Pull (Seaside #2)(17)

“Nothing’s going on.”

“Okay.” Sam put up his hands. “I just wanted to warn you, that’s all. I know you probably don’t know what happened last year, since you were basically MIA all year and stuff…” He just waved his hand in the air. “But he was dating that girl Nat Murray for like a few months, then the brother started dating her. I still don’t know what happened, but he nearly overdosed on drugs and killed himself.”

Well, I wasn’t expecting that, but it gave me another good reason to reject Demetri’s friendship. Surrounding myself with a guy like that would do nothing but get me into trouble.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to people talking about me. I mean, I’m famous, but still…” a deep voice said from behind us.

I swallowed the dryness in my throat. My eyes flickered between Sam and Demetri. “What are you doing here?”

“I like fish.”

“They’re seals.”

“Damn, the pamphlet said aquarium. You understand my confusion.” He winked.

Sam stood in front of me.

“You must be Sally.” Demetri held out his hand.

Laughter bubbled out of me before I could stop it. I put my hand over my mouth; it smelled like fish, but I didn’t care. The look on Sam’s face was priceless.

“No.” Sam swallowed and stepped farther in front of me.

“That is Sally.” He pointed to the seal, which chose that exact time to splash all three of us.

Demetri’s clothes were drenched. His tank top was suddenly molded across his perfect abs. I fought to keep my jaw from dropping. No guy just out of high school should have that nice of body. Everything told me to avert my eyes, but like an idiot, I just kept staring.

“I think Sally’s upset,” Demetri finally said, wiping his face.

“Must be the company.” Sam sneered.

Demetri smirked. “I like your friends, Lyssa.”

“We’re not —” I stopped talking, because to say I wasn’t Sam’s friend would be hurtful. But friends didn’t give up on you, and Sam had. Sally, however, was a completely different story.

“To be clear, I meant the seal,” Demetri said, saving me.

“Can I feed her?”

“Sure.” I grabbed the bucket from Sam’s clenched fingers and handed it to Demetri. “Just don’t let her bite you.”

He grabbed a few fish and tossed them to Sally. Demetri’s rich laughter was like water to a marathon runner. It was intoxicating, beautiful, deep. I took a step away from him. “So, still stalking me I see.”

“Not at all.” He shook his head and grabbed another fish.

Sam stood on the other side of him, brooding. “I was bored, and since my friend wouldn’t come hang out with me, I decided to do the only touristy thing I could find in this town.”

“Taffy. Why don’t you check out the taffy?” Sam offered, obviously trying to get rid of him.

“Ah, now there’s a fun story. I work at Seaside Taffy.”

Demetri shrugged. “So, it’s not very touristy for me anymore.”

“You?” Sam sputtered. “Work?”

“I sing the jingle. Wanna hear it?” Demetri looked dead serious. I laughed again. Why the heck was he being nice to Sam, when Sam was being a genuine ass?

Sam nodded his head. “If it makes you leave, I’ll hear it.”

“No such luck, friend.” He jumped down from the concrete step and went to wash his hands. “I’ll leave on my own. I don’t need to sing in order to gain permission to do so.” He winked at me. “Pleasure seeing you again, Lyssa, and Sam, nice meeting you.

We should hang out sometime. I’m gonna go into the aquarium.

You know since I paid to see fish and all.” With a grin he walked off.

Sam and I stood in silence.

“He’s, uhh…” Sam scratched his head.

“Not nearly as hostile as you,” I pointed out.

“I was being protective.” Sam’s eyes flashed as he grabbed my hand and pulled me close to his body. He’d never acted like this before, and I didn’t like it. What the hell was wrong with him?

“Since when did I nominate you as my protector?” I jerked away.

He glared. “You didn’t. But I’m sure it’s what Brady would have wanted. After all, I’ve been protecting both of you for years now. And now he comes into the picture?”

I tried to pull away, but Sam’s grip tightened. “What would Brady think, Lyss?”

“I have to go.” I threw the bucket down and ran into the aquarium. I wasn’t sure why I was running toward Demetri, but I was frantic.





Chapter Ten


Demetri


So, I officially looked like some creepy stalker. Really, it was a first for me. I mean, I liked Alyssa, but not enough to actually stalk her every waking move. She must think I’m a total and complete lunatic. I wouldn’t blame her if she burned my numbers tonight in a trash can and cast a spell over the fire to render me unconscious.

I tapped the pamphlet against my leg as I walked slowly around the darkened aquarium. It wasn’t very impressive for being the one tourist attraction. In fact, it was quite small. But the seals were kind of cool, and they did let you touch a lot of the animals.