Love, Lies, and Deception(51)
We had finally reached the terminal and entered into the cool, air conditioned inside of the airport. Before we reached the ticket counter, I asked, “Do you miss those days at all, when you could live care-free and not have to worry about anything?”
With set and determined eyes, Alec gazed at me and genuinely smiled. His straight white teeth sparkled against his handsome, now rugged face from the stubble that had recently grown. He was attractive, and definitely not the same arrogant guy I saw on the internet.
“No, Marissa, I don’t miss those days at all. Taking drugs made me numb, it made me not want to feel, but with you I want to feel the emotions. It makes me feel alive, and there’s no way I’d want to lose that.”
Smiling, I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my fingers in his hair, pulling him close. I crushed my lips to his and melted into his embrace, not caring who saw or what they thought.
“You make me feel alive, Alec, and it feels amazing. I don’t ever want to lose it either.”
Alec kissed me on the lips again, over to my cheek, and then on my nose. “You don’t have to worry about that. You’re kind of stuck with me for a while. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Yeah, me too.”
We made it to the check-in counter, and checked in with our fake names: Jaime Gold and Conner Jacobs. After going through TSA, Alec and I made it to our terminal and took our seats, waiting on the airline to let us board. I had never ridden first-class, but Alec insisted there was no better way to fly.
Alec pulled out his cell phone and searched the internet while I pulled out the newest Terry Spear book and began reading it. Alec glanced over at my book and asked, “What are you reading?”
Keeping my eyes on the book, I smiled and bit my lip. “Oh, let’s see … it’s about a super hot werewolf in a kilt that I’ve been secretly fantasizing about since I started reading it. Does that answer your question?”
Playfully, Alec scowled and tried to take my book away from me, making me giggle. “Okay, you need to give it to me. I don’t think I like that book.”
I smacked him on the head with it and moved over a seat. “Tough, you’ll just have to deal with it.”
We both started laughing and it felt good to give myself in to it considering the dire situation we were in. However, my smile came to a halt when Alec’s eyes narrowed at something over my shoulder.
“What is it?” I asked before looking behind me. It took me a second to focus on what he was staring at, but then I saw it.
Angry and determined, Kristian kept his gaze on me as he pushed through the crowd and made his way to me. Alec stood up just as I did, and stayed by my side protectively. Kristian noticed Alec’s protective stance and bristled even more. Did they have to display such testosterone … really? I wanted to yell at both of them to get them to dial it down.
“Kristian, what are you doing here? You need to be back at school. You have exams,” I cried, exasperated.
“I don’t care about exams. Right now, all I care about is you. We need to talk,” Kristian said, taking my hand.
Alec put his arm around my waist and held me firm. “Sure, you can talk to her, but she stays right here. By the way, I thought you had a girlfriend. I don’t think she’d appreciate you saying those things to another female.”
Kristian scoffed, “That’s none of your business. What I say to Marissa doesn’t involve you or anyone else for that matter.”
Alec countered back, “It is my business if you have other intentions besides friendship with my girlfriend. Again, what you say to her you can say right here in front of me; she doesn’t leave my sight.”
Kristian’s eyes narrowed dangerously and he snapped, “What do you think I’m going to do to her … kill her? No, I think you’re the one to blame for that. If anyone should be keeping her safe it should be me, not you.”
Growling, Alec stepped forward and made like he was going to punch Kristian in the face, but I jumped in his way and he immediately pulled back.
“What the hell are you doing?” I hissed at him. “You’re gonna make a scene and draw all sorts of unwanted attention. Dial it down … now.”
Alec stepped back and took a deep breath. I had my hand on Kristian’s chest so it would keep him away, but the smug look on his face made me want to let Alec have at him.
“Stop smiling, Kristian, it’ll only antagonize him more.” Lightly, I pushed against him and he moved. “Go over there …” I said, pointing to a vacated corner, “… and I’ll be there in one minute.”
Kristian glanced at where I was pointing and nodded, but not before leveling an angry glare at Alec. Taking a deep breath, I faced Alec and crossed my arms over my chest.
“I know you’re upset about what he said, but you have to realize that he’s my friend and he’s angry. We’ve been inseparable for two years, and now I’m leaving.”
Alec sighed. “I understand that, but he’s crossing the line. Girlfriend or not he has feelings for you, Marissa. Forgive me if that makes me just a tad bit uncomfortable. I don’t think you’d be too happy if another female was acting that way toward me.”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t,” I confessed truthfully. “Just let me talk to him and say my good-bye. I know you don’t want to hear it, but I’m going to miss him and I do care about him. Not seeing him and Emily every day is going to be really hard on me.”