Eternal

Alyssa glanced at me helplessly.

“He’s here,” I explained.

“Demetri?”

“No.”

“Jaymeson?”

“Did someone scream my name?” a voice shouted through the house.

A grin exploded across my face before I could stop it.

Jaymeson rounded the corner and winked.

“Hey, man.” I waved.

“Sorry I’m late. I was just giving Gabe a tour of the set.”

“Who’s Gabe?” Alyssa and Demetri asked in unison.

“Hey…” Another person rounded the corner and held up his hands. “…sorry about the confusion. I don’t really go by Ashton anymore.”

“Ashton?” Alyssa started laughing. “Ashton Hyde? Now, fancy that. Look, Dem!”

“I have eyes!” Demetri all but shouted.

“He drunk?” Jaymeson asked.

“I didn’t fall off the wagon.” Demetri rose from the chair and stalked over to the two guys. “And you...” He pointed at Gabe. “…no flirting.”

“Uh, I’m married,” Gabe said, helplessly looking around at all of us. “But seriously, if you did fall off the wagon, no judgment.” He lifted his hands up in innocence then cracked a smile.

“I don’t like your type.” Demetri’s eyes narrowed. “And swear, if you sing one word…” He lifted his finger into the air and repeated hoarsely. “…one word to my girl, I’m going to run you over with my car.”

“He serious?” Gabe elbowed Jaymeson. “Or does he just have a really weird sense of humor?”

“He’s… special.” Jaymeson coughed.

“Screw you. I’m awesome!” Demetri yelled.

“Aw, cool.” Gabe sidestepped Demetri and pointed at the TV. “I think Wes started today.”

“I have a giant man crush on that guy.” Jaymeson nodded. “If I met him, I’d probably kiss him on the mouth. Pris would understand. He’s on my list.”

“List?” Alyssa asked.

“For people I’m allowed to kiss while being married.”

“Um…” I tilted my head. “…pretty sure that’s for females. It’s the elevator list, like girls you could sleep with while still being married.”

Alyssa crossed her arms. “Demetri, do you have a list?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I value my balls too much to even contemplate it. Jaymeson, however, doesn’t care about his balls on account that they’re the size of peas.”

“I freaking hate peas.” Gabe shuddered.

“Nobody asked you, Twilight!” Demetri snapped.

“Want tickets?” Gabe asked, completely ignoring Demetri’s odd behavior. “For the next home game? You could meet Wes and Kiersten — they’re really fun. Hey, we should all get together!”

“No.” Demetri shook his head.

Gabe kept talking. “It would be really fun. We could plan something during the Seattle stop.”

“No.” Demetri looked down at the floor.

“As a group.” Gabe nodded. “I mean, if you guys were up for it?”

“Great.” Jaymeson patted him on the back.

“Does nobody listen to me anymore?” Demetri muttered under his breath.

“Ignore him.” I moved so Gabe could sit with us on the couch. “The wedding’s in two days, and his fiancée...” Alyssa pointed at herself and smirked. “…has been listening to your songs non-stop since they’ve gotten to Seaside.”

“She throws her bra at you, and I’m—”

Gabe held up his hand. “I remember. You’re running me over with your car. Got it.”

“Good.” Demetri shuffled and crossed his arms.

“Oh, and by the way…” Gabe chuckled. “…marriage doesn’t stop the insanity, just makes it worse. I don’t even let Saylor go grocery shopping on her own because I’m so freaked out that someone’s going to snatch her out of the parking lot. I even lied and told her I’d stop following her. But I wait in the shadows and watch. I jumped on the crazy train six months ago, so it’s cool, man. I get it.”

“You get nothing,” Demetri grumbled. “But I really like your shoes.”

“Aw, he’s making friends.” Jaymeson chuckled. “I think he likes you, Gabe.”

“Why are we friends?” Demetri asked out loud. “Really. I’m curious.”

“We’re brothers.” Jaymeson grinned. “Well, half-brothers, but still, you have no choice but to love me.”

“I’m poisoning your tea,” Demetri announced casually before turning around and placing a possessive arm around Alyssa.

“No more tea.” Jaymeson went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. “I’m trying to keep caffeine out of the house on account that—”

With a jerk, I flipped on the couch and glared as Jaymeson’s face went completely red.

“On account?” I prompted.

“Dude.” Demetri’s face broke out into a huge grin while Alyssa covered her face with her hands, tears pooling in her eyes.

“Shit. Pris is gonna kill me,” Jaymeson muttered. “I suck at secrets!”

“Congrats, man.” Gabe pulled him in for a hug. “How long have you known?”