Fusion (Explosive #5)

by Tessa Teevan

  Uncle Jesse for the win.

  I’d been livid when I’d found out about Chris’s not-so-brilliant plan. And even more livid when Lexi had informed me that Jeremy had accepted the dare. In hindsight, I had been a little angrier than the situation had called for, and even though Jeremy had oh-so-astutely pointed it out, it was definitely the hormones.

  He’d been growing out his hair for the past couple of months, but he refused to get it cut or styled until the day of prom. He wanted it to be a surprise, not only for me, but for everyone. I was both nervous and excited to see how it turned out. At the end of the day, it didn’t matter what his hairstyle was like. All that mattered was that we were together, we had fun, and we spent the night making memories we’d fondly remember for the rest of our lives.

  “Oh, Lexi,” I breathed out, very reminiscent of what she’d done the day I had gone to my first dance with Jeremy. “You look beautiful.”

  “You think?” she asked nervously as she smoothed her skirt out.

  I’d joined in with Jeremy on the ’80s theme, having lucked out that Mom still had an old bridesmaid dress that was pink, poofy, and utterly ridiculous. I loved it. Lexi, however, had decided to stick with the times. The svelte, black dress she’d chosen fit her slim frame perfectly. White flowers adorned the left side. It made her tan skin glow and accentuated her best features.

  “Absolutely. You look amazing,” I informed her, giving her another once-over. “Jace’s jaw is going to drop to the floor when he sees you. I hope I’m there to witness it.”

  Her eyes raced to meet mine, and she brought her hands to her stomach. “Jace? I’m going with Aaron. You know that.”

  I waved her off. “Whatever. I’ve seen the way both guys watch you. Jace will definitely be checking you out.”

  “Sierra, how many times do I have to tell you?”

  “You’re just friends, blah. You know, that’s what Jeremy and I always said.”

  “It doesn’t matter. He’s going to Alabama in the fall.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Tuscaloosa isn’t that far away. And isn’t that more of a reason to tell him how you feel now?”

  She let out a heavy sigh. “I’m with Aaron.”

  I wanted to grasp her shoulders and shake some sense into her, but if she wanted to live in denial, I guess she’d have to figure it out for herself. I just hoped it would happen sooner rather than later.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll shut up about it.”

  Lexi cleared her throat and darted towards the hall. “Excuse me. I need to retouch my mascara,” she said, not looking in my direction.

  It was my turn to sigh. Perhaps I’d been wrong in not letting Jeremy meddle. Jace and Lexi had been riding this friendship train for way too long, and it was only a matter of time until it derailed.

  “Oh, honey, you look so beautiful.” Mom standing in the doorway. “And that dress looks better on you than it ever did on me.”

  I grinned. “Oh, I don’t know about that. Maybe one day you can wear it to my wedding,” I teased.

  She laughed, shaking her head. “I can’t believe my little girl is going to her last school dance,” Mom said, wiping at the corners of her eyes. “It feels like just yesterday that Jeremy was picking you up for homecoming. And here you are, nearly three years later. Soon, you’ll be graduating and starting your own life. I’m not old enough for this.”

  I smiled at her. “You knew even back then that Jeremy and I would end up together, didn’t you?”

  “Honey, if you think Lydia and I haven’t been planning your wedding for years, you’re crazy.” She laughed, and I couldn’t tell if she was serious or not. But, knowing our moms, I was pretty sure she was serious.

  “Do you think it’s crazy? That I found the person I want to spend my life at the age of eight? I know in my heart that Jeremy’s it for me. Is that insane?”

  She tilted her head, her lips curling in a Mom-knows-best kinda smile. “For most people, yes. I’d call it crazy. The logical woman inside me wants to tell you that you need to experience more, but I know what I see when I look at you two, and that’s the real deal. Just do me a favor.”

  I waited for her to continue.

  “Just don’t go eloping on graduation day or anything like that.”

  I laughed. “Mom, trust me. As much as I love Jeremy and can’t wait to be Mrs. Banks, I have no desire to be a teenage bride. I can absolutely promise you I won’t get married on graduation day.”

