West End Wonder: A Hero Club Novel

by Sheri Lynn

  A few weeks ago, she decided to step back from her career and make a real go of it with Trevor. But that spontaneous decision came pre-Lily. And she loved him. Damn, she loved him. But she loved her job. It gave her validation. She excelled at it. And even if her personal life crashed and burned, her professional life would give her what she put into it. It represented a sure thing. And no one else could give that to her. And she couldn’t allow anyone to take it from her.

  And she and Lily needed it. They needed security in every form they could obtain.

  She broached the subject of visiting daycares with Trevor each night. He refused to discuss it. Too soon he said. He argued several points. First one being, they just got Lily’s room the way they wanted, and she enjoyed being in it. Second, neither of them knew the first thing about her previous life. Didn’t they want her to get acquainted with her new surroundings and feel secure before they introduced something else unfamiliar to her. And thirdly—did it even matter. He made a great case.

  So, another week went by.

  Sophia’s anxiety grew. Another case of clairvoyance perhaps.

  The big bomb made its bold appearance on a Friday. She came home. Her head hurt from all the bullshit at work. Lily demanded her attention. And Trevor. He sat down and announced they needed to talk.

  Oh no.

  The talk. How come she never got to say it. He always beat her to the punch. Shithead. Damn if she had any brain cells left she would speak up and voice some lame cop-out before he did.

  “There’s a tropical storm and it’s expected to develop into a hurricane. I’ve been so preoccupied with Lily. Watching the Giggles. Or Wiggles. I have paid no attention to the news or weather. Roatán is in its path. I have to go. I know the timing sucks—,”

  “Go. Just go. Sooner better than later.” Her humiliation increased until she wondered if she could withstand it. Such a silly girl. How did she expect things to turn out.

  He rushed to her. As he usually did. Embracing her. Telling her everything would be all right. But would it? Of course, it would. If she made it so for herself.

  How long can one exist in the lingering pain of a doomed relationship? For as long as one remained in it. They wouldn’t end up together. And because he had her trust in him and not make alternate childcare arrangements, she would be forced to stay home. All the hard work and long hours she devoted to her company since she returned would go up in smoke.

  “This isn’t a choice thing. It’s a Mother Nature thing. I can’t just leave my plane and boat and equipment at risk. I have insurance, but it’s more than that. We’re a community. I have people I care about. Why do you have to be so damn unyielding, Sophia? I’ll be back.” He pulled back, his arms still around her waist and gazed at her with his tender brown eyes, which melted her with promises. A promise of forever.

  But his actions didn’t coincide. He gave her no long-term assurances.

  “I see things as they are. Not how I want them to be. You kept insisting you’d be here. Eventually this would have come up. So, let’s go ahead and confront it. We both know you aren’t going to stay here forever playing house with me.” She couldn’t spend their days apart pining for him. It hurt. It weakened her and slackened her until she had no motivation.

  “Whoa. Wow. You really see things that way? Oh my fuck, Sophia. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. You are so rigid. It has to be your way or no way. Things may not be your definition of ‘ideal’ but when two people love each other they don’t give up every time they hit a rough patch. And this isn’t even a rough patch. You want me to do exactly what you want. Do you ever think of anyone other than yourself?” He snatched his arms away from her as if she scalded him. He went to the kitchen, placed his elbows on the counter and leaned into his hands. He scrubbed his forehead in frustration.

  “Why do you even love me?” she squeaked.

  “So many reasons. But this sure as hell isn’t one of them,” he muttered. “Help me understand why you behave like this. You’re a little old to still be having daddy issues. And I believe I’ve proven myself to you time and time again. I came here. After you left Roatán, I came for you. To fight for you—for us. And as soon as something beyond my control necessitates my return…you react by pushing me away. Again, you spout out all these unfounded theories. Can you not see that that’s all they are? And were. Theories. Insecurities.” Dropping his hands and slapping them on the counter, his sad eyes searched hers.

  She wanted this. A life with him and Lily. She did. But he hadn’t offered anything. Except him. Sporadically. Which in itself was a grand offering. She didn’t want a part-time boyfriend. She did want it all or nothing. And if that made her a bad, selfish person—so be it. Having an occasional partner in life didn’t appeal to her. Him there. Her here. When one could break away, they would be together. And Lily deserved a stable male figure in her life. Something Sophia never had.

  “I wish you would stop pushing the people who love you away,” Trevor murmured.

  Her irritation grew. “This is something we would eventually need to discuss, Trevor. I don’t want to live my life wondering when you will leave. Because you would. And then anxiously awaiting your return. You haven’t broached the subject. You haven’t provided me with your thoughts on the matter. It’s like living in a state of dread. Knowing your heart will hurt but you don’t know when to expect it.”

  “Your heart doesn’t have to hurt. Two people who are committed to one another trust and compromise,” he countered.

  “My heart does hurt when you aren’t with me. Maybe yours doesn’t feel the ache like mine does. Either way, you want me to compromise and accept something that pains me.”

