Free Shatter by Rachel van Dyken Page A

Don’t worry, they’re too distracted by the show and know we’re here for the next few weeks. Call her back . T ell her she can stay there.”
    I looked between the two of them. I should have said something to stop the shit storm
     that was coming my way. Instead I turned on my heel and walked str aight upstairs into Nat’s room.
    A producer and camera team followed me as I barged in and sat on her bed. She was
     still peacefully sleeping.
    I reached over and felt her forehead. At least it was cool. She’d been running a bit
     of a fever last night and still looked kind of crappy when she was finally able to
     fall asleep.
    “Nat.” I kissed her cheek . “ Wake up, sweetheart.”
    “Mmmm.” With eyes still closed , she opened her arms to me. I was all sweaty but I hugged her anyways . “ You smell like sweat.”
    I laughed . “ I thought you liked my sweat?”
    “Only when— ” Her eyes popped open. She jolted back and threw the covers over her head the minute
     she saw the cameras. “Go away!”
    The producer laughed and stepped closer. I had half a mind to punch him in the face.
     Instead, I glared in his direction and said very loudly , “ You sleep naked , right, Nat?”
    “Yes.” She sounded irritated . “ Or I will be in five seconds. You know the nakedness clause for Seaside…”
    Glaring, the producer stood his ground as Nat ’ s hands reached out from under the covers and threw down articles of clothing. First
     a sock, then a shirt, then another sock. I tried to hide my laughter but it was too
     funny. They were the on es who made the rules, not me.
    With a curse, the producer pulled the camera crew out an d slammed the door behind them.
    I ran over to lock it, laughing the entire way.
    “That was close!” Nat said from under the covers.
    “So close.” My mind was elsewhere, like Nat’s naked body…
    With a squeal she j umped out of bed fully clothed.
    “What?” Yeah, it was impossible to hide my disappointment. I looked at the floor,
     then back at her. “Okay , Clark Kent, what gives?”
    With a satisfied smirk she got to her feet and stood on the bed, then put her hand to her head and sat back down . “I’m brilliant, that’s all , and a bit dizzy. Weird. ”
    “Yeah, well , I’ve always known that. I mean , you beat Demetri at Cranium every game night.”
    “Not my fault he doesn’t have my skills.”
    “Right.” I jumped onto the bed and stood, my head nearly touching the ceiling. “And
     it’s not his fault you cheat at every single game you play.”
    “Do not!”
    I threw my head back and laughed . “Good God , woman . Y ou cheated at checkers last week when we went to that elementary school for volunteer
     day.”
    With a huff she crossed her arms . “ That kid was pulling one over on me! He was eating my checkers!”
    I licked my lips to keep from laughing . “ They were chocolate.”
    She pointed at my face . “ He was still cheating.”
    “Didn’t mean you had to scare the crap out of him and tell him all cheaters go to
     hell , and then eat his checkers while he took a potty break.”
    With a devilish laugh Nat fell to the bed in a heap . “ Ah , yes. Taught him a lesson.”
    “Yes.” With a loud thump I fell onto the bed to join her . “ Good one. Way t o show a six year old. I’m so proud to call you my girlfriend.”
    “You should be.” Her chin jutted out in a challenge as she tackled me against the mattress. “Say it. Say ‘ Nat’s a winner ’ .”
    “Nope.”
    “Say it!” Her hands flew to my sides where she knew I was most ticklish. It had taken
     her almost our entire relationship to finally find out my weak point , and even then, I told her if it ever ended up on TMZ I was going to hide all the Swedish
     fish in the house.
    She still hadn’t told Demetri , so I figured the secret was safe.
    “Nat is…” I bit my lip and squinted down at her . “ Beautiful?”
    “Hmm , that’s— ”
    “ W ait .” I pressed my finger to her