  “Good. Because, when you do become Mrs. Jeremy Banks, you will make the most beautiful bride. But I’m still not wearing that dress.”

  The doorbell rang, and Lexi squealed in the hallway.

  Mom glanced back at me. “I want you to have fun tonight, but keep an eye on her?”

  “I would’ve even if you hadn’t asked. And Jeremy will, too.”

  The sound of Dad’s booming laugh echoed down the hall, and I was suddenly eager as ever to see Jeremy.

  When I stepped into the room, Jeremy sucked in a deep breath. It wasn’t a magical, eye-opening, enlightening experience like it had been with homecoming. We’d seen each other through multiple dances, but it still sent a little fluttering throughout my belly to know that, regardless of how many times he saw me all dolled up, I still affected him. That was one of the many things I loved about Jeremy. He always made me feel beautiful.

  “You look gorgeous, Sierra. Just like your mother,” he announced for the whole room to hear.

  Mom chuckled, shaking her head, and Dad, who’d been standing right next to him, elbowed him right in the side. He let out a little, “Oof,” but it didn’t dampen the grin on his face.

  “Sorry, Nick.”

  I stared at his shoes, not quite sure if I was ready for the big reveal. Instead, I slowly raked my gaze up, enjoying the way his powder-blue suit fit him perfectly, showing off his firm legs, his lean waist, and his toned arms. I hesitated when I got to his chest before I finally mustered up the courage to look up.

  I laughed.

  Like, laughed out loud. Bent-over, clutching-my-side, couldn’t-catch-my-breath type laughing.

  Jeremy frowned and gingerly patted the top of his hair so as not to mess it up.

  It was perfection.

  Part of me wondered if he’d printed out a photo of John Stamos circa 1988 and told the stylist, “Emulate that,” because he’d captured his hairstyle to a T. It was tall and poofy on the top but expertly tamed with spray. From my vantage point, the back was wavy, and I was surprised at how long it was. He’d been mostly wearing ball caps or pulling it back at school with Jenna’s help. Even during our make-out sessions, he’d refused to let me touch it. And now, I knew why.

  One small section of bang hung on the left side of his forehead, giving him that sexy-’80s-bad-boy look—if there were such a thing.

  In short, I loved it, and I couldn’t believe I’d ever been against this idea. He was still frowning at me, so I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around his neck. My fingertips played with the ends of his hair.

  “Well?” he asked, sounding nervous.

  “John Stamos has nothing on you, Jeremy Banks,” I told him, giving him a wink.

  His frown turned into a smile, and he leaned down, smashing his lips against mine. He only pulled back when my dad cleared his throat. His grin was sheepish, and he want to run a hand through his hair, but he stopped at the last second.

  “Jeremy, a word?” Dad asked.

  I groaned. “Dad, come on.”

  “It’s fine, babe,” Jeremy said, giving me a kiss on the forehead. “I can handle it.”

  And, handle it, he apparently did, because when he and Dad came back, they were chatting like old chums.

  When Nick asked to have a word, I knew exactly what it would entail. He’d done it before every dance I’d taken Sierra to, and I’d never begrudged him for that. Nick Sullivan loved his daughters, and he’d kick any ass he had to if they were hurt. I respected the hell out of him for it, so if I had to sit throu
gh another round of “don’t you dare touch my daughter,” I’d do it.

  I followed him into the kitchen and stood as he poured himself two fingers of scotch. He held the bottle up to me in a gesture that was asking if I wanted any. Again, he’d done this before.

  “No, sir. I’m driving,” I informed him.

  “Yes, you are, and I expect you to remember that tonight when you’re driving my daughter to and from the dance. And at the after party. I don’t care what the other kids are doing. You protect her first and foremost. Got it?”

  “I’m always careful when Sierra’s in the car. I’ll never let any harm come to her.”

  He nodded then sipped his drink. “Look, Jeremy, you’re a good kid. You always have been, and Vicky and I love you as if you’re our own son.”

  “Thank you, sir,” I said. “I hope one day that’ll be the case.”

