Eternal: A Seaside/Ruin Crossover Novella (Seaside #6) (4 page)

I nodded slowly. “Any particular reason you feeling violent?”

Jaymeson’s eyes narrowed. His dark brown hair was shaved closer to his head than normal for his movie role. It made him look a bit more... menacing.

“One thing… all I ask is for one thing.” He held up his hand. “And you wanna know what that is, Dem? Hmm?”

“Sex?” I grinned.

“Get that every day — thrice a day — but thanks for your concern, prude.” He glared. “Guess again.”

“Hmm.” I tapped my chin. “A personality?”

“We’re going to be here forever,” Alec grumbled from his seat in the spa. “I know you wanted a bachelor party for my wedding and then for Demetri’s, but need I remind you that when you ran off and got married, we couldn’t have one for you either.”

“Exactly!” Jaymeson threw his hands in the air. “This was my one chance to live how the other half lives!”

“Dead?” I tilted my head. “Because Pris would kill you.”

“He’s right,” a girl, I imagined was Pris, Jaymeson’s wife, shouted from her spot in the salon.

Jaymeson waved and blew a kiss. His face fell, and then he marched over to the chair. Alec and I followed and watched as Jaymeson, a very whipped Jaymeson, bent down, kissed his wife full on the mouth, and damn-near fondled her in front of everyone before coming back.

“She make you apologize?” I teased.

“Shut it,” Jaymeson snapped. “She would have let me go to a bachelor party.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” Alec slapped him on the back. “Besides it was only supposed to be golf. I mean, how much trouble could we get into?”

Just then, like magic, a storm of screaming girls ran by the spa and plastered themselves against the windows.

“Shit, we need to lock that door,” Jaymeson said, right as I joined in with Alec in saying, “Not it!”

“Hate you guys by the way. Freaking hate you. Why are we even friends?” Jaymeson grumbled making his way toward the door just as more girls ran by the spa. Something must have grabbed their attention because, before Jaymeson could do anything, security started pulling them away from the doors.

And then they opened.

Jaymeson stepped back and laughed.

I, however, said something like, “Shit.” Yeah, or maybe it was worse than that. I may have dropped an F-bomb.

“Don’t look directly at them!” I shouted, running toward Alyssa.

She ignored my plea and chose to stare behind me. Her mouth dropped open.

Defeated, I turned back around and met my new nemesis and his best friend. Nemesis number two.

“Wes Michels.” The guy held out his hand to me and smiled. “And you are?”

“Pissed.” I groaned. “Can’t you at least try to cover your face or something? Remarkable, it’s like staring at the damn sun. Damn it! Damn it!”

Alyssa stepped around me. “Please excuse my fiancé. He’s under a lot of stress.”

“Drugs.” Wes nodded then winked at her.

“Why does everyone think I’m on drugs?” I asked aloud. “Will I ever live that down? Years ago, guys. Years.”

“Anyways, I’m Alyssa.” She stuck out her hand and then tilted her head at the girl next to Wes. “You must be… Kiersten?”

“Yeah.” The pretty redhead looked like a freaking super model come to life. I’d never dug redheads, and honestly, to me Alyssa was a bazillion times prettier, but there was something really bright and welcoming about Kiersten.

“Hey.” I sighed and held out my hand to Wes and then to Kiersten. “I’m Demetri Daniels.”

“Oh.” Kiersten grinned, her face turning red. “I know exactly who you are. I’m obsessed with your music. I swear I had the biggest crush on you when I started listening to music again.”

“Really?” I smirked and took a step forward, only to feel a hand that I could have sworn was wrapped in steel push against my chest.

“Yeah, not happening.” Wes shook his head just as Gabe and his wife came up and made introductions.

Alyssa took another look at Gabe and did a little swoon thing then whispered in my ear. “You. I love you. But he has really pretty hair.”

“Wanna touch it?” Gabe winked.

Saylor, his wife, slapped him across the chest so hard even I winced.

“Dude.” Alec looked between us. “Separated at birth. Imagine that?”

“I’m the brother!” Jaymeson said, stepping in our little circle.

“Ah, so now you claim me.” I punched him in the shoulder. “Only when someone pisses on your property huh, brother?”

“Why are we in a spa?” Gabe asked, changing the subject.

“Contractions,” the entire group said in unison, pointing to Nat.

She grumbled and crossed her arms over her belly. “It’s not my fault!’

