Fusion (Explosive #5) (2 page)

“What do you mean
inevitable
?”

Ava shrugs and plays with the blanket on the bed before returning her gaze to Lexi’s. “Mom said if Dad farts on her one more time, it’s Divorceville for him. He said for her to draw up the papers because it’s inevitable. No ifs, ands, or butts about it.”

Jeremy snickers, and Ava howls with laughter. The two do an air high five. I bite my lip and shake my head as Lexi goes from thinking Jeremy and I were on the verge of splitting up to now knowing we put Ava up to this. We’re assholes, but that’s the Banks family for you.

Still, I can’t completely blame Jeremy for this one. What Ava told Lexi is a true story. Even though I go from zero to sixty on the anger scale whenever Jeremy…leaves a less-than-stellar scent in my presence, he’s my husband and I love him. After two decades, lots of laughing, and plenty of crying, I’m used to pretty much everything. I may joke about it, but it’d take a hell of a lot more for divorce than a few smelly farts. Pretty much only death could ever part us, and even when that time comes, I’m kinda hopeful we’ll go out
The Notebook
style.

“Sierra Banks! You are such a jerk!” my sister shouts before flinging a pillow across the room. Then she curses when it falls a foot in front of me, missing her target.

See? I told you. We’re assholes. Or jerks, as Lexi said.

Jace’s laughter echoes in the room, but it ceases when she shoots him an angry glare. He holds his hands up in defense.

“Oh, come on, Alexa,” he teases, inclining his head towards her. “You couldn’t possibly believe those two would ever even consider the idea of divorce. They’ve been joined at the hip since they were kids. If Jeremy and Sierra Banks ceased to be, so would the rest of us. The world would stop spinning. The sun would never rise again. Life as we know it would never be the same.”

I roll my eyes as he waxes poetic, but my heart warms. He’s right. Jeremy and I have been a solid unit for more than half of my life. We’ve been friends for most of it. Hell, I barely remember a time when Jeremy wasn’t an important part of my world, and even though he’s a big ball of romantic cheesiness most of the time, Jace knows what he’s talking about. I don’t even want to think about a life without Jeremy.

Lexi huffs, and when I look up, a frustrated frown crosses her lips. Then she narrows her eyes at her husband. “I know that. You think I don’t know that? Considering I was there for every step of their friendship and subsequent relationship, I know nothing could break them up. They’re this fused entity that can’t ever be detached. Not even the Jaws of Life could separate them.” Her lips curve into a playful scowl. “Still, why the hell would you mess with a pregnant woman like that?! Not to mention I’m in between contractions and the last thing I need is getting my heart rate up. Or my blood pressure. My hormones aren’t exactly making me think like a rational human being. I need peace and zen. Not you guys messing with me.”

Now, I
really
do feel like a jerk. In my defense, I had no idea Jeremy and Ava were going to do that.

Jace gives a soft smile, leaning down and brushing his lips over Lexi’s forehead in a sweet kiss. “Peace and zen, babe? When have you ever gotten that from those two?”

Ava giggles, which causes Jace to give her a faux scowl.

“Those three, I mean,” he amends.

“Sorry, Aunt Lexi. I was only teasin’,” Ava says, scooting up to give my sister a kiss on the cheek.

Lexi’s frown fades, and she gives Ava a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, Ava. I should know to expect it from the crazy Banks clan,” she tells her.

Jeremy smiles wide like the proud papa he is. Then he crosses the room and places a strong arm around my waist, pulling me in close. His familiar scent permeates the air around us, causing butterflies to flap low in my belly. What was Lexi’s sentiment? We’re the very definition of fusion? She couldn’t be more right. I smile and lean my head against his shoulder.

“Sorry, Lex,” he tells her, grinning, which indicates he’s actually not all that sorry. Like any big brother, he loves teasing her. She should be used to it by now. “But it sure beats the other question she’s been dying to ask.”

She raises a curious eyebrow, folding her arms over her chest. “I highly doubt that,” she huffs indignantly.

Jeremy looks down at me and grins. I nod, knowing just what he’s thinking and wanting him to open that can of worms. Since Jace and Lexi are about to enter the joys of parenthood with a beautiful baby girl, we’ve decided to give them a head start.

“Do I even want to know?” Lexi asks, glancing at the three Banks family members in the room. “What’s the other—?”

“No!” Jace groans, placing a hand over her mouth. “Don’t ask, Alexa. I beg you. Do. Not. Ask.”

Her eyes widen with confusion, but it’s too late.

Ava squeals. “Does this mean I can finally ask now?!”

“Go ahead, sweetheart,” Jeremy says, nodding in her direction, which elicits another groan from Jace.

She claps her hands and grins eagerly at Jace and Lexi. Jace, knowing our daughter, has an uneasy expression on his tight drawn face, but Lexi’s eyes are wide with curiosity.

Until Ava blurts her question out.

“Where do babies come from?” she asks, pointing at Lexi’s extended belly.

“Oh, God,” Lexi moans as another wave of contractions rips through her.

A nurse comes in and checks her thoroughly.

Jace grimaces as Lexi grips his hand. “Is it time yet?” he asks, almost panicked.

The sympathy pains are evident on his face, and I wonder if he’s going to last longer than Jeremy did. My poor husband was instructed
not
to hold a leg, but he looked anyway. As soon as Ava’s little head pushed out of me, he hit the floor, out cold.

The nurse gives Jace a warm smile. “I know you’re eager, Dad, but she’s not quite dilated enough. Should be soon though. Just hang tight,” she chirps cheerfully before leaving the room.

