again.”
“I’m really sorry , man.” I choked on my laughter and patted his shoulder . “ That must be hard for you. Is that why you’re such a man-whore?”
He nodded and wiped a fake tear . “ I just worry that one day I won’t be able to… you know? It’s the nightmares that are the wors t . The nights are the hardest.”
“I bet they are , ” Angelica murmured .
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I burst out laughing. Jaymeson glared and then joined in.
“I seriously hate you guys , ” w a s Angelica ’ s heated reply .
“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to us , ” I retorted. “Now stop , and let the parents talk.”
“Ugh!” She punched our backseats . “ Why the hell did I agree to do this show anyways?”
“Money , ” Jaymeson answered just as I said , “ To torture humanity?”
The car fell silent.
Had we finally pushed her too far?
“You just wait , ” s he said in a very chilling voice . “ In a few weeks you won’t know what hit any of you. Hell, you have no idea now. And
I’m just biding my time.”
“Until the world ends?”
“Nope.” She laughed . “ Until I come out on top.”
“You mean you’re always on bottom? Lazy American .” Jaymeson shook his head in the rea rview mirror and winked at her.
“I’m not even going to answer that. Just know , Jaymeson, you r time is almost up too. And I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you find
out the truth.”
I slammed on the brakes . “ He’s adopted!”
“Laugh it up now , ” Angelica hissed. “Laugh it up now.”
Chapter Nine
Alec
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Nat asked, feeling my forehead for the fiftieth time that afternoon.
I hadn’t been able to bring myself to eat, so I told her I thought I was possibly
coming down with something. Just more lies on top of more lies on top of more lies. Damn.
We had spent our free hours watching movies in the room . I didn’t have to pretend to keep throwing up. Each time she asked me if I was okay
I felt sicker. And then she started giving me a massage to feel better, which only made it worse. I finally resorted to pretending to sleep the last hour so I coul d push away the crappy feeling.
I had woke n up to Demetri’s text and felt even more like a failure. Could I do nothing rig ht these days?
I nodded and continued the short drive to the new restaurant opening just outside
Seaside. “It’s probably just stress.”
Nat’s eyes narrowed . “ Alec, no offense, but you’ve dealt with way more stress than a stupid TV show before.”
“Right.” I swallowed the dryness in my throat . “ But I didn’t have you. And I can’t— ” My voice cracked. I cleared my throat. “I can’t lose you.” And that was the God - honest truth. The crux of the matter. I was so afraid that if I lost her, I’d lose
me. Wow, didn’t realize I was that incredibly selfish.
“You won’t.” She rolled her eyes . “ Geez, you’re almost as emotional as Demetri these days.”
“Ha ha .” Shit. Even my laugh was fake.
Cameras flashed as we pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. Nat was used
to this part by now. Jump out of the car, make nice with the mean photographers, s mile, wave, and say no comment .
I jumped out with her and put a protective arm around her shoulders as I led her quickly
into the restaurant.
“Alec! Alec! Are rumors of your split true? Are you hooking up with Angelica Greene?”
My jaw clenched. Nat just laughed, she knew how much I hated Angelica . S he just didn’ t know how deep that hate went.
“Why hook up with Angelica when I have this?” I pulled Nat as close to me as possible
and kissed her head.
She looked up at me adoringly and smil ed.
The restaurant was decked out in true Seaside fashion. Huge bay windows lined one
half of the restaurant. A bar sat in the middle wi th hanging glass and seashells.
The lights flickered everywhere giving it a glittery
“I’m really sorry , man.” I choked on my laughter and patted his shoulder . “ That must be hard for you. Is that why you’re such a man-whore?”
He nodded and wiped a fake tear . “ I just worry that one day I won’t be able to… you know? It’s the nightmares that are the wors t . The nights are the hardest.”
“I bet they are , ” Angelica murmured .
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I burst out laughing. Jaymeson glared and then joined in.
“I seriously hate you guys , ” w a s Angelica ’ s heated reply .
“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to us , ” I retorted. “Now stop , and let the parents talk.”
“Ugh!” She punched our backseats . “ Why the hell did I agree to do this show anyways?”
“Money , ” Jaymeson answered just as I said , “ To torture humanity?”
The car fell silent.
Had we finally pushed her too far?
“You just wait , ” s he said in a very chilling voice . “ In a few weeks you won’t know what hit any of you. Hell, you have no idea now. And
I’m just biding my time.”
“Until the world ends?”
“Nope.” She laughed . “ Until I come out on top.”
“You mean you’re always on bottom? Lazy American .” Jaymeson shook his head in the rea rview mirror and winked at her.
“I’m not even going to answer that. Just know , Jaymeson, you r time is almost up too. And I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you find
out the truth.”
I slammed on the brakes . “ He’s adopted!”
“Laugh it up now , ” Angelica hissed. “Laugh it up now.”
Chapter Nine
Alec
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Nat asked, feeling my forehead for the fiftieth time that afternoon.
I hadn’t been able to bring myself to eat, so I told her I thought I was possibly
coming down with something. Just more lies on top of more lies on top of more lies. Damn.
We had spent our free hours watching movies in the room . I didn’t have to pretend to keep throwing up. Each time she asked me if I was okay
I felt sicker. And then she started giving me a massage to feel better, which only made it worse. I finally resorted to pretending to sleep the last hour so I coul d push away the crappy feeling.
I had woke n up to Demetri’s text and felt even more like a failure. Could I do nothing rig ht these days?
I nodded and continued the short drive to the new restaurant opening just outside
Seaside. “It’s probably just stress.”
Nat’s eyes narrowed . “ Alec, no offense, but you’ve dealt with way more stress than a stupid TV show before.”
“Right.” I swallowed the dryness in my throat . “ But I didn’t have you. And I can’t— ” My voice cracked. I cleared my throat. “I can’t lose you.” And that was the God - honest truth. The crux of the matter. I was so afraid that if I lost her, I’d lose
me. Wow, didn’t realize I was that incredibly selfish.
“You won’t.” She rolled her eyes . “ Geez, you’re almost as emotional as Demetri these days.”
“Ha ha .” Shit. Even my laugh was fake.
Cameras flashed as we pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. Nat was used
to this part by now. Jump out of the car, make nice with the mean photographers, s mile, wave, and say no comment .
I jumped out with her and put a protective arm around her shoulders as I led her quickly
into the restaurant.
“Alec! Alec! Are rumors of your split true? Are you hooking up with Angelica Greene?”
My jaw clenched. Nat just laughed, she knew how much I hated Angelica . S he just didn’ t know how deep that hate went.
“Why hook up with Angelica when I have this?” I pulled Nat as close to me as possible
and kissed her head.
She looked up at me adoringly and smil ed.
The restaurant was decked out in true Seaside fashion. Huge bay windows lined one
half of the restaurant. A bar sat in the middle wi th hanging glass and seashells.
The lights flickered everywhere giving it a glittery
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