a tooth in the process.”

  Nat tensed in my arms. Damn she was a firecracker.

  “Lock the doors.” Alec’s intense gaze flickered from me to Nat.

  I put her down on the couch and then walked to the doors, locking each of them. “Crap, how long have they been camped out?”

  “Since you came back with the flowers.” Alec answered.

  “Who’s camped out?” Nat piped up.

  “Photographers, news crews, fans. Basically everyone in Oregon.” Alec cursed and took a seat next to Nat. “Thanks to my brother’s heroic kiss in downtown Seaside, the media can’t wait to dig in to you.”

  “Great,” Nat grumbled and laid her head on the arm of the couch. “If they saw me now they’d wonder what the fuss was all about.”

  Alec tilted his head. “You really don’t see it do you?”

  I walked back in the room and only heard the last part of the conversation.

  “How breathtaking you are.” Alec’s eyes shone with appreciation. “Nat, you’re absolutely gorgeous without any help from make up or fancy clothes. And you’re the only person in the known universe who hasn’t asked for one of our autographs.”

  “She hasn’t?” I interrupted “Rude, Nat. Rude.”

  Nat laughed. “So that’s how I get rid of you two? Ask for your autograph and throw my panties like the rest of them?”

  I plopped onto the couch in between Nat and Alec. “I could live without the autograph part, but the panty-throwing sounds intriguing. You planning on doing that soon? I’ll wait.” I grinned and received a chuckle from Nat and a kiss on the cheek. Take that brother…

  Alec cleared his throat. His eyes moving from me to Nat then back again. “I’ll go see what I can do about the media for now. Why don’t you guys watch a movie or something?”

  Nat sighed. “My pick. I’m sick.”

  I cursed. “My head hurts, does that count?”

  “Your head always hurts when you use it, silly, so no, doesn’t count,” Nat joked.

  Alec left the room laughing, leaving me scowling at Nat. It was easy being with her. Talking with her. I didn’t feel pressure to be someone that I didn’t want to be. Yet, I couldn’t’ shake the feeling that something was off.

  Especially when her eyes kept flickering behind the couch — as if she were looking for someone.

  As if she were looking for Alec.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Alec

  DEMETRI NEVER COULD last through an entire movie. High or not, he had a serious issue with keeping his eyes open when the TV was on. Nat and I watched movies until midnight. I knew it was time to take her home, but I really, really wanted to cuddle with her on the couch.

  Yeah. Cuddle. That was how bad I had it. I didn’t even want to peel pieces of clothing off; I just wanted to comfort her, to hold her.

  Ugh.

  “Thanks, Alec.” Nat yawned and rose from the couch. “For staying up with me.”

  Her eyes were still partially closed as she tried to walk towards me like a drunken sailor. Poor thing needed to go to bed.

  I smiled. “Anytime you want a movie buddy. I’m there.”

  Great, so she’d forever associate me with being just a friend. Right. Because that’s what I had in mind.

  Shaking my head, more at myself than her, I looked between the blinds and noticed that the photographers were nowhere to be seen. Good.

  I turned around and whispered, “Ready?”

  Nat nodded. I unlocked the door and grabbed her hand as we slowly made our way across the backyard and up to her door.

  Everything was blanketed in black. I hadn’t turned on the sensor lights because the last thing we needed was to put a spotlight on the fact that Nat had been in our house all day.

  Not that it mattered. The media already knew, which meant Nat’s normal life was about to be over. I didn’t want to freak her out, but she needed to be warned. The desire to pull her into my arms and comfort her damn near overwhelmed me.

  Nat’s hand stilled on the doorknob as I leaned in and whispered, “Everything�
��s going go to change, Nat.”

  “What do you mean?” her voice wavered a bit.

  “You’re going to be on every news station, every radio station, every gossip site. I just want you to know, it’s about to change and it’s not going to be easy.”

  Nat looked away. “They’ll get bored with me.”

  When I didn’t say anything, she simply wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me.

  If I died tomorrow — it would be with a smile on my face. Her body felt so right pressed against mine. “Nobody could ever get bored of you, Nat. That’s impossible.”

  “You’re just being nice because I’m sick.”