  Nick stopped mid-drink. Then he set his glass down on the counter. “Right. About that. When I say you need to protect my daughter, I mean in everything. Not just in the car. Fuck,” he muttered before downing the contents of his glass. He pulled at his tie. “What I mean is…protection, son. Always.

  My eyes widened as I realized what he was trying to say. I backed away from the counter and shook my head profusely. “No, no, no. No protection,” I mumbled, which caused his face to turn twelve shades of red.

  “Excuse me?” he hissed.

  “No! What I meant was it’s not like that. Sierra and I…” Oh, God, was this seriously happening? “We aren’t sleeping together. We haven’t…we haven’t taken that step.”

  Nick stood up straight, the color returning to his face. “Oh. Oooohhh.” He took a moment to let it sink in. Then he pointed at me. “And don’t you dare start. Got it?”

  “Aye aye, sir,” I agreed, giving him a mock salute.

  “It’s not that I thought… I mean, no father wants to think about that, but I… Oh hell, can you not tell Sierra about this?” he asked, crosses the kitchen to pour more scotch. This time, I would’ve accepted an offer.

  “Well, sir, that leaves me with a dilemma. You’re asking me to keep something from your daughter, but at the same time, I do think she’d be okay not knowing about this conversation. Is this another one of your tests?”

  “No, not a test. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep this between us. At the same time, I’ll understand that you and Sierra have no secrets.”

  “I think this one can stay between us. No doubt.”

  He let out a sigh of relief. “All right, kid. Have fun. No touching, no kissing, no drinking. Got it?” he said with a stern smile.

  Again, he got a mock salute. “I don’t like to make promises I can’t keep,” I told him, and he laughed.

  “Watch it, Jeremy. Or I’ll lock her away in her room for the rest of her life.”

  And, in that moment, I turned serious. “All due respect, Nick, but if you did that, I’d just spend the rest of my life looking for the key, and I wouldn’t care who I’d have to get past in the process.”

  He came up beside me and slapped a hand on my shoulder. “I know you would. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll never stand in the way of your happiness with my baby girl. But if you ever hurt her…”

  “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself long enough for you to exact your revenge.”

  “Good. Now, I believe you have a beautiful girl waiting for you.”

  My eyes lit up. “You’re right about that.”

  “And one more thing, Jeremy,” he said, stopping me in my tracks. “No more talking about my hot wife. Get your own,” he warned.

  “Oh, I plan on it,” I informed him.

  “Maybe when she’s thirty. Maybe,” he said, laughing.

  I laughed, too. There was no way I’d last that long, and I told him that. His laughter died down, but I had a feeling he was okay with it.

  PROM WITH JEREMY WAS one of the best nights of my life. Everyone, naturally, loved his mullet. He actually considered keeping it, but it was too poofy for his baseball hat. He lasted one practice before he cut it off. I was actually sad to see it go.

  Lexi, however, didn’t have the greatest prom night. Until the end. Long story short, Jace’s date, the ever-bitchy Mallory Buchanan, threw a hissy fit any time Jace so much as looked in Lexi’s direction. And he looked quite a bit. I’d been spot on when I’d said his jaw would hit the floor. When he laid his eyes on her, they grew, and I was pretty sure something in his pants did, too. Mallory, of course, noticed his reaction and did everything she could to create distance between the two.

  By the end of the dance, Jace got fed up and said that he was asking Lexi to dance. After all, they were best friends. It wouldn’t be right if they didn’t at least dance once. Mallory stomped her foot and grasped his arm.

  “If you so much as touch that girl, we are through, Jace,” she hissed at him.

  By then, people were taking notice of the scene Mallory was creating—Lexi included. She was standing fifteen feet away with her boyfriend, Aaron, who was nervously watching it all unfold. His eyes kept darting back and forth between Mallory and Lexi, and I started to become suspicious.

  Jace, in turn, did the same. His angry eyes left Mallory’s and landed on Lexi, softening when he saw her standing there. He yanked his arm out of the wench’s grasp and crossed the room. Mallory, in all of her glory, was hot on his tails.

  She darted around Jace and was in Lexi’s face before Jace could get there. Oh, no. That bitch. I started to move towards them when Jeremy stopped me.

