Chapter 117: Chapter Twenty

Demetri

“You think anyone would miss her if we drowned her?” I asked Jaymeson as we watched Angelica run into the ocean, both hands in the air.

The production crew took after her as she splashed around and giggled for the cameras. Gag me.

“I know I wouldn't,” Jaymeson grumbled. “I seriously should have said no when they asked me about this damn show.” He sighed. “The things I do for my friends.”

“Oh, come on.” I nudged him. “You were the one who was complaining about not finding any hot girls. Now you're surrounded by them.

“Just take your pick.” I pointed to the part of the beach that was roped off so we could have our own private beach day. Girls were screaming and holding up signs.

Jaymeson shrugged. “Maybe I'm not into that anymore.”

“Women? Holy crap, you're—”

“Stop being an ass.” He grabbed a beer and sat on the sand. “I mean, maybe I'm not into being known as a womanizer anymore.”

“Right.” I chuckled and took a sip of my bottled water. “And I'm a dinosaur.”

“Hilarious.” He set his beer down and cursed.

“Dude, what's wrong?” I threw some sand at his feet. “You're more depressed than Alec these days!”

Jaymeson shrugged. “It's my step-mom.”

“What about her?”

Alyssa ran by us and joined Angelica in the ocean, only she looked completely happy to be surfing rather than prancing around. Damn, she was hot.

“So you know how my parents had this crazy divorce last year?”

“Who doesn't? That shit was even on CNN.”

“Right.” Jaymeson swore. “So anyways, my dad ended up having to pay a lot of money to my mom because he was caught being unfaithful.

“They had started a joint production company and she wanted all of it.

“Well, that was dumb.”

Jaymeson laughed humorlessly. “The bastard didn't think he'd get caught.”

“Most don't.”

“Anyways.” He took off his sunglasses and leaned back on his elbows.

“Last night my mom got a bit wasted and was spouting out this nonsense about these pictures of her and some guy together the night the divorce was finalized.

“Granted, he can't legally do anything, but he's apparently threatening to go to the press with the pictures. Some of them are apparently really bad.

“He claims my mom's squeaky-clean reputation will be shattered, so he's bribing her. Wants half the production company.

I scratched my head. It was weird how messed up some people were. I mean, if you looked at Jaymeson you would think he didn't have a care in the world, but now… I just felt bad for him.

“So what is she going to do?”

“Apparently the guy she was with was going to the press himself to deny it. She wants him to take the fall. She claims he was the guilty party.”

“That's bullshit.” I snorted. “Especially if she was part of it.”

“Well…” Jaymeson took another swig of beer. “She thinks he drugged her. She's on some pretty serious anti-anxiety meds and painkillers for fibromyalgia.

“But she hadn't taken anything that night because she was having champagne. Granted this was all from her drunken mouth last night as she stumbled around the house.

“How?”

“The bottle was already opened.”

“Hmm…” I drank the last of my water and closed my eyes, leaning back against the warm sand. “That's a lot of drama.”

“Tell me about it.”

“That why you don't wanna whore around anymore?”

Jaymeson laughed. “Part of it. The other part is there is no chance in hell I want to get myself saddled to some chick who's just going to abuse my money and fame.

“Hah!” I burst out laughing. “It's going to be a great day when you fall, Jaymeson, and believe me, you will.”

“Why the hell would you say that?”

“Because the ones who fight it the most, fall the hardest.”

****

Alyssa and I walked back to the beach house hand in hand.

“I love you,” I whispered once we were out of earshot of Jaymeson and Angelica.

Alyssa froze and then turned. “How much?”

“Enough to pet a bird,” I said straight-faced.

She giggled and jumped into my arms. I swung her around and found her mouth, crushing my lips against hers with such force I almost stumbled to my knees.

“Well…” She alternated between nibbling and sucking my lower lip. I needed to lean against something strong before I passed out. “I kind of love you a lot too.”

“How much?” With her legs wrapped around me I walked her into the house and slowly ascended the stairs toward my room.

“Enough to return the big bird costume I rented for Halloween.”

“Hilarious.” I fell backward onto the bed with her on top of me.

“Fine.” She straddled me and leaned down until her lips were a breath away from mine. “I love you enough to never let you go.”

“Even if I do some crazy shit and make you pissed at me?”

“Well, that's a given. I mean, you are Demetri Daniels.” Her tongue reached out to touch the side of my mouth.

My entire body felt like an exposed wire as her nails scratched up my arms and then rested on my chest. “I love you enough to go shut the door.”

“Thank God.”