Free Eternal: A Seaside/Ruin Crossover Novella (Seaside #6) by Rachel van Dyken Page A

is that Alyssa’s crying.”
    “Shit.”
    I pushed passed him and knocked on Alyssa’s door. “Baby, can I come inside?”
    “Y-yes.”
    My heart damn-near stopped when she answered the door. She had no makeup on, her eyes were puffy, and she had tears streaming down her face.
    I pulled her into my arms and kissed her head. “It’s fine. Who needs a stupid cake anyway?”
    “It was part of your g-gift!”
    “Well done,” Jaymeson whispered behind me.
    I sent him a seething glare then returned my attention to Lyss. “My gift?”
    “It was a taffy-filled cake.” She sniffled, wiping underneath her eyes. “And now it’s missing!”
    “Jaymeson will find it.”
    “Right. Jaymeson will just go door to door…” he said under his breath.
    “Really?” Another sniffle as she wiped her nose and looked at both of us with hopeful eyes.
    “Absolutely.” I kicked behind me and came into contact with some important and tender part of Jaymeson, if his curse was any indication. “And everything’s going to go just fine. I promise.”
    “Yeah?” There was that smile. “You promise?”
    “Of course! What else could happen?”
    Famous last words.
    Two hours later…
    “We have a big problem.” Wes ran his fingers through his hair. “As in epic.”
    I rolled my eyes and put on the white linen jacket. “What? The punch is missing too?
    Gabe burst through the door and slammed it behind him. “Did you tell him?”
    “I was about to.”
    “Tell me what?” I growled.
    Wes and Gabe shared a look.
    The door opened again. This time it was Jaymeson, only his shirt was ripped, and it looked like he had lipstick running down his neck.
    “Uh, you and Pris get in a fight?”
    “S-so many of them.” Jaymeson shook. “The yelling… the screaming—”
    “The perfume.” Gabe shuddered.
    “Like I said...” Wes nodded. “…huge problem.”
    I sat, thinking if I didn’t, I’d probably lose my mind. “Okay, what’s going on.”
    “The wedding location was leaked,” Wes said slowly. “Not sure how since security has been so tight, but there are people… everywhere.”
    “Townsfolk?” I asked in a hopeful voice.
    “Teens.” Gabe damn-near growled. “Everywhere.”
    “Damn Twitter.” Jaymeson sighed heavily. “Everything needs to be moved. I’ve already taken care of it with the coordinator, but we have no idea where to take everything and—”
    “Outside.” I snapped my fingers. “We’ll get married on the beach.”
    “But all the people…” Wes jerked his head back at the door. “Promise, where you go, they’ll follow.”
    With a wicked grin, I crossed my arms. “Oh?”
    “I’m not comfortable at all with that look.” Wes’s eyes narrowed.
    “Earn your keep, Football,” I barked.
    Gabe opened his mouth.
    “You too, Twilight.”
    Gabe rolled his eyes. “What do you want us to do? Create a freaking diversion by running in the opposite—?” His voice trailed off as realization dawned. “Bastard.”
    “Brilliant bastard.” Jaymeson clapped twice. “And it just may work. If the guys run in one direction, the screaming ovaries follow, and we can have a quick wedding on the beach!”
    “Just call me Romance.” I puffed my chest out.
    But an hour later…
    “Help!” Gabe yelled above the noise. “There’s too many!”
    “Fetal position!” Jaymeson barked. “Abort. Abort!”
    Gabe gave us all a sad look before he hung his head and succumbed to the crowd of screaming girls.
    Wes tried to pry them away, and it worked, or would have worked had Jaymeson not run out into the crowd, colliding into Gabe, creating what I was sure everyone on social media would soon call a hottie sandwich, or something just as degrading.
    They hugged.
    Because really what choice did they have but to stick together and pray that the girls didn’t grab their parts?
    “Got a Plan B?” Wes said beside me.
    I opened my mouth.
    Just as the rain started.
    He slapped my back as I hung my head. “I’m a total