Eternal

by Rachel Van Dyken

  I was happy for him.

  Happy for them.

  But still… sad, and feeling so stupid that I felt that way in the first place! How selfish could a person be?

  “So…” He started the Mercedes but didn’t put it in reverse yet. Instead, he put his arm around my seat and tilted his head in my direction. “…you’re upset.”

  “Me?” I pointed at myself. “NO. I’m fine. Everything’s fine!”

  “We’re getting married tomorrow,” Demetri spoke slowly. “And you deserve to have that spotlight.”

  “No.” I shook my head again. “Really, it’s fine Demetri. It’s—”

  “Wanna know what I learned today?”

  “You mean besides where babies come from?”

  “Cute.” He winked. “Besides that.”

  “How to not get high and eat taffy instead?”

  “Lyss—”

  “Fine.” I crossed my arms. “What?”

  “I learned that moments are special.” He swallowed. “Each moment is a gift, but each moment builds, you know? Each second of the day, each decision you make helps build your future, your destiny. When I looked into Ella’s mind, all those moments, those precious seconds of my life flashed, and I realized that the good choices, even the bad, all propelled me toward you. My great moment, my epic moment, the girl I’d be with forever.”

  My breath hitched. I forced myself to swallow to keep from crying as his eyes pooled with tears.

  “And, Lyss, I don’t want to miss those moments, even the ones that are hard. I think too often we take life’s little moments for granted, and right now we’ve been given another chance to enjoy one of ours. We’re getting married, freaking married, Lyss. You and I. The hometown taffy pusher and the recovered drug addict who just happens to know how to play the guitar really well. Us. That’s us, Lyss, and, I guess. the moments leading up to that really big one that we’re going to have tomorrow? I want to savor every single one… with you. My future wife. The mother of our future children. My partner in crime. My soul mate. So… we’re going to spend time tonight. We’re going to collect some of those precious seconds, and it’s all going to be about you.”

  “Us,” I whispered. “How about it’s all about us?”

  “When it’s about you…” he shrugged. “That makes it automatically about us… because I’m a part of you, Lyss. I always will be.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Demetri

  I HAD OFFICIALLY ASKED help from an enemy.

  Okay, so maybe he wasn’t an enemy, but, you know, if a person had an arch nemesis, I’m pretty sure Ashton Hyde would be mine. Alec sent me a text and said Alyssa was shaking her leg again.

  Which meant she was freaking the shit out.

  And it was my fault.

  We were getting married! And in all the haste of getting ready, I realized that Nat had been the one to plan the surprise bachelorette party that was supposed to be taking place tonight after the beachside clambake.

  Which basically meant that Alyssa wasn’t going to get one, at least she probably assumed she wasn’t going to get one, since according to her, it was just going to be the girls, a bottle of wine, and a damn romance movie. But Nat had been going to do something else really special. She’d never told me what because she’d obviously known I’d most likely leak the info to Lyss, but I knew her plan was out.

  I wanted to do something amazing.

  Something she’d remember forever.

  Which is why I’d texted my arch nemesis, or actually, texted my brother to gain said arch nemesis’s phone number and put our plan into action. A plan that I knew, with all of our connections, just may put a smile on Alyssa’s face.

  When I parked in front of the aquarium, my cell alert went off.

  Twilight: You’re gonna owe me for this.

  Me: Suck it.

  Twilight: Please don’t invite me to suck things. It makes me uncomfortable. Think before typing, dipshit.

  Me: Sorry. Nerves.

  “Who’s that?” Lyss tried looking over my shoulder.

  “Alec,” I lied then typed back to Gabe.

  Me: Thanks. Everything ready after the clambake?

  Twilight: We’ll be ready. You sure about this?

  I turned and flashed Lyss a smile.

  Me: Hell yes.

  Twilight: I’ll let everyone know.

  “So…” Lyss smacked her lips together while I contemplated kissing the cherry ChapStick right off her and making her start over. “…what are we doing?”

