"Alex! Alex, wait up!" I turned to see Brian running down the street after me. I slowed my pace so he could catch up. "You okay?" I nodded slowly.
"I don't know what could have possessed them to act like that," I said. "I'm really sorry about them."
"It's okay, don't worry about it," Brian said. "I actually think they were trying to protect you."
"Protect me?" I asked, looking at him, confused. "How is insulting you protecting me?"
"They were trying to get rid of me," he said, simply. "I think they think I'm going to hurt you like Kevin's mother did." I nodded knowingly.
"But, why can't they just let me handle things on my own?"
"Because they care about you. My guess is you should be kind of flattered."
"Flattered that they just insulted my cousin and made a fool out of me?" I asked. Brian shrugged.
"Well, if you put it that way . . ." The two of us laughed. "You wanna come back to Nick's boat for awhile. Just to too cool off?" I thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Sounds like a plan if Nick's okay with it. He doesn't seem to like me very much."
"He just doesn't like the fact that I'm going behind Kevin's back." I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Y'know, I can tell we're related. It might have been a good thing that Kevin's mother gave me away. I'd hate to see what kind of havoc we would have reeked during family reunions." Brian laughed and his eyes widened.
"That would have been awesome!" he said. By that time, we had reached the marina. Brian opened the gate and held it open for me.
"Lady's first," he said, bowing slightly. I hit him on the head as I passed. When we got down to Nick's boat, him and Matt were sitting on the back.
"Hey, guys," I said, standing on the finger pier. Brian got on and motioned for me to follow. I looked at Nick. He nodded and smiled.
"Bri, Train called." Brian looked at him.
"What'd he want?"
"He's coming down tomorrow."
"Frack!"
"What? I didn't tell him anything. I swear!" Nick looked at me, his eyes wide and innocent. "I swear I didn't, Alex."
"I know," I said, hopping on the boat. "If he's anything like me, he'll hunt me out 'til the end. I might as well get it over with."
"Get what over with?" Matt asked. We explained the whole story to him. "Woh. That must be rough."
"You're not kidding. Now, I've got all of Nsync on my back about it, too. It basically sucks no matter what way you look at it," I said.
"Why? Aren't you dating one of them?"
"Not . . . really . . ." I said, slowly.
"What do you mean 'not really'?" Brian asked. "You and JC looked pretty cozy until he started getting protective." I held out my hand. The three of them gasped at the ring.
"You're engaged?" Nick asked, exasperatedly. I nodded glumly.
"Congratulations," Brian said, hugging me. "Why don't you look happy?"
"I am happy," I said. "It's just that if this is what he's going to be like whenever I'm with any of you, I don't think this is gonna work. I love him with all my heart, but you guys are my biological family . . . my blood. Even though i just met you, I'd like to make it work if possible."
"And we will make it work," Brian said, putting his hand on mine. "I swear to it." I smiled at him, though my doubts were still strong.
"You okay, man?" Justin asked once we got back to the hotel. I opened the door to mine and Alex's room. No Alex.
"I'll be fine," I sighed.
"You sure? The guys and I are gonna go for a walk. Wanna join us?" I just shook my head and shut the door, wanting nothing but to be alone . . . or maybe Alex.