Fusion (Explosive #5) (52 page)

THEY SAY YOU NEVER
forget the ones you’ve lost, and that sentiment definitely rings true. I found out the hard way. But, at the same time, I’ve learned you can’t dwell on that—not when you have ones here who need you, your time, your energy, and your love. Your heart can be heavy at times, but it can also be immensely full.

Sierra always had a pinpoint hole in her heart for our lost one. But so did I. Together, though, we weathered that storm, set our ship back on course, and ended up with a beautiful family, even if one was missing.

Sleepily, I walk outside to pick the paper up when I see a flash a green out of the corner of my eye.

“Hey, Mister B!”

“Hey, Tucker,” I call to the kid next door.

His sandy-brown hair hangs in his eyes, which are also brown, big, and puppy-eyed as he asks if Ava is home.

“She’s at her grandma’s for the weekend,” I tell him, yawning as I glance down at the paper.

“Darn,” he said.

I look up to see he’s genuinely down that she isn’t home. He shoves his hands in his pockets then surveys me with all the seriousness an eight-year-old could muster.

“I’m gonna marry that girl one day.”

I go stock-still. Can you glare at an eight-year-old, ban him from your property, and forbid him from ever seeing your daughter again? I don’t care. It’s about to happen.

Just as I go to take a menacing step towards him, slender arms encircle my waist. Sierra’s voice is soft and warm.

“Morning, Tucker.”

“Hi, Misses B!” he calls, his smile crooked as he looks at my wife. “You look pretty today.”

I tense again.

“Thank you, Tucker. We’ll tell Ava you stopped by.”

“’Kay! See ya later,” he says then bounds down the driveway as if he didn’t just try to step all over my turf.

Sierra laughs against my back. Not finding it amusing, I turn and glare down at her.

“Ava’s grounded until she’s thirty.”

Sierra’s face softens. “Why is that?” she asks, an eyebrow raised.

“He just said he was going to marry our daughter. They already spend too much time together. No more. She’s grounded.”

“Oh, come on. Tucker’s a good kid. He and Ava are thick as thieves.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Why? Because he reminds you of someone you know?” she asks, that damn eyebrow ticking.

“Fuck yes,” I growl. “That kid is me!”

She grins. “Ava could only be so lucky.”

The Not So—Yet All Too Soon, According to Jeremy—Distant Future

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have parents whose love story is the thing fairytales are made of? How am I supposed to live up to that? The bar was set way too high, and I wonder if I’ll ever measure up.

As my parents finish telling their story for about the thousandth time, I roll my eyes. Don’t get me wrong. I love my parents, and I’m fortunate they’re still blissfully in love after all these years together. Grossly in love at times. The amount of PDA I’ve seen in my own household would put the kids in my high school to shame. I’d never have a love like theirs, though. I don’t think I want it.

Finding your soulmate in high school? That’s like waiting for lightning to strike in the same spot twice. In other words, it wasn’t going to happen for this girl, even if my life was paralleling theirs a little too close for comfort.

Tucker, my best friend and the boy next door since childhood, was always a little too close for comfort.

They say history is bound to repeat itself—I say no way. But, sometimes, you can’t fight nature. And the way
he
made—and still makes—me feel? It’s the most natural feeling in the world. It’s like home. Comfortable. Cozy. And I want to wrap myself up in it and bask in the warmth in my heart.

Yeah, I have a feeling I am doomed, but that doesn’t mean I won’t put up one hell of a fight.

And then his parting words seep back in.

“I’m not your dad, Ava. I’m not chasing you until you realize we’re meant to be together. If you choose to leave, you’re doing so knowing exactly what you’re giving up.”

And then I make the biggest mistake of my life.

I leave.

Tucker is not my dad.

He lets me.

Stay tuned for Ava’s story in Words I Couldn’t Say. Coming 2016

Go back and read Jace and Lexi’s story in
Ignite

You can also meet the rest of the Explosive bunch in Incinerate, Inflame, and Intoxicate. All available now!

You can also catch up with Knox and the rest of the Explosive bunch in
Incinerate
,
Inflame
, and
Intoxicate
. All available now!

Incinerate

Inflame

Intoxicate

Intoxicate

To everyone who helped make this book the incredible story that it is… Derek, Teri Beth Cameron, Polly Matthews, Bianca Smith, Michelle Tan, Mara de Guzman, Mickey Reed, Stacey Ryan Blake, Robin Harper, and Chris Matthews for challenging me to use mullets—I couldn’t have done this without all of you! If I forgot anyone, forgive me!

A special thanks to Mr. Ian Turoff—the best biology teacher EVER! I promise it’s not because of you that I went into writing instead of science. I wish every kid could be lucky enough to learn from a teacher as great as you.

Long Slow Beautiful Dance
- Rascal Flatts

Want To
- Sugarland

The Best Day
- George Strait

Never Wanted Nothing More
- Kenny Chesney

She's My Kind of Rain
- Tim McGraw

Everybody
- Backstreet Boys

Watch The Wind Blow By
- Tim McGraw

Shut Up and Dance
- Walk the Moon

Strokin'
-Clarence Carter

Truly Madly Deeply
- Savage Garden

You Had Me From Hello
- Kenny Chesney

Foxey Lady
- Jimi Hendrix

I Was Made For Loving You
- Tori Kelly, Ed Sheeran

Kiss Me
- Sixpence None the Richer

Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right
- Billy Currington

When I Look At You-
Miley Cyrus

Gone Too Soon
- Daughtry

Cake By the Ocean-
DNCE

Just Say Yes-
Snow Patrol

Loving You Easy
- Zac Brown Band

Tessa Teevan
is a twenty something book junkie who is also obsessed with sports. Bengals, Buckeyes, Reds are who she spends her time rooting for. She works for the government during the day, hangs out with Air National Guard on the weekends, and is married to a guy 15 inches taller than her, making them quite the pair! They currently reside just outside of Dayton, OH with two adorably grumpy cats.

If she’s not writing or scouring through tons of photos of hot men, all in the name of research, then you can probably find her curled up with her Kindle, ignoring the rest of the world. She loves her sports almost as much as she loves her books. Her other obsessions include red wine, hot men, country music, and all things Grace Potter.

She adores hearing from readers, so please feel free to contact via any social media site listed below.

Website:
http://www.tessateevan.com/

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