  I chuckled and stepped back so I could look into her eyes. “I’m not just being nice, I’m being honest. Now get some rest.” One kiss. On the cheek. Just one. I leaned in, but just as I was about to brush my lips across her cheek, a flash went off. Rage pumped through me. “Get in the house, Nat. Now!” I pushed her into the house and turned to face the photographers.

  “Don’t you guys have anything better to do then stalk an innocent girl?” I spat.

  “Whoa.” The photographer kept snapping pictures of me as I stalked towards him “There a reason your so chummy with your brother’s girlfriend? Does he even know?”

  “We’re friends.” I yelled. “Now get the hell off our property!”

  “Why are you really here?” The other photographer smirked. “Come on, Seaside?” They both cursed at me and laughed.

  I was just about to attack both of them when Demetri ran up to us. His arms wrapped around my chest as he pulled me back. “Come on, man, it’s not worth it.”

  “Let me go, damn it!” I lunged for the guys again.

  Demetri held me firm and ushered me back into the house.

  “What the hell, man?” I yelled once Demetri locked the doors again then turned to face me. “You should have let me punch them, they got pictures.”

  Demetri was calm, his voice low. “Of what?”

  “Nat hugging me.” May as well have the word guilty written across my forehead. “But she was just thanking me, thanking us for taking care of her!”

  “Really?” Demetri crossed his arms and paced in front of me. “Why are you being so defensive? So you hugged her, big deal.”

  “But…” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You kissed her yesterday, I hugged her tonight. It makes her look…”

  “Well shit.” Demetri groaned into his hands. “Thanks, I know exactly how it looks.”

  “If the media found out…” I choked a bit. “If they found out about our past, and what I did to you, and now with Nat…”

  “Look” — Demetri’s eyes flashed — “They aren’t going to find out, okay?”

  I wasn’t so sure.

  “We need body guards.” Demetri sighed and pulled out his phone. “I’ll get Bob up here, ask him to bring one of the usuals from the tour.”

  Was I seriously that shaken up that Demetri was the one thinking with a clear mind? I still wanted to run outside and ram my fist through those bastards’ faces!

  In that moment I saw a side of Demetri I had always hoped existed, but had given up on long ago.

  Maturity.

  And again, I was back to square one with Nat. Because blood always came before a girl… I shuddered. The problem? I knew we weren’t blood brothers. And he didn’t. He didn’t know. He didn’t know anything.

  If he ever found out.

  The secrets I kept from him.

  I’d lose him forever.

  Demetri got off his phone and tossed it onto the couch. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “Thanks for…” I pointed at the door. “That.”

  “We’re brothers.” He said it like it was so simple.

  I nodded and smiled. “Yeah man, yeah, we are.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Demetri

  NAT WAS STANDING in her driveway with her hands on her hips. Most of her hair was pulled back in a haphazardly done ponytail and she had a scowl on her face. “Geez, took you long enough to get ready,” I said, scaring the crap out of her.

  Her eyes narrowed. “I overslept.”

  “I couldn’t tell.” I eyed her up and down and winked as she blushed bright red and tightened her arms across her chest. “Do it again.” I tugged her into my body and kissed her mouth.

  “What?” Her voice was soft.

  “Blush. It’s sexy.” And she just blushed two shades darker. I. Am. Awesome. I picked her up off the ground and twirled her around then kissed her cheek. Wow. I could totally survive life if I had a girl like her standing in my driveway every freaking morning.

  “You ready man?” I heard the screen door slam as Alec bounded down the stairs. Interesting choice of clothes. He wasn’t blending in. Not one bit. Rocker skinny jeans, a graphic shirt, converse and a beanie. Yeah… way ta look LA dude.

  I understood though. Why try to blend in when everyone already knows anyways? It’s why I wore ripped jeans and put my man necklaces back on as well as my leather bracelets. Who the hell cared that we didn’t fit in? We had Nat.

  I didn’t realize I said ‘we.’

  As in she was both of ours.

  Until I got into the car.

  “Let’s go.” Alec got into his car an unlocked the doors. The drive to school felt tense. But then again, I knew it would be. Alec got zero sleep if his stomping through the house was any indication last night.