  “Well, I had plans to take your virginity in the back seat…” I sighed and received a punch in the shoulder. “Ouch. Careful with those claws, Simba.”

  Alyssa’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

  “Seals.” I nodded. “Come with?”

  Sighing, she got out of the car.

  I jogged around and pulled her into my arms as we walked side-by-side into the aquarium. It was one of her favorite places in the world.

  And — by association — mine.

  I paid the fee to get in and grabbed the two cups of fish.

  “You’re trying to cheer me up.” She tossed a fish into the tank. Kona, one of the newer seals — yes, I actually knew each by name — flapped around and tried splashing us.

  “Is it working?” I elbowed her. “I mean, nothing really screams romance more than…” I lifted the fish into the air and dangled it over my mouth.

  “Do it.” Her eyes flashed as she laughed out loud, the first laugh I’d heard out of her in two days. “Please?”

  “Baby, you kiss this mouth.”

  “I know, right?” She pushed against my chest then slid her tongue along the seam of my lips before pressing her mouth against mine. “Think of the places it’s been.”

  “Or…” I licked the ChapStick off my lips. “…the places it will go.”

  “Cute. You came up with a sexual innuendo with fish in your hands.”

  “It’s basically impossible to diminish my game.” I gave a serious nod. “You should know this by now.”

  “Eat the fish.”

  “Will you kiss me later?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Lyss...” I chuckled. “…that’s not how these things work, baby. I give a little something — you give a little something.”

  “You want a little something?” Her eyebrows shot up.

  “Damn straight, I do.” I was thinking a little flash of red bra, maybe some heavy petting against the cement wall, skinny dipping. Damn, I should stop before people assumed seals got me hot and bothered. The media would love that.

  Alyssa tilted her head back and gave a soft laugh. Her dark brown hair framed her perfectly angled face. Blue eyes flashing, she backed away slowly and held up her finger.

  “Oh, am I supposed to just wait here?”

  “You want your prize?” she called over her shoulder. “You’ll wait.” She lifted her shirt just enough to give me a tease of her bare back then sauntered off.

  I damn-near had drool running down my chin.

  Yeah, getting married really couldn’t happen soon enough.

  I glanced back at the seals; each of their beady eyes were focused in on my fish cup with absolute rapture.

  “I know that look well, fellas.” I nodded and leaned against the fence. “I wear it every day I can’t strip that woman naked and have my way with her. But I have less than twenty-four hours left, whereas you… are at my mercy.” I dangled the fish over the water and dropped. “Holy shit, I’m talking about my sex life to seals.”

  When the mighty fall, they don’t just collapse. Hell no. They freaking jump off a ledge, belly-flop onto cement, then look up and go, “Again!”

  I dumped two more fish into the water then glanced up as Alyssa’s footsteps neared.

  Nothing looked different.

  “What?” I tilted my head. “Chicken out? No striptease? Man, not even any boob. It’s like you’re too afraid to show me—”

  She shoved something
into my right hand.

  Something lacey.

  I looked down and almost passed out into the seal tank.

  A black lace thong.

  Her black lace thong.

  Holy shit, it was still warm from her body.

  “Ah—” My voice cracked like I was twelve.

  “So…” Alyssa wrapped her dainty arms around my neck. “…I gave a little. Eat the damn fish, Demetri. That’s how these things work, don’t they?”

  I nipped her lower lip then pressed her against the closest wall, ready to strip off her jeans and lay claim to what had been just out of my reach. “If I eat two fish, what do I get?”

  With a sultry grin, she leaned up and whispered in my ear. “Use your imagination.”

  “My imagination tends to be graphic.”

  “Good.” She winked. “Mine too.”

  “So maybe I’ll eat three just to be safe.”

  “Depends on how many surprises you want in the next few hours.” She lifted her shoulder and examined her nails like she didn’t care what I did.

