Pull (Seaside #2)(11)

“That’s depressing.”

He laughed. “If you only knew.” His eyes sparkled just a bit before he scratched his forehead and swallowed the taffy. “So what flavor did I just eat?”

“I don’t know, give me the wrapper.”

He pulled it out of his pocket and placed it in my hand. I purposefully ignored the fact that his touch lingered longer than necessary and lifted the wrapper to my nose. “Blueberry pancakes.”

“Whoa. Taffy super powers. Nice.”

I laughed. “To be fair, you have the taffy jingle super powers, so we’re kind of even.”

He smiled back at me. My heart nearly stopped. His deep-set dimples brought attention to his mouth, and when I looked at his mouth, I felt things I hadn’t felt since Brady. I cleared my throat and continued putting taffy into piles.

Demetri sighed. “Right, so I’ll just help you sort all this.”

We worked in silence. Demetri ate two more pieces of taffy, each time asking me to please sniff the wrapper, because it was the most exciting thing he’d seen in weeks.

It was hard not to laugh around him.

“That it?” He picked up the last bucket and shoved it onto the rack.

“Yup.” I looked around the store.

“Can I ask you something?” Demetri looked at me then down at his feet. Was he nervous?

Amused, I crossed my arms. “You may ask me something, yes.”

“Promise not to laugh?”

“No.”

“Promise not to feel sorry for me.”

At that I did laugh. “Easy. I’d never feel sorry for a celebrity who owned a car more expensive than my house, but since it seems to piss you off more, yeah, I feel real sorry for you.”

His shoulders seemed to sag a bit. “Fine, at least promise you won’t blog about what I ask you.”

“That, I can promise,” I agreed. “That is, if you promise to leave.”

He rolled his eyes and ignored my jab. “What’s it like to have friends? Actual friends. The types you can tell anything to, the ones that you do stupid shit with and stay up all night with just shooting the breeze?”

That was not what I was expecting him to ask. Stunned, I could only stare at him as I told my mouth to work and form words.

He cursed. “Forget it.”

“No, wait.” I grabbed him before he could leave. My hand was on his thickly muscled forearm. I swallowed the dryness in my throat as I looked into his eyes. I expected to see some sort of smugness or at least the familiar cockiness, but all I saw was pain.

Deep-rooted pain.

I knew that look.

It was the same look I saw in the mirror every single day.

And I knew because of that look, now I felt bad that I promised him, because in that moment I did pity him. I pitied anyone who had that look in their eyes, because I knew what it meant. I knew what it held. I knew what its future was, and it was a very, very lonely future.

“Honestly?” I pulled back my hand. “I used to know what it was like. It was nice. But I don’t really have friends anymore.”

“Why?” His eyebrows drew together in confusion.

I wanted to tell him everything, tell him how they’d abandoned me after the accident. That I was considered broken, and after a while my friends couldn’t handle being around me. It was too hard for them, too hard for me, and eventually too hard for everyone in this sleepy town.

“They moved away,” I lied and gave him a weak smile.

“Besides, I have a career.” I nodded to all the taffy and offered him another smile.

He smiled with me. “Yes, I can see that.”

“Good.” I nudged him. “Anyway, thanks for helping me.”

“Well, it was my fault to begin with, but you’re welcome…”

I knew he was searching for my name.

I bit my lip and sighed. “Alyssa, my name is Alyssa.”

Did he just blush? Demetri looked down at the floor then bit his lip. I wondered if he had the same nervous habit. “I like it.”

“Me too.”

“Don’t you want to know my name?” he teased.

“I know your name.”

His face turned serious. “Can I tell you anyway?”

“Sure.”

“Demetri.” He held out his hand. I took it. His hand engulfed mine. It was like shaking hands with a giant. A very hot giant.

“Nice to meet you, Demetri.” His name felt good on my lips.

I wasn’t sure if I should kick him for it or just pretend like I didn’t care that he had such a crazy effect on me.

He released my hand and pushed the door open, then turned around. “So I’ll see you around then?”

“I’ll be here.”

“And I’ll be over there.” He nodded toward the corner.

“Singing.”

“Don’t forget your bucket,” I teased.

He roared with laughter. “Goodnight, Alyssa.”

“Goodnight.”

Holy crap. I was in some deep, deep trouble.





Chapter Six


Demetri


I smiled like an idiot the rest of the way home. I couldn’t help it. Alyssa. Laughing, I walked into the house and went to the fridge for another soda. I’d usually have a beer about now, and I was excited about actually talking to someone my age who wasn’t my brother, my brother’s girlfriend, or a crazy fan. In fact, she didn’t even stutter when I talked to her.