“But…” I had no argument.

“Your teachers are more than understanding. In fact I’m pretty sure they could care less if a straight A student skipped out before break. Demetri is going to go crash at your parents’. Bob is staying with him, even though he begged for Lloyd.” He would beg for Lloyd, the less scary one. Jerk. “And we’ll be back in time to have Christmas together.”

I bit my lip and looked at Alec. “As a family?”

He nodded. “Your grandparents, your parents, Demetri, and myself. That is, if you’ll have us.”

I squealed with excitement. “When do we leave?”

“Tonight.” He checked his watch. “You have exactly an hour to pack.”

I scrambled off his lap and nearly fell to the floor.

“Easy, Nat. I want to get you there in one piece.”

I saluted just as Demetri hobbled back into the living room. Alec looked at me and then made some lame excuse about making sure he had everything he needed.

“So…” Demetri plopped onto the couch and motioned for me to join him.

“So.” I repeated.

“My brother.”

“Your brother.”

“Are you really just going to repeat everything I say?”

“You almost died,” I whispered.

Demetri sighed then put his arm around me. “I think I liked it better when you were repeating after me, Nat.” I released a shuddering breath and looked at his face. He licked his lips. “Nat, I’m happy for you guys. I can’t say that it doesn’t suck, but I knew. Damn, I knew the minute you guys looked at each other. What can I say? I’m a selfish bastard. I knew what I was doing, Nat. Even if you didn’t know your own feelings.”

“But I love you!”

Demetri laughed. “Aw, Nat. I know, but it’s not the same kind of love you feel for Alec. Believe me, I’ve felt that love before, and that wasn’t it.”

“Before?”

He nodded. A shadow fell across his features. “Once, and she died. I think in a way you reminded me of her. I was trying to fix things, by not really fixing them, Nat.”

I leaned my head against his shoulder. “So what do we do now?”

“You mean other than make noises so my brother thinks I’m totally making out with you?”

I pinched him.

“Or that.” He winced. “We stay friends, and you keep me far, far away from parties and alcohol-induced stupidity.”

“We can always put one of those dog collars on you and press the shock button when you act stupid or make a bad choice.”

Demetri threw his head back and laughed. “Kinky, I like it.”

“Who’s kinky?” Alec growled as he came around the corner.

“Your fiancée.”

“We aren’t—” I felt myself flush red. “We aren’t engaged. It was just pretend.” I assured them both and myself.

Alec said nothing, but Demetri grinned like a fool. “Yeah okay, Nat. You just keep telling yourself that you won’t be marrying this one over here the minute he asks you.”

I felt my cheeks heat even more! Glancing away I offered a nervous laugh and felt my treacherous heart jump at the thought. I was only eighteen for crying out loud!

“We good?” Demetri grabbed my hand in his.

I squeezed. “We’re good.”

“Love you, Nat.”

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I love you, too.”

Alec lifted an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine, I’m going to go pack!”

Alec followed me outside. The minute the door closed he pushed me up against it. “I can’t wait to be alone with you.”

I giggled as he kissed my neck and squeezed me against his hard body. “Finally, all mine.”

“All yours.” I hungrily searched for his mouth as he lifted me into his arms. Wrapping my legs around his body, I hung onto his neck and went about proving to him exactly how much of me he had.

Epilogue

“Merry Christmas!” I shouted, suddenly feeling like the girl jumping out of the giant present! Only I was jumping up and down and clapping my hands. After much convincing, Demetri and Alec both agreed to dress up as Santa and hand out gifts to the family. My little cousins decided to visit. They were twelve and fourteen. Both girls. And both avid fans of AD2.

“Ho, Ho, Ho,” Demetri said very unconvincingly as he glared in my direction then tossed the girls presents. “My tummy is a rumbling like a bowl full of jelly.”

I wrote the script.

Pretty sure they both hate me right now.

“I feel warm and cozy,” Alec added, shaking his head. “But you know what will make me feel better, Santa?”

Demetri smirked, once a pervert always a pervert. “What, Santa?”

“A song.”

The adults knew what was going on, as did I. We all clapped happily while Demetri and Alec grabbed their guitars and sat on the couch.

As the music started up, my cousins narrowed their eyes.

And then as both boys began to sing, I walked over and pulled off the beards and hats.

I’ve never heard girls squeal so loud in my life.

“Baby, I see your smile, it lights the sky, it makes me high with… Love is so deep, and feelings are strong. I need to feel close so I can carry on.”

Then Alec’s voice crooned, “My Christmas star, I’ll follow you far away. Far away. I’ll be where you are, just promise me that you’ll stay. Stay.”