  And me, well, let’s just say between telling the giant bear I was living with to calm the hell down and trying not to panic over the fact that he was that bent out of shape over something involving my girlfriend — it was almost enough for me to want to reach my arm down that toilet and snatch up those drugs.

  Hey, I didn’t say it was a pleasant mental picture.

  I settled for a Coke Zero at six am.

  Soda. I was drinking soda in the morning.

  And they say drugs can kill you.

  My cell rang in my pocket. Swearing at my publicist’s number, I pulled it out and barked into the phone. “What?”

  “Damage control.” He coughed. “Just let it roll over but it’s worse than you guys suspected. The media’s making it out to be that she’s AD2’s newest plaything.

  “ I’m sorry, what?” I roared. “How the hell did that happen?”

  “Look, Demetri, it will blow over. It always does. Jamie Jaymeson was just found walking out of a hotel with three girls. Three, Demetri. Trust me, once that video goes viral, you’re good.”

  I cursed into the phone then hung up.

  Mature. I’m aware.

  “How bad?” Alec asked quietly.

  “Bad,” I croaked.

  “Atlanta bad?”

  I snorted. “Worse, man, so much worse.” I turned around and bit my lip as I thought of exactly what to tell Nat. “I don’t know how to say this, or even how to warn you.”

  “Just say it,” Alec spat. If I had pills I would have given him one.

  I gave my brother a glare before reaching for Nat’s hand and kissing it. “The media’s cooked up a pretty ridiculous story. It’s not going to be an easy day.”

  Nat’s tilted her head and spoke softly, “What kind of story?”

  Alec swore under his breath while I explained. “One where you were seen kissing one brother one night, only to be seen almost kissing the other the next night.” I left out the part in the middle about us sharing her for sex or playing with her for sport. She was too innocent to get it. I didn’t want to share ugly with her; I wanted to protect her from it.

  She was silent for a few minutes then asked, “So they labeled me a whore?”

  Alec slammed on the breaks and put the car into park smack dab in the middle of the road. Aw shit. The bear was back. Good job Nat. You poked it.

  Alec’s eyes were furious as he seethed. “Don’t you dare ever call yourself that. Do you understand?”

  Nat’s lower lip trembled; she gave a quick nod and folded her hands in her lap.


  I reached out and touched Alec’s arm, trying to calm him down, hoping that he’d realize he was scaring the shit out of the girl he was supposed to be protecting.

  The girl he would have chosen for himself, had I not stood in the way. I wasn’t stupid. Okay, so I wasn’t that stupid. And funny thing about being sober, you notice a lot more than you used to. Like the way that within twenty-four hours my brother had turned into a rageaholic who speared fish for dinner and wore war paint across his face.

  “So what’s the plan?” Nat asked. All normal. As if I hadn’t just told her that her life was semi over.

  My mouth dropped open. “How are you not more upset?”

  She shrugged. “I missed breakfast and didn’t have my morning coffee. I have no energy to be upset.”

  Alec cursed again and reached into the glove box pulling out a protein bar. “You gotta eat, Nat. You were sick this weekend.”

  Aw cute, he was going to be such a good wife some day to a very lucky woman… The dude needed like… sugar or something.

  While Nat nibbled on the bar I explained, “You’re my girlfriend, people know that. We’ll just have to do some damage control. And don’t be seen alone with Alec.”

  “That won’t be a problem.” Alec put the car in park, turned off the ignition and jumped out.

  Nat looked like she was about three seconds away from bursting into tears. Shit. Damn it Alec! He never left me in positions like this. It was both aggravating and… invigorating? I don’t know. It was like he trusted me to make it better. He trusted me when he wasn’t in control. And I kind of liked the rush of stepping up to the plate.

  “He feels responsible.” I sighed, reaching for Nat’s hand. “He’s not mad at you.”

  She nodded as her eyes pooled with tears. Quickly, she averted her gaze and grabbed her bag.

  “Nat, look at me.”

  I placed my hands on either side of her face. “You have to be brave, okay?”

  She took a deep breath. “Okay. I can do that.”

  “That’s my girl.” I hopped out of the car and opened her door.