  “We’re getting nowhere. You didn’t want to hear it, but too fucking bad. You’re so emphatic when it comes to your mom. Your mom is a drunk. And a terrible housekeeper. But she pulled a gun on your dad. And she never cowered or hesitated. She warned him she would never allow him to touch another hair on your head. She loves you. Again, not your translation or most for that matter of the ideal mother’s love. And sure, she took the easy way out. Alcohol became her best friend. She got you out of there. And she’s done everything to keep you away from there.” He regarded her with pity in his eyes. He watched her for a reaction. She didn’t know how to feel about what he told her. “She is your mom. And she wanted Lily out of there too. Have you ever thought about trying to help her? I get the distinct impression she loathes herself as much as you despise her.”

  Sophia’s throat caught. As in no air. Nothing. She wanted to scream. At him. To get out. Leave and don’t come back. She hated him. But she didn’t.

  She did help her mom. She put money in her bank account every month.

  “What happens from here?” she prodded. She decided to alleviate her conscience. At least attempt to. If there needed to be a reason to give up—why should it just be her burden to bear.

  Lily waddled over and pulled at her knees. Sophia gave the baby the only smile she could muster before turning her attention back to Trevor. “Guess we have to save this discussion for a later time.” Sophia kicked off her shoes and followed Lily. “Wait. We have limited time. Oh my. Something tells me that restriction will be standard for us,” she snarked. She couldn’t control it. One catty comment kept discharging after another. “Never saw that coming. All the false promises—need I say more.”

  His eyes were glued to her. His jaw twitched from the evident strain he inflicted on it. The palpable tension in the room, seething inside him, and brewing in her made it hard to breathe.

  Sophia tried her hardest not to make eye contact with him. Pretending to be involved with Lily and her blocks, Sophia forced her attention away from Trevor when he went to the bedroom.

  She heard the closet door open and then close a few minutes later. The sound of dresser drawers sliding out and in echoed through the house and in Sophia’s chest.

  “Lily has some of those frozen mac n cheese bowls in the freezer. There�
��s chicken from last night in the fridge. You have my number Sophia. Chances are I won’t have service if and once the storm hits. I have someone coming on Sunday to take care of Lily next week. You won’t object.” He stood in the bedroom doorway with his bags.

  She overreacted. Didn’t she? Maybe not. Was it wrong for her to want a man who would go to bed with her each night and wake up with her every morning?

  Who did he have coming on Sunday? And why Sunday? An interview perhaps. As if she would trust Lily in the hands of anyone other than herself and Trevor. He strode to the front door without even a glance at her.

  She chased after him. “Who? You can’t just leave like this. I know you don’t want to.” Low blow. Even for her. She initiated this. Not him. He did inform her he had to leave and for a blameless cause she couldn’t disagree with, but she chose to take the lessor than mature route.

  “Sophia. I never thought we’d get another chance. I imagined it would be better than I remembered. But I’m older. You’re older. It’s time to shit or get off the pot. Sorting us out and conferring over major decisions won’t happen overnight. We have a decade of our lives without each other and I wouldn’t expect you to uproot and abandon everything you’ve accomplished.” Placing his backpack on the floor, he sidestepped her and went to Lily. He picked her up and kissed each of her chubby cheeks. She whined when he situated her back on the floor with her toys.

  The Trevor that approached her at the door appeared defeated. And Sophia wished she knew what to say to make everything all better. But she didn’t know. Trevor advised, “My Mom will be here on Sunday. I arranged and paid for an Uber to bring her here, so there’s nothing for you to worry about. My ride should be driving up any second now.”

  He gazed at her with empty eyes. His hand came behind her head pulling her face to his. He kissed her. A meaningful kiss. Not passionate. Not tame. An intimate kiss. Two souls merging. Two souls floundering.

  Trevor’s mom, Becky showed up smiling on Sunday. Sophia yearned to run and hide. Not that she didn’t like Becky. She loved her. While in college, Sophia spent the holidays and a couple of weeks during the summers with Trevor’s family. Becky had always treated her as if she were part of the family. As if she’d always been there and always would be. Tom, Trevor’s dad, made her feel the same way.

  Lily loved Becky too. They immediately forged a bond. Sophia had no hesitations in leaving the two of them on Monday. And when she came home, Becky had a wonderful, home-cooked meal prepared.

  Becky didn’t seem to have any knowledge of any conflict between Sophia and Trevor. Together they followed the weather channel. Trevor texted and called giving them updates. Their conversations were generic. At least they ended with each of them professing their love for each other.

  “I can’t tell you how happy it made me and Tom to hear the two of you reconnected. You were the only one for him. That boy has always been his own person and can make the best of most any situation, but he had seemed unfulfilled and uninspired since you two parted ways. In the relationship department anyway,” Becky stated.

  It did feel odd having Becky there and reestablishing a relationship with her when Sophia had so many concerns about the state of her and Trevor’s situation. And observing the affection between Becky and Lily filled her with happiness. She hated for it to end.

  “Becky…did you find it difficult over the years when Tom would be gone for months to the hunting lodge?” Sophia asked. Tom still went on various hunts around the globe every year in addition to running his own outfit.

