Chapter 156: Chapter Eighteen

Demetri

I knew Alyssa was pissed. She had barely looked at me when she walked down the aisle in front of Nat. When I had tried to grab her attention, she scowled.

Once the reception was over, I had plans. Big plans.

“I don't know…” Jaymeson licked his lips and checked his watch. “We only have a few hours before your flight.

“Canoodle?” I repeated. “Who says that anymore?”

“It was the most appropriate word I could think of considering Aunt Lois is standing within earshot of this particular conversation,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Please.” I waved him off. Aunt Lois can't hear a damn thing. “HELLO, AUNT LOIS! GREAT EVENING, ISN'T IT?”

“Oh, you!” She tittered, grabbing onto my sleeve. “No, I won't go skinny dipping! You rogue!” Jaymeson spit out his water onto the ground. “But this one.” She eyed Jaymeson up and down.

Never in my life have I seen a man look so trapped. Jaymeson looked from me to Aunt Lois and back, peeling the label from his bottled water in the process.

“What say you, England?” I joked. “You up for a night swim?”

“I'd say I was down, so, so down,” Jaymeson whispered.

“LOIS!” Nat's dad called, saving Jaymeson from being taken advantage of by a seventy-year-old woman.

When she was a safe distance away, I let out a snort of laughter and punched Jaymeson in the arm. “Wow, smooth. I'm actually a bit worried to leave you alone with her.”

“I keep doing that.” Jaymeson shook his head. “Panicking in tense moments, that can't be good.”

“Wow, maybe your past is catching up with you?”

He seemed to think about it for a moment. “Nah, that can't be it, I'm just dehydrated or something.”

“Dehydration causes players to do what? Say ‘yes’ to cougars?”

“Do I even want to know?” Alyssa said, coming up behind us.

“Not this time.” Jaymeson shook his head. “Really, I wish I didn't even know.

“I'm concerned that you would know what she looks like without clothes on,” Alyssa said.

I raised my hand. “I second that concern.”

“Screw you both.” Jaymeson swore and grabbed his keys. “Now grab your shit so I can drive you to the airport.”

Alyssa shrugged and grabbed her bag. I stayed back and whispered to Jaymeson, “Please?”

With a curse, he looked down at the ear plugs in my hands. “If we get in an accident because I have these bloody things in, then I'm blaming you.”

“You won't. Just keep your eyes on the road.”

“Trust me, I don't want to watch the peep show in the backseat.”

“Peep show?” Alyssa said, joining us again.

“Someone really needs to stop interrupting conversations,” Jaymeson grumbled, then stomped to the car and got in the front seat.

“Hey.” I tugged Alyssa's hand. “Can we talk?”

“Right now?”

“On the way to the airport.” I opened the car door for her. “Jaymeson has ear plugs in.”

“Is that even safe?”

“It's not super dark yet.” I shrugged. “We should be fine. Besides, it's not as if you and I can't hear, I just…” I swallowed back the dryness in my throat.

“Fine.” She gave me a weak smile and got into the car.

Wow, that was a great start.