  I freaking downed the rest of the cup of fish — swallowed them whole — then almost died a slow death as the taste of fish permeated my mouth.

  When I looked up through teary eyes, Alyssa had her phone pointed in my direction, laughing.

  “Tell me—” My voice was hoarse. I had to hit my chest to keep from gagging. “Tell me it’s just a picture and not recording.”

  “Say hi to your Instagram followers,” she said cheerfully.

  I flipped the camera off.

  She frowned.

  I forced a smile then gagged again. “The things I do for sex.”

  “That’s the best part, Dem.” Alyssa laughed. “You were getting it within a few hours regardless. Duh, we’re getting married.”

  “But…” I shook my head. “…I thought this meant I skipped ahead a few steps, like when you get the free-pass card in board games.”

  “Name the board game, and I’ll say yes.”

  “Er, shit.” I was a total blank. “Monopoly.”

  She gave me a thumbs-down. “But look on the bright side! You made me laugh and, honestly… taking me back here, one of the most romantic things you’ve done in the last few days. It’s where we argued, made out, talked—”

  I nodded my head. “It’s where I fell for you.”

  She giggled.

  “It’s where my obsession with those eyes started,” I whispered. “It’s where I decided I wasn’t going to go another day, live another second, without learning everything I could about my taffy girl.”

  “And so the whore married the pimp,” she teased.

  “I’m the whore in this scenario, aren’t I?”

  “Well, I’m the supplier, so technically, I’m the pimp, right?”

  We both burst out laughing as an elderly lady walked by us and glared like we were sitting in church talking about prostitution.

  “Clambake.” I held out my hand. “Then tomorrow…”

  “Married.” She clenched my fingers and let out a happy sigh.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Alyssa

  DEMETRI DANIELS. WHAT THE heck was I going to do with that guy? He freaking ate three raw fish for me, all because I wanted to laugh. Well, that and he thought he was somehow getting sex out of the deal, which begged the question: Where the heck did he think I was going to strip and let him lay claim to my naked body? Next to the seals?

  Yeah, that just screamed prison before the vows.

  Not that people would expect anything different. I mean, it was Demetri we were talking about. Somehow I doubted my parents would be keen on bailing me out of the slammer because my fiancé and I skipped the vows and got naked in a public forum.

  I threw on my cream sweater and white skinny jeans and slid on my tan flip-flops just as a knock sounded at the door.

  “Come in.”

  Kiersten and Saylor both came through. One had coffee in hand; the other had a protein bar.

  “What’s this?” I pointed.

  Saylor was the first to speak. “Trust me. You’re going to need the protein.”

  “And the hydration.” Kiersten winked and shoved the coffee into my hands.

  “Because…” My eyes squinted together. “…the clambake’s gonna take a lot out of me?”

  “Right,” they said in unison.

  “I don’t know you guys well enough to say this, but…” I looked between the two of them. Both had flashes of guilt. “…you look like you’re up to something.”

  “Us?” Again in unison.

  I crossed my arms. “What’s going on?”

  Kiersten laughed. “Well, it’s a secret. The guys actually won’t tell us, but I could have sworn Gabe said something about killing his new friend.”

  “Progress!” I nodded. “He called Demetri a friend?”

  “If Demetri doesn’t murder him in his sleep first,” Saylor pointed out.

  I laughed. “At least Wes can referee.”

  “It’s what he’s good at,” Kiersten agreed. “Making sure everyone stays sane. He’s like a walking Prozac.”

  Another knock sounded at the door.

  “What?” I called.

  It opened.

  Demetri walked in, his grin huge. “Ready, babe?”

  “Sure… I’ve got coffee and a protein bar, all before our dinner… Anything you wanna tell me?”

  “Oh, you know…” He shrugged a muscled shoulder.

  The man looked edible in his dark long-sleeved Henley and ripped jeans. For some reason, the fact that he was wearing flip-flops had my entire body ready to launch at him. Yeah, it was a good thing we weren’t waiting that much longer.

