Alec licked his lips as his eyes flicked down to my chest, before finding their way up to my eyes.

"In mysterious ways?" he guessed.

I tried not to smile, I really did, but I couldn't help it.

Alec leaned forward and pressed his lips against the side of my mouth.

"I love your smile."

I slid onto his lap and looped my arms around his neck as I said, "I love your smile, and your dimples."

"I'll add that onto the list with my eyes, ass, abs, and voice."

I snorted. "You're so cocky."

Alec licked my lower lip. "I love when you say cocky."

I giggled. "Give it a rest, it's your turn to try on clothes to see what looks best."

Alec's nose scrunched up. "I'm wearing shorts, and a white tee."

"Yeah but a V neck, a tank top, or a crew neck?"

Alec looked at me like I grew an extra head. "You've got to be kidding me."

I raised my eyebrows. "Do I look like I'm kiddin'?"

Alec really looked at me then groaned. "For God's sake."

I win.

I smiled as I stood up. "Go on, get."

"Is this what having a girlfriend entails? I lose my freedom?" Alec asked as he stood up.

I snorted. "That and much more, honey."

Alec shook his head and turned away from me as he picked up a bunch of clothes from his suitcase then walked towards the bathroom.

"I finally see what Ryder and Dominic are talking about," he muttered to himself.

I smiled. "I heard that."

"You were meant to."

I chuckled as I shimmied out of my dress and placed it on a hanger then I hung it on my wardrobe door to keep it crease free. I picked up a pair of knee length leggings and one of Alec's t-shirts and put them on. I jumped onto the bed then and relaxed.

"Do you have a bucket list?" I randomly asked Alec.

I heard him muttered something so I said louder, "Do you have one?"

"Do I have one what?" Alec shouted.

"Do you have a bucket list?" I repeated.

Alec popped his head out of the bathroom and grinned. "I have a fuck-it list, does that count?"

"There is somethin' wrong with you, you have an erect dick for a brain."

"Are you calling me a dick head?"

I bit down on my inner cheeks to keep a smile at bay.

"I hate you."

"No you don't, you want to dislike me but you can't and it kills you."

That was the most accurate thing I have ever heard him say.

Alec disappeared back into the bathroom, and I stayed put on the bed until he was ready to model for me. After a few minutes he emerged from the bathroom in a white V neck t-shirt and a pair of knee length shorts.

"I'll wear the flip flops I bought at Pennys back home. Do you approve?"

I pictured the outfit with his flip flops and mentally nodded my head.

I did approve of what he wanted to wear, but I wanted him to twirl for me before I said anything so I simply lifted my hand, stuck my index finger in the air, and rotated it in a circle.

"Are you fucking with me?" Alec snapped.

I continued to rotate my finger in silence.

"Women," Alec muttered before he stuck his arms out wide and slowly turned his body in a circle.

When he was turned back in my direction, I scrunched up my face and said, "It'll do."

His face was priceless.

"It'll do... it'll do? Come here, now!"

I screamed with laughter as Alec dove on the bed and grabbed at my body with his hands. He pinned my hands down at my sides and all but crawled up onto me. He let go of my hands so he could use his own to hold himself up off me. You know, so he wasn't completely smothering me.

"Can you breathe?" Alec asked, smiling down at me.

"Kind of," I wheezed.

Alec chuckled and rolled off me. He shook his head when I dramatically gasped for air.

"Were you born a bitch, or does it just come natural to you?"

I rubbed my chest. "I'd say born one, being a cunt may come natural to me."

Alec shook his head. "I'm still amazed that some women use that word so freely over here. In the States most women freak over it."

I snorted. "It's only a word, I wouldn't get bent out of shape over a word."

Alec shrugged. "I guess so."

I sat up on the bed, and criss-crossed my legs.

"I'm kind of nervous about the dinner tonight."

Alec turned on his side to look at me. "Why?"

"Everyone knows that me and Jason were involved, but I'm positive that they don't know he was usin' me. I know Everly and Micah, they will have turned all of this around on me. Everyone will probably think I seduced me cousin's boyfriend. I'm dreadin' what people might say to me... or think of me"

Alec reached out and placed his hand on my knee. "No one will verbally attack you, I'll make sure of that."

I smiled. "You've got my back?"

"Always."

"Stop biting your nails."

I looked at Alec as we walked down the stairs of the hotel. We were making our way to the ballroom for the welcome dinner, Alec really didn't want to take the elevator and because I needed extra time to mentally prepare myself for seeing my family, I took the stairs with him.

"I can't help it, I'm nervous."

Alec tied his hair back out of his face with a bobbin then took my hand, and intertwined it with his. "It's going to be fine, you'll see."

I blew out a huge breath when we reached the bottom of the stairs.

"I hope you're right," I muttered and walked out into the lobby from the stairwell.

Alec lead me to the ballroom. The doors were closed, but a man was outside with a stand that had a list on it.

"This is a private function. I'm sorry."

"We're here for the dinner, we're guests."

"What is your name, miss?" the man asked.

I cleared my throat. "Keela Daley."

"Ah, yes, Keela Daley and plus one."

"I'm plus one, nice to meet you," Alec said to the man.

The man grinned as he walked to the doors, opened them for us before he gestured us in with his hand.

"You're both to be seated at table two. Enjoy your meal."

I smiled at the man and tugged Alec behind me as I walked into the ballroom. I was a little surprised that the room wasn't dark like Micah's and Jason's personalities. It was all white with blue splashed throughout. The lighting was mostly bright neon blue, which I thought was really cool because it matched the decor perfectly.

I grunted. "I hate that I like the room and the colours."

"The food might be crap though."

He was trying to make me feel better by giving me hope something would suck about the dinner.

He was brilliant.

"So... where is table two?" I murmured a loud.

There were at least fifteen tables that I could see and they were all full with people. They sure managed to get a lot of people here on such short notice.

Rich people.

"The head table for the bridal party is table one, and that's at the head of the room. You will be at the table closest to that."

I turned around to face Alec, my eyes wide. "Why would they seat me so close to them?"

Alec shrugged. "You grew up with Micah, maybe she considers you close to her?"

Yeah, right.

"No way, she wouldn't have me here at all if she got her way. This is Everly and me ma's doin'."

Alec lifted his hand to brush his knuckles against my cheek and said, "It doesn't matter who seated us at that table, let's just go and sit down... Okay?"

I nodded my head and followed closely behind Alec making sure not to look at anyone seated at the tables we passed. I swallowed nervously when we reached our table and noticed every person at the table was an immediate member of Jason's family.

Oh, fuck me.

"Hello Keela, you look lovely," Jason's father, Mr. Bane said as he stood up to greet me.

I think Mr. Bane was the only genuine member of the Bane family.

"Hello Mr. Bane, it's lovely to see you again." I smiled as I shook his hand.

I then gestured to Alec. "This is Alec Slater, me boyfriend."

"Nice to meet you, sir," Alec said as he shook Mr. Bane's hand.

"And you, son. These are my daughter's Krista, and Koda, and my son Jonathan. My wife will be along in a moment, she is in the restroom."

Jason's bitchy sisters were the first to jump up and greet Alec and not with handshakes either, those sluts went in for hugs.

"Nice to me you both." Alec smiled then turned to Jonathan when he stood up. "Nice to meet you, bro."