Read Eternal: A Seaside/Ruin Crossover Novella (Seaside #6) for Free Online Page B

tilted his head. “Is that your sly way of asking for a bedtime story?”
    “Screw you.”
    He burst out laughing. “I’m nervous to go on tour again.”
    Now that was news I could discuss. I turned to him. “Really? Why?”
    “Oh, you know, touring with the hottest pop duo to hit the market in the last ten years… kinda puts a lot of pressure on me not to suck.”
    “You don’t suck.”
    “I could suck.”
    “Dude, believe me. My girl knows music. You don’t suck. Hell, I know every lyric to your latest EP, and sometimes I want to kill myself at night.”
    “If this is you two bonding…” Alec said from the doorway, “…I want no part of it.”
    I jolted to my feet, damn-near running my brother over. “What happened? Where’s the baby? Where’s Nat? Holy shit, is—?”
    Alec held up his hand. “Nat did beautifully… and our little girl is very healthy. She’s sleeping.”
    “Healthy.” My legs went completely numb and then started shaking as I reached for the wall. “So, she’s okay?” Tears filled my line of vision. Why the hell was I reacting like this? It felt like part of my heart was in that delivery room with her, a part I’d never gotten back, never even asked for. I loved Lyss with my entire being — but Nat? She was so much more than family.
    “She wants to see you.” Alec nodded. “I’ll show you where to go.”
    Numbly, I followed him, realizing too late that I hadn’t even thanked Gabe for talking me from the ledge.
    Hands shaking, I reached into my tight jeans pocket for another piece of taffy and popped it onto my mouth.
    We rounded the corner, and Alec pushed a red button that opened the doors to the labor-and-delivery area.
    “Room 222. I’ll wait out here,” he whispered then pulled me in for a hug. “Take your time.”
    My body had decided in that moment to betray me again as the shaking continued the whole way down the hall. When I finally reached my destination, my palms were sweating, and I felt like puking. I just needed to see with my own eyes that everything was fine.
    “Demetri?” Nat’s voice called from the inside.
    Something snapped inside me, like a rubber band finally getting stretched to its fullest. I stumbled toward the bed. She was radiant, her blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, and in her arms was the smallest bundle of joy I’d ever seen in my entire life.
    “My God…” I breathed, itching to pull the baby close. but needing to hug Nat at the same time. “She’s beautiful...” My eyes filled with tears. “I was so scared, Nat. So worried I—”
    With one arm, Nat held the baby while she reached around me and pulled me in for a tight hug. Fresh tears fell from her face, pressing against my hot cheeks.
    My tears met hers like a kiss.
    “What’s wrong with me?” I said in a hoarse voice. “It was like my heart was getting operated on the entire time you were in here.”
    Nat smiled. “You and me, Demetri.” Her voice was light, happy. “It’s been us since the beginning, even before Alec you and I were friends. We’ve known each other a while now, and that friendship has grown into this weird brother-sister-fierce-protective-ninja-mode that frankly, I don’t even think Alec can explain.”
    “Let him try.” I chuckled, my eyes still forming those damn tears.
    “You love me,” she said simply. “You’re my family, closer than a brother, more than a friend.”
    “Nat…” I touched my forehead to hers. “…I swear to you… I will always be here for you and Alec, for your little girl. My life simply doesn’t make sense without you in it.”
    “Good...” She sniffled as the baby let out a loud breath beneath her. “…because you and Lyss are going to be the godparents.”
    “WHAT?” I shrieked.
    The baby’s eyes blinked open.
    And I was freaking owned.
    Lost to the clear look that Baby Daniels had just given me.
    “You want to hold Ella?”
    I groaned. “That name… you may as well get her a crown right now