Free Strung (Seaside) by Rachel van Dyken Page A

that bed, her face pale. I died a bit inside, maybe it was because I wasn’t on the drugs but my damn feelings were physically hurting me. Swear, I never knew you could actually feel your heart clench. Mine did. I felt it squeeze and then I just… panicked.
    I don’t know how long I sat in the car staring out the windshield, but eventually, I turned around and drove back to the house, but not before stopping off and grabbing a bouquet of flowers.
    Alec was downstairs watching TV. He didn’t look up. “You okay?”
    “Yeah.” I ran my fingers through my hair, holding my keys in one hand and the flowers in the other. “It’s just — she’s sick.”
    He sighed and put the TV on mute. “I know man. You wanna talk about it?”
    No. I wanted to get drunk. I wanted to forget that sickness existed; I wanted to forget that people died. I wanted to forget that when you get close to people it just hurts that much more when they leave.
    “I’m good.” I flashed a smile. “Has she woken up at all?”
    “Nah” — Alec licked his lips and picked the remote back up again — “Maybe it would be good for you to go check on her? Just so you know she’s okay?”
    “Yeah.” I fidgeted with my keys. “Yeah, I’ll do that.”
    I made my way slowly up the stairs and let myself in Alec’s room. Nat looked so peaceful, she had a small smile on her lips as her even breathing made my own pick up. She was fine. She was totally fine.
    She was so defenseless so… pure. I walked up to the bed and took a seat. When she didn’t stir, I lay down and pulled her warm body into my arms.
    “Nat?”
    Her eyelids flickered open in confusion as if she wasn’t expecting me to be there. I couldn’t blame her. I’d let her down — again.
    “These are for you.” I placed the flowers on the nightstand and gave her an encouraging smile — the type of smile that says ‘I’m not leaving your side.’
    Nat’s eyes took in the flowers, her smile grew and then she mumbled a ‘thanks.’
    I reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry I bolted.” I sighed. “Being sick just freaks me out. Alec said he told you, but it’s not really an excuse to leave my girlfriend.”
    “It’s okay.”
    “No, it’s not.” I snapped. “Damn, why are you so easy on me?”
    “Fine. It’s not okay. I hate you. Take your stupid flowers.” She reached for the flowers, threw them on the ground, and smirked.
    I grinned and had to fight to keep myself from barking with laughter. “Much better. What am I going to do with you? Hmm?” I ran my hand down her neck, my fingertips grazing her soft skin. “You’re beautiful, funny… I can’t even look at another girl.”
    “Well, I’m glad the man-whore has finally settled on one girl.” Her eyes narrowed.
    “Only one.” I vowed, then reached down and gently kissed her lips. “Are you really feeling better?”
    Nat scrunched up her nose. “I think I’m better.”
    “Hmm…” I threw off her covers. She looked down, her eyes wide as saucers. Yeah, she was totally in Alec’s sweats. Damn him.
    “Chill, babe. It’s not like you’re the first girl I’ve seen naked.” I joked, trying to make her think I was somehow involved when it was my brother who had taken care of her, my brother who had helped her.
    “Did you undress me then?” Her voice squeaked.
    I wish. “It was a team effort.” Hopefully that would make her feel better.
    “Both you and your brother undressed me? Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that sort of thing illegal in all fifty states?”
    “Chill, Nat. It’s not like we took turns with you or anything.”
    Without responding, she tried to get up, putting weight slowly on one foot and then the other. “You can’t go around stripping people of their clothes, just because they’re sick.”
    I frowned. Okay so maybe lying wasn’t the best option. I thought it would make her feel better not worse! “But you were uncomfortable. Plus, I’m the one