  Shifting on the couch to face Sophia, Becky looked at her over her wire-framed glasses. “Good gosh yes. Between my family and friends forever telling me they didn’t know how I did it, I can’t answer it either. I love him. When the boys were younger, we went with him.” A look of nostalgia came across her kind face. “They loved that long boat ride upriver with nothing but nature to entertain them. The birds. Turtles. And Tom kept them busy. It gave them a sense of pride. And it brought me a lot of peace. So when they started school, I didn’t want it to end. So, I homeschooled them until middle school.” She patted Sophia’s knee. “But you know that. Bill was anxious to go to school and meet other kids his age. Trevor…not so much.”

  Sophia had forgotten Becky homeschooled them for many years. Not that Sophia wanted to follow in her footsteps, but it did spin a whole different perspective on things. Lily was young. She had years before she started school.

  She and Trevor needed to talk. They needed to make some kind of plan. If she had any clue about his wishes and intentions and his thoughts on implementing them she hoped and believed she could cope better—even successfully.

  She recognized her culpability. She knew what she agreed to on the beach in Utila. But they didn’t consist of just him and her any longer. They had Lily.

  Chapter 18

  Trevor

  He shouldn’t have left things as they were with Sophia. He should’ve told her. But he wanted it to be special and not some rushed event. Damn hurricane. And just like a woman, the storm veered north and downgraded. Ha ha. Not that he wasn’t relieved. But he made an unnecessary trip and it caused problems with Sophia.

  Then again, hindsight is 20/20. If he wouldn’t have gone to Roatán, the damn hurricane probably would have bulldozed the island.

  He hadn’t told Sophia when he planned on returning. She hadn’t asked. She and his mom had been tracking the storm, so they knew it was no longer a threat. He caught the first flight he could once he completed a few tasks and felt comfortable leaving.

  The driver dropped him off at the end of the driveway. The living room lights were on in the house, but with his delay in Atlanta he assumed everyone would be asleep. Using his key. Yes, his key. He had a key to her house, but their home. He let himself in.

  As quietly as he could manage, he set his bags down and went straight for Sophia. He didn’t expect to find her sitting up in bed with her laptop. The scare on her pretty face transformed into genuine delight. She shoved her computer to the mattress and charged him.

  “Trevor. I’m so happy you’re back. I’m so sorry. I’m moody and…stupid,” she jabbered while planting kisses all over his face.

  He crushed her to him, holding her firmly. “I’m happy I’m back too. I missed you.”

  Reluctantly he loosened his hold and guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. He sat beside her holding her hands in his. “I need to apologize too. I should have been more direct with you. But you—whatever my reasoning, I should have. Believe it or not, I get scared sometimes too. You had so much to deal with and find balance.” Damn he couldn’t relay what he wanted to the way he wanted to. She had the opposite expression on her face he imagined. She had a look of terror in her eyes. He thought she might cry.

  Sliding off the bed and onto one knee, he reached in his pocket and pulled out the symbol he prayed conveyed his love and devotion. “I do not want to spend the rest of my life without you. You and I both bring and create obstacles that as one, we can overcome.”

  Damn it. She started crying. Giant tears slipped from her eyes. He moved too fast. But he meant it when he said shit or get off the pot. It applied to him too.

  She slung her arms around his neck and head-butted him off balance. They both toppled to the floor. “Yes. Yes. Yes!” she screamed.

  Being back on the islands felt great. It had only been three months, but his last trip involved preparing for a hurricane and tackling business and property issues. After Sophia accepted his proposal, she wasted no time in planning the wedding and in obtaining a passport for Lily. Thank goodness. They found common ground. He couldn’t wait to marry her. And she couldn’t wait to marry him.

  He made several flights that morning bringing the guests to their new beach lot on Utila. And Marti boated people over on the ‘My Slo-phia.” They had no plans to relocate from D.C. anytime in the near future, but they owned a lot. ‘Their’ lot. He and Marti hired another dive instructor, and Trevor would mana
ge West End Wonders website and online bookings from the States.

  Several times a year he would come and spend a couple of weeks on Roatán assisting with the business. His home was with Sophia. He realized where he stayed and slept never mattered to him much in the past because it would never feel like home without her.

  The wedding would be a joyous occasion for many reasons. Amanda and Pete were in attendance. Amanda would have her bridesmaid’s photos. As were Renee and Stuart, Ellie and her plus one, his family, and Polly. Sophia reached out to her mother and Polly now lived with them in D.C. She went to regular AA meetings and had become a great addition to their growing family.

  Yes. Sophia was expecting. Seems she didn’t take her birth control with her when she left for Durkinville. Without any contraception and the amount of sex they had during that time if she didn’t become pregnant it would’ve been one hell of a knock to his manhood.

  Sophia truly was a pain in the ass. But she was his pain in the ass. Til death do they part.

  And Sophia acknowledged he would always be the ‘West End Wonder’, but he was her ‘D.C. Dream’.

  Cocky Hero Club

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  Other Books by Sheri Lynn

  His Eternal Promise

  Carlee put everything into her family and her job over the last couple of years, sacrificing any personal life. After a rare evening out with a few girlfriends, she encounters a captivating man under inexplicable circumstances. Against all rational judgment, they share an evening of the most fulfilling and erotic sex she's ever experienced.