  “…just that this is going to be the best night of your life.”

  Kiersten winced. “You mean better than tomorrow night, the wedding night?”

  “Girl’s gotta point.” Saylor laughed.

  “Hush! Both of you!” Demetri held up his hands. “And yes, this may be better than sex, though I’m loath to admit it, and— Hey, do me a favor, Lyss. If it is, don’t say anything just nod your head and lie, cool?”

  “What?” I burst out laughing. “What in the world are you talking about?”

  “Oh you’ll see.” He held out his hand. “Now, the party awaits.”

  “Good luck,” Kiersten called behind her while Saylor winked in my direction. When they left the room, I turned my full attention to Demetri.

  “Are you planning something?”

  “Nope. In fact...” He twirled me in front of him. “Damn… why don’t we just stay here tonight? I’ll light some candles… order some pizza… put on a romance movie… I’ll even read a book to you. Ah, I saw that blush. Is that what my girl wants? I’ll read something dirty, swear.”

  I smacked him in the chest. “Be mature, and no… I want to hang out with everyone. We’ll be alone tomorrow night.”

  “And for the rest of our lives, until you pop out little Demetris.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Too soon.” He nodded with a wince. “It’s okay… just fair warning, though. Those Daniels’ sperm are strong swimmers, so don’t hate me for being athletic.”

  “I have more athleticism in my pinky finger than you do in your entire body, Dem.”

  “Not true. I ran the other day.”

  “You thought a seagull was chasing you.”

  He sniffed and looked away, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Whatever. Still ran.”

  “You sprinted, screamed like a girl, then hid behind a trashcan.”

  “Because I dropped my sunglasses.”

  “Dem…” I grabbed his hand and pulled him into my body. “…be honest. Did you really drop the sunglasses?”

  “Maybe…” He licked his lips. “…on purpose… to avoid getting pecked to death by the seagull.”

  “They’re not known to attack people.”

  “They like my blood. They’re attracted to sexy.”

  “Hmm.” I c
upped his face with my hands. Man, the guy was gorgeous. His dimples peeked out from his sexy smile. “Maybe don’t go around telling people seagulls find you sexy, yeah?”

  “Hey, the truth hurts.”

  “You do realize this is why people still think you’re on drugs, right?”

  He kissed me hard against the lips. “You sure you don’t want to stay in tonight?”

  “Yup.”

  His hands cupped my butt as he pulled me roughly against his hips. “You’re sure sure? Like one hundred percent?”

  “One hundred and ten.”

  “Fine.” He released me and held out his hand. “Then your clambake awaits.”

  “So romantic. Use your sexy voice.”

  He mimicked Jaymeson’s British accent just as we rounded the corner and slammed into the devil himself.

  “Mocking me again?” Jaymeson’s eyebrows shot up. “Or is it the only way you can turn her on now? Pretend to be foreign?”

  “Ass.” Demetri pushed against him.

  “You love me,” Jaymeson said in a singsong voice. “Oh, and everything’s ready for—”

  Demetri punched him in the face.

  Jaymeson crumpled to the ground. “What the hell?”

  “Sorry!” Demetri helped him up. “I thought you were going to spill.”

  “I was going to say everything’s ready for you… not… the other thing.” His eyes darted away from mine. “Thanks for the black eye before pictures, asshole.”

  “Is that how you make friends, man? You just punch people? Sandbox rule number one: don’t throw sand and don’t throw the shovel. Just say hi. It’s as easy as that,” Gabe said from the hallway. “We doing this or no?”

  “Yes.” Demetri seethed then kissed my hand. “Follow Jaymeson out. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “And if I want to stay with you?”

  “Then...” Jaymeson lifted me into his arms. I started squealing. “…I’ve been instructed to take you by force.”

  “Touch any part of her that hasn’t been cleared by me, “Demetri yelled. “And I’ll get the other eye.”