“This one…” I pointed to Alec. “…was worried about letting her out of his sight, so we forewent our awesome day golfing—”

Jaymeson groaned.

“—to hang out at…” I nodded and closed my eyes. “…the chick spa.”

“Righteous.” Gabe laughed and nudged Wes. “We should get pedicures.”

“That’s what I said!” Nat all but yelled.

“So, it’s settled.” Saylor stepped forward and looped her arm in Kiersten’s. “The boys get pedicures, and the rest of us girls will bond.”

Like that, they left us. Freaking abandoned us to the wolves and pointed to the evil ladies with tools.

Within minutes, we were all rolling up our jeans and sitting in the chairs of shame. The pedicure chairs.

They were pink.

Mine had flowers.

Gabe pointed it out. Bastard.

His had a freaking tulip, so who was the jackass now!

While waiting for the water to heat up, I played with the massage chair. Really, it was my fault for not paying attention, for underestimating Alyssa in every way. Because the minute I looked up, it was to see her with her iPhone, snapping pictures.

“I’ll kill you for this,” Jaymeson said softly.

“That’s my wife!” I yelled.

“Instagram!” Wes groaned and covered his face.

“Too late!” Alyssa danced in front of us and lifted her phone in the air while the girls cheered from across the spa and lifted their champagne in the air.

“I can’t believe it’s come to this.” Gabe moaned. “Bested by women.”

I snorted. “You were bested the minute you got married.”

“Cheers.” Jaymeson laughed from his seat and then laughed harder as he put his feet in the hot water.

“Holy shit, Jaymeson’s finally snapped!” I pointed at Jaymeson who was now literally in hysterics, tears streaming down his face.

“Nah.” Gabe chuckled and covered his mouth with his hand. “I think… he’s just… um… ticklish?”

Jaymeson kept laughing.

And soon we all joined in. Even the ladies doing our feet were snickering. More Instagramming happened, only it was done by us.

Yeah, you better believe we were trending on Twitter within ten minutes. All five of us.

Who knew?

CHAPTER SEVEN

Alyssa

“
A
W LOOK, THEY FELL
asleep!” I nudged Saylor and pointed to the chairs where Demetri and Gabe were still sitting. Demetri’s mouth was hanging open as he leaned to his right, and Gabe leaned to his left, meaning they were like cuddle buddies. Seriously, it was a hot picture. Teen girls’ minds everywhere most likely were exploding right now.

Saylor snapped another picture just before Jaymeson walked in front of both guys and let out the largest whistle known to mankind.

Gabe jolted awake, hitting Demetri in the face.

“Son of a—” Demetri covered his nose while Gabe covered his cheek.

“Wakey, wakey,” Jaymeson snapped another picture.

Gabe flipped him off.

“We should get them a sandbox.” Saylor nodded.

“Or a swing set,” I agreed. “So they could learn how to share toys and play.”

“Sometimes the only way to make friends is to fight first.” She nodded.

“Stop talking about us!” Demetri yelled. “I can hear that tone, Lyss, and I don’t appreciate it! I’m the man. You respect me.”

“Hey, what color did you choose?” Gabe asked next to him. “I went with black.”

“Real manly!” I called back.

Gabe winked.

Demetri smacked him. “Stop winking at her!”

“I was winking at my wife, you jackass! They’re standing next to each other.”

“Oh.” Demetri dropped his hand. “Sorry for hitting you.”

“Sorry for making you think I was hitting on your fiancée.”

“Friends.” Demetri held up his fist.

Gabe bumped it.

“Wow, like watching a Lifetime movie,” Alec said, coming up behind us. “I’m so proud. Our little Demetri’s growing up and making friends that he isn’t actually related to.”

“Take a picture, and I kill you,” Demetri sang from his chair.

Jaymeson waddled by, his toes still wet. “I should have done a color.”

As if realizing what he’d said, his head jerked up.

I watched in amusement as he pointed at each and every one of us and said, “This ends up on TMZ, and I’ll trace it to you. I’ll trace it. I’ll hire a private investigator, and I’ll... I’ll strap you to a stake and burn you alive.”

“Don’t mind him.” Pris rolled her eyes. “He’s been reading lots of vampire novels lately.”

“Pris!” Jaymeson warned, his teeth clenched.

“You’re reading them for a part.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ashamed. Embrace the sexy vampire!”

“I would be an awesome vampire.” Gabe held up his hands. “Just saying.”

Wes looked around and shook his head. “You guys are weird, you know that, right?”

