Pull (Seaside #2)(23)

I snorted, typical response. “Really, Demetri?” I pulled away from him and stared hard. He had the world at his feet! He was beautiful, gorgeous — everything a girl could want. He had money, he had fame, he had it all. I didn’t, and he was going to sit here and tell me that he knew?

“You know nothing.” I bit off. “You’re just some spoiled rock star who can’t handle the pressure of life. You escape through alcohol and drugs and if what everyone says is true, you tried to kill yourself. Yeah, you’re right. You know exactly what it’s like to feel loss.”

Demetri took a step back, hurt etched across his face. “So that’s it? You’re going to put me in that category? Write me off like everyone else in town?”

I sighed. “Look, Demetri, I’m not trying to say your pain isn’t real, but it’s self-inflicted. All of it.”

Demetri’s eyes closed. He ran his hands through his hair and cursed. I hated hurting him, but maybe it was better this way. We were from different worlds. He didn’t know pain like I knew pain.

There was no way.

“Fine.” His voice was hollow. “Let’s just go eat.” He motioned for me to follow him back to the house and started walking in that direction, but I backed up and shook my head.

“Lyss?”

It would be too easy, so easy to walk into his arms and cry.

To let him kiss my tears away and promise to be the one solid thing in my life.

But I knew the ending to that tale.

The guy didn’t end up riding in on a white horse. No, he left the world in a dark hole — never to rescue the fair damsel again. I wouldn’t allow myself to get close enough to feel that kind of pain again. My heart was already in pieces, and if Demetri put them back together again, I would always be fearful of it shattering into a million jagged pieces.

“Lyss, come on. I promise we won’t even talk. Let’s just go eat.” His eyes pleaded with mine. I shook my head again.

“It’s better this way.” I bit my lip. “You’ll see.”

“Will I?” He shoved his hands in his pocket. “Think whatever you want of me, Lyss. But know, when I said I was your friend, I meant it. If you ever need me… for anything, you know where I am.”

I almost ran to him, but I told my feet to stay planted.

He walked a few steps then stopped and turned. “I won’t stop trying.”

“You should.”

He shrugged and offered a small smile. “What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment, and you’re the first real friend I’ve ever had.”

My heart was beating out of my chest. Why was he being so nice? And why, after hanging out one time, was he suddenly offering his shoulder for me to sob on? I didn’t need him — not now, not ever. Sharing hurt too bad, and I would rather die and join Brady in the cold hard ground than open up to someone who had the potential to hurt me as much as Demetri did.

He pressed his lips together and sighed. “Look. I can tell you I’ve changed. I can spout crazy nonsense about how I feel different about you than I have any other girl. Hell, I’ve given that speech more times than I’m proud of. But I’m being honest here. I don’t know what type of crap you’ve got going on, and maybe you’re right, maybe I won’t understand. But take it from someone who knows. That shit will destroy you.” He swallowed and looked at the crashing waves before nodding his head. “I’m not going to push you. I’m not going to beg. Just know that I’ve changed. I’m not the man I used to be, I never want to be that guy again. I like you. I want to kiss you. Hell, I want to watch you eat spaghetti.

Does that make me crazy? Probably. When you’re ready, if you ever are… you know where to find me. Night, Lyss.”

With that he walked off.

And I realized in that moment I was wrong about so many things. Because as the waves crashed against the sand, as I dug my nails into my hands, one truth kept screaming at me from somewhere I thought long dead.

He already had a piece of my heart.

And I was powerless to stop him.





Chapter Twelve


Demetri


“So. Did you think about it?” Mrs. Murray was chewing her gum wildly behind her notepad. Ever so often I would hear her swallow and then pop the gum. I think I made her stressed when I was in one of my moods.

“Yeah.” I closed my eyes. I was so damn confused. It seemed no matter how careful I thought I was around Alyssa, she was always running off. Or getting that weird look on her face. Like she wasn’t even present, but somewhere else entirely.

“What’s her story?” The first thing I asked when I plopped down on the floor the next week for my counseling session.

Mrs. Murray had smiled. “I can’t tell you that.”

And we had sat in silence for the last ten minutes, until finally, she mentioned being the group facilitator again for group therapy.

“I don’t know.” I pulled the toothpick out of my mouth and sighed. “I still don’t know if I’d do a good job.”

“What if I told you a certain girl was going to be attending the first session?”

My head snapped up to attention. “Alyssa?”

Mrs. Murray rolled her eyes. “Yes, but remember, during session times she’s off limits. Besides…” She took a deep breath.