Tear: A Seaside Novel

Chapter Eight

I never did do well with being in the dark by myself.

"Here." I didn't even know Alec was in front of me. My eyes fell on a mug of something. I took it and sipped.

Tea. Crap. I had just made out with his brother and he was making me tea, in his house, and telling me it was okay to cry.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

Alec knelt in front of me. His thumbs wiped the remaining tears from my eyes. "I'm sorry, Nat. He's drunk. I know that's no excuse, believe me. But if he was in his right mind he would have never done that. I know he likes you."

I nodded numbly.

"Want me to beat him up for you?" Alec asked a deadpan look on his face.

"Would you?"

Alec nodded.

The idea did have merit.

"Maybe just a black eye."

"Done." He smiled and sat next to me on the couch.

I set the mug on the table and started to get up. "I should go home. I mean, it's getting late."

"Fine, but if you go home I'm going with you. Your choices are as follows. Stay with me, while I sleep on the floor guarding your virtue from my brother if he decides to track you down, or I'm crashing at your place. It's not safe for you to stay by yourself, Nat. Your parents are gone, right?" He ran his fingers through his hair. "Look, I know it's Seaside and not L.A. I just don't feel good with you being there by yourself. You should hang here for a while."

I nodded. "You don't have to do that, Alec."

"Yes. I do." He swallowed and looked away. "So, what will it be?"

I looked around me. It was so comfortable. How ironic that I would be more comfortable at a stranger's house than my own. "I guess we could stay here."

"Good, because I already ordered pizza."

I laughed. "When did you do that?"

"I have my ways. Apparently, there's an app for that."

I shook my head. "Always is."

He grinned then cleared his throat, his smile suddenly vanishing. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Of course." My answer was too fast and forced.

Alec's eyes narrowed.

I looked away. "I'll be fine. I promise."

"Says the raccoon," Alec muttered.

"Jerk!" I laughed and playfully pushed him away from me. "I knew I shouldn't have worn mascara."

"It's not like you need it anyways." Alec's blue eyes scanned me intently. "You have the thickest dark eyelashes I've ever seen. It's like you're waving every time you blink. Actually I'd like to think it's a greeting each time, 'Hey, Alec. How you doin, Alec?'"

I burst out laughing. "Oh my gosh! That's kinda creepy, Alec, and I'm pretty sure every time I see you I'm going to blink even harder, because I'll be thinking about it, and then people are going to think I have something in my eye."

"Oh, I hope so." He grinned and jumped up from the couch. "That would be entertaining for me."

"Yes, and it's all about you," I joked.

"No." He turned back to me and offered a warm smile. "It's about you."

My heart stopped beating. Awesome. Breathe, Nat, breathe! Finally, my mouth opened and I was able to suck in enough air so I wouldn't pass out on his couch. Unfortunately, the air was saturated with Alec. Seriously, the way he smelled did things to me. I'd never been the type of girl to fixate on cologne, but wow. It confused me, made me want to jump on him.