“I think I’ll name Wes… My Brother From Another Mother,” Alec announced. “He’s the only normal one.”

“Because I play football.” Wes nodded his head while Alec gave him a high five. They did a weird grunting thing and started talking Seahawks.

“You guys ready?” I asked the girls. “Hey, where’s Nat?”

“Dying.” Nat’s voice was weak.

I peered around the corner. She was sitting on one of the couches and holding her stomach.

“Honey, should we go to the hospital?” I asked gently.

“No.” She tried to stand. Her legs shook a bit. “I just needed a quick rest.”

Pain crossed her features as she paused, held her stomach for a few seconds, then continued walking.

By the time we joined the rest of the group at the front of the spa, I could have sworn she was having a contraction every minute or so. I mean, she kept pausing and holding her stomach. That wasn’t good, was it?

“Nat?” Alec stepped away from the group, his blue eyes searching mine for answers. “IS she okay?”

“I think—”

“Guys?” Jaymeson asked.

“Not now,” Alec snapped.

Nat shrugged. “Just tired, and its painful. That’s all and—”

“Guys!’ Jaymeson yelled.

“What?” Alec roared.

Jaymeson pointed down.

We all looked at the small puddle of water on the floor.

I thought Alec was going to pass out.

Instead, everyone went into action. Alec took Nat in his car, the rest piled in their own cars, and we all headed at breakneck speed toward the hospital.

My best friend was having a baby. The day before my wedding. Holy crap.

I wasn’t going to freak out. The baby was more important. Besides, Nat was my best friend. Even if we didn’t make rehearsal, it would be fine.

Everything was going to be totally fine.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Alec

I
WAS GOING TO
have a nervous breakdown. Seriously. I was never having sex again. Ever. I don’t care what that woman says to me to try to get me to break down. Hell, prance around naked. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could have prepared me for the pain she was enduring while I did nothing but hold her hand, feed her ice, and watch.

“Are you cold?” I patted her forehead. “Hot? Do you need more ice?”

“Fine.” Nat’s teeth chattered. “I told you I’m totally fine.”

“But—”

“Alec.” Nat glared. “My dad’s an amazing surgeon. He trusts our doctor. So should you.”

“Okay.” I sat back in my chair, legs shaking. I winced as Nat gripped my hand again, a little whimper escaping her lips before she released my hand and exhaled.

“So...” Dr. Turner walked in and smiled. “…how are we doing?”

“Awesome.” Nat laughed then winced again, her hand finding mine and squeezing the hell out of it.

“Hmm.” Dr. Turner sat in a stool in front of the birthing bed and lifted the sheet. “I’m just going to take a look and see where we’re at.”

Just let us be close. I couldn’t handle seeing Nat in pain. It was destroying me, shredding me. How did people do this more than once? HOW?

“Alright, you’re dilated to around a seven. Let’s see if we can get you there faster. I’m just going to stretch—”

As he talked, I felt myself pale more and more. He was going to do what? Sweating. I was sweating.

Nat turned her head into my chest, gripping both of my hands as the doctor worked.

“Alright.” Dr. Turner replaced the sheet. “Shouldn’t be long now.”

“Thanks.” Nat’s teeth kept chattering.

“Sweetheart…” I kissed her head. “…we’re having one child. That’s it. One child. I can’t… I wish I could take away your pain, and I can’t. This kills me.”

“No drugs,” she whispered. “Not this time. Maybe next time.”

“Nat, no…”

“Don’t argue with a pregnant lady!” she snapped.

Thirty agonizing minutes later, the doctor examined her and gave us the good news. She could start pushing.

“Okay.” Dr. Turner looked at me. “I need you to focus, Alec. You need to coach her, help her out, alright?”

“Right.” I breathed in and out and grabbed both of Nat’s hands. “You’ve got this, sweetheart.”

She whimpered as sweat ran down the sides of her temples.

“I need you to give me a really big push,” Dr. Turner instructed. “Go ahead, honey.”

Nat pushed, her face contorting with pain.

“Harder,” Dr. Turner said a bit urgently, then yelled, “Stop, stop!”

“It hurts!” Nat shouted.

“I know. I know.” Dr. Turner quickly maneuvered his hands. “The baby has the cord wrapped around one of her arms like a feather boa. Just gotta fix her up real quick.”

“Your child,” I whispered in Nat’s ear.

She laughed.

“One more push,” Dr. Turner said.