“Easy for her to say. This is going to be the longest day of my life,” Lexi groans.

Ava grins wickedly and returns to her spot next to Lexi. “See? Plenty of time for stories!”

Jeremy and I high-five as Ava parks her cute little behind in the chair next to Lexi’s bed. She props her feet up and folds her arms behind her head like she’s settling in for the long haul.

“Hey, Ava,” Jace begins, his tone cautious. Something about it makes me nervous. “I know that you’re curious about where babies come from, but wouldn’t it be more exciting to find out where
you
came from?” he asks.

Lexi’s smile returns, and she nods enthusiastically.

Oh no. The jerk is trying to beat us at our own game! And I realize it’s working as Ava’s eyes widen with delight. Jeremy is shaking his head in quick, precise movements at our daughter, but it doesn’t deter her one bit. In fact, I’m pretty sure it encourages her even more. She bounces in her chair, nodding her head as an evil little grin comes to life on her face.

“Yes! Great idea, Uncle Jace,” she agrees, and I watch in horror as they high-five then look expectantly at both of us.

“It’s going to be a long-ass day, indeed,” my husband grumbles beside me.

I smile up at him as a fluttering in my belly takes hold. It was only a matter of time before we had to have this talk with Ava, so we might as well get it over with as we wait for all the action to happen.

Gazing up at Jeremy, I find it hard to believe we’ve been together for so long. Each year, we’ve become stronger and more devoted to each other.

Our love hasn’t been without its trials, but everything about our entire relationship has been relatively easy. No evil queens threatened to squelch our love (not even you, Mallory Buchanan!), nor were there any malevolent forces trying to keep us apart. It was actually quite the opposite. Everyone around us wanted to push us together, even though we couldn’t see what was right in front of us. Fortunately, we weren’t blind for too long.

Our love was—and still is—fun, carefree, and unconditional. And, most of all, it’s everlasting. Still, to a six-year-old, it probably won’t hold a candle to the finest Disney princesses. But it’s ours and in my book, it’s the greatest story ever told. Or, well, waiting to be told, in this case.

So I guess it’s about time we tell it.

And don’t worry about Ava. We’ll cut out all the juicy parts. Or cover her ears.

Jeremy’s grin reflects my own, and I know he is thinking the same thing. There is no way we can tell the entire story, down to the steamiest details, to Ava. But we can tell you.

I’m not ashamed to say I’m the luckiest man alive.

I, Jeremy Jordan Banks, am the luckiest man alive.

See? No shame in my game.

As I watch my daughter and my wife tease my sister-in-law, I know it’s true. Of course, the goofy grin on Jace’s face lets me know he thinks the same about himself, and that’s okay. I won’t begrudge him for that. The truth is
every
man should believe he’s the luckiest. If he doesn’t…well, that’s just sad.

Still, I know I truly am.

The day Sierra Sullivan came running down the sand in her cartoon T-shirt and high ponytail was the day my whole life changed.

Sure, it’d only been eight years long, but hey—those were some good eight years. Little did I know that the next eight, the next eight, and the next eight would be even better. Don’t mind my math.

Anyways, it happened on a Thursday. That little tidbit may seem insignificant, but that’s the point. I remember every single detail with vivid clarity, as if it were yesterday. The summer when I was eight years old, I met the girl I was going to spend my life with. Did I know it at the time? Of course not. I was eight. I had no idea my life was about to change. It’s not like fireworks exploded or sparks flew the first time our fingers touched. We were just kids. But, even at such a young age, one look at the pretty, little blonde next door and I knew she was something special.

Don’t ask me how. I just did.

If I’d have known what was going to come our way, I’d have kissed her right then and there. But, like most young boys, I thought kisses were gross—until they weren’t. So I declared us the best of friends—until that was no longer enough. Until the thought of another day going by without her knowing how much I loved her was no longer an option.

You may think you know our story. And, in truth, you probably do. Boy meets girl. Boy chases girl. Boy and girl both like Michelangelo—the turtle, not the painter— and Michael Jordan and have a fear of sharks. Boy declares girl is his best friend. For years, boy and girl stay friends until girl grows boobs and boy grows…well, you know.

Boy loves girl. Boy nearly loses girl. Boy goes to the ends of the Earth—or, in our case, Ohio—to keep the girl. Boy marries girl, and they live happily ever after.

The end.

Sounds like a completely ordinary story, right? Well, that’s because it is.

But those little snippets are only the tip of the iceberg.

Sierra and I have had our share of laughs—more than the average couple, I presume. We’ve also had our share of tears. Surprising, right? To me, too. But the truth is, for all the light that’s shone on our relationship, there’s been dark. It hasn’t been plentiful—thank God—but just enough to where we weren’t sure we’d come out on the other side of the tunnel intact.

How did we?

Stick around and find out. I’m about to give you every gory, hysterical, down-and-dirty detail. Okay, so maybe not the dirty stuff.

Then again…

Why the hell not? That’s part of the fun, isn’t it? Knowing every single down-and-dirty detail? But don’t go getting any ideas about my wife. And no mental pictures, please. As much as I think every single male on the planet should be blessed to see Sierra Sullivan Banks completely nude, that body is for my eyes only.

As far as my own body goes?

She completely owns me. Sorry, ladies. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun.

Ready for a blast to the past? Time to party like it’s 1999.

Actually, we’ll start a little bit earlier than that.

You already know the destination. Don’t you want to come along for the ride?