  “Let go, Jeremy. No one gets in Lexi’s face.”

  “I know, baby, but let it play out first. This is McAllister’s chance. You gotta give it to him.”

  As much as I wanted to step in and protect my baby sister, Jeremy was right. Discontent, I settled back against his chest.

  “You think you can steal my boyfriend?” Mallory screeched. “Well, you’ve got another thing coming!”

  Lexi’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “What are you talking about? I’m not trying to steal anyone. I’m here with Aaron. I get it, Mallory. You’re with Jace. We’re just friends. You know that.”

  “Oh, please! You’ve been staring at him all night.”

  Jace reached for Mallory’s arm. “Let’s just go, okay?”

  “No, Jace. I want you to end this once and for all. It’s not normal for you two to be so close when you’re dating other people.”

  “What are you asking me to do, Mallory?”

  “It’s her or it’s me, Jace!”

  I sucked in a deep breath. The dreaded ultimatum. I prayed to God that Jace could see beyond the big boobs and the blow jobs.

  I should’ve known he wouldn’t let me down.

  “Alexa is my best friend, Mallory.”

  “But I’m your girlfriend.”

  His eyes flashed, his jaw tightened, and he pulled at the collar of his shirt while his eyes darted around the gym. I knew what was about to happen, and he wasn’t pleased with having to make a scene.

  “Not anymore.”

  Mallory gasped. “But…Jace…”

  “No. I don’t want to hear it. You don’t tell me what to do or who I can be friends with. I should’ve done this a long time ago. We’re over, Mallory.” He turned to look at Lexi, who took a step towards him, more than ready to offer a friendly hug.

  Mallory didn’t miss it and was ready to fire the next shot. “That’s fine, Jace. You two can have each other. Aaron’s better in bed than you are, anyway.”

  All conversations in the vicinity came to a halt, the silence louder than the music pumping through the speakers.

  “What?” Lexi whispered, turning to Aaron, whose face had drained of all its color.

  Wicked delight gleamed on Mallory’s face as she hooked her arm through Aaron’s. “Let me teach you a lesson, honey,” she said, smiling at my sister. “When you don’t put out, your boyfriend will find someone who will.”

  Lexi’s lower lip trembled. Her ey
es darted between Aaron and Mallory. “How long?”

  Aaron wrenched out of Mallory’s hold and advanced towards Lexi. Jace and I both took a step towards them. Jeremy, again, held me back while Jace placed a hand on Aaron’s chest, acting as the perfect barrier for my sister. Aaron pushed, then attempted to bypass him. Jace, however, remained steadfast.

  “Lexi, please!” Aaron shouted.

  “Take a step back,” Jace ordered.

  “But—” Aaron started, but Jace used his hand to push him.

  Jace’s eyes darkened as he leaned in close until he and Aaron were almost nose to nose. “Take a fucking step back, or we’ll finish this outside.”

  Lexi rested her arm on Jace’s. When he peered down at her, she simply shook her head. “It’s not worth it, Jace. He’s not worth it.” Her eyes met Aaron’s, and he’d gone rigid at Jace’s warning. “How long?”

  “It only happened one time, baby. I swear! It didn’t mean anything,” he pleaded, as if that would matter.

  Lexi’s eyes flicked to Mallory, who smiled in triumph. One time my ass.

  “That’s one time too many,” she said.

  Aaron’s eyes darkened when he realized he wasn’t going to salvage his relationship. So, like the asshole he was, he tried to get in one last word.

  “Maybe if you weren’t such a prude—”

  And that was the day Aaron learned that Jace McAllister always followed through.

  The words had barely left his lips when Jace’s fist crashed into his jaw. When Aaron dropped in a heap, Mallory squealed, rushing to his side. Once he’d come to, he held a hand to his cheek.

  Jace bent down. “Stay the fuck away from her.” Then he turned to Mallory. “And stay the fuck away from me.” When he stood, his eyes softened when they fell on Lexi. “You good?”

  She nodded, her eyes still wide as she stared down at Aaron. “Good.”

  Before he could respond, Coach McGrew came over and took Jace by the arm, hauling him out of the gym. Lexi stood there, stