Forever: A Seaside Novella (BOOK 3.5) by Rachel Van Dyken Read Free Book Online Page A

they don’t know what else to do. I also want a scorching kiss, and for the love of God, I want to elope.”
    “Are you asking me now?” Alyssa asked in a small voice.
    “Nope.” Demetri kissed her cheek. “It’s better that you know it’s coming, because the anticipation will damn near kill you — hell, I can’t think of a better lesson after making me dance to Backstreet Boys and then telling everyone I’m spelling-challenged.”
    “He’s good at math!” Nat said from beside me. Dear sweet Nat, always looking at the positive. I wrapped my arm around her and hugged her close. The very fact that she was carrying our child was still so surreal. I hoped to God our baby would have Nat’s optimism, her encouragement, just everything.
    “Hot tub?” Demetri asked.
    “Sure.” I gave Nat one more squeeze then kissed her hand.
    “What was that for?”
    I shrugged. “Just because.”
    “Because I can spell watermelon and other really big words?”
    “Hate you guys,” Demetri called from ahead of us.
    “Yeah, big words like, gun, cat, dog—”
    “Ass. A-s-s,” Demetri sang and then popped the champagne waiting for us at the hot tub. Alyssa and I clinked glasses while Nat and Demetri tapped water bottles.
    All in all it was the perfect ending to the perfect bachelor party. But, to be honest, I just wanted to go to bed… because the sooner I closed my eyes, the sooner I could open them, and the sooner I’d be looking at my wife.

Chapter Thirteen
    Nat
    I tossed and turned all night. The minute my alarm went off at six a.m., I was ready to go crazy. I jolted out of bed and hit the alarm on my phone, then stared up at the ceiling. In less than twelve hours I was going to be married.
    Why the heck was I freaking out? I was already pregnant. Maybe it was just because it was a lot of pressure. I mean, who could actually say they were marrying a freaking rock star? Alec and Demetri were still mega famous — and I was just… plain old me. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it, even though Alec said they weren’t any different from anyone else.
    I believe Demetri’s words were, ’We still shit.’
    Which was really all kinds of helpful, and totally Demetri, so I couldn’t blame him for his crass attitude. It was just—
    “Good morning!” Alyssa burst into the room. “It’s time!” She jumped onto my bed and gave me a hug. I didn’t know what I would do without Alyssa. She was seriously my best friend, next to Alec.
    “Morning.” I smiled back.
    Her grin seemed forced. She released me and looked down at her hands. Confused, I watched her smile fade and then tears begin to well in her eyes.
    “Hey.” I nudged her. “Aren’t I supposed to be the emotional one?”
    She gave a sad smile. “Yeah, sorry. I’m just being dramatic, overthinking things.”
    “Overthinking what exactly?” I tucked my knees under my chin and waited.
    “We sort of got in a fight.”
    “We, being you and Demetri?”
    Alyssa nodded. “Last night, after the hot tub, you were tired so Alec put you to bed and Demetri and I stayed up late to… talk.”
    “And when you say talk what you really mean is—”
    “Make out in the hot tub.” Alyssa laughed. “Anyways, we really did get to talking and he said he wasn’t sure he wanted to get married yet.”
    I tensed. “What do you mean?”
    “I don’t know!” Alyssa threw up her hands. “He’s so hot and cold lately! The other day he’s all bragging about popping some huge question and then he says he isn’t ready and gets mad at me for bringing it up!”
    “Hmm.” I licked my lips. “You know Demetri, Lyss. He may have really come a long way since the whole running his car into a building and getting high every night, but he’s still immature, maybe he’s just afraid he’s going to fail you in some way.”
    Alyssa was silent for a while then whispered, “Impossible. That man is… well, he’s incredible.” She looked up at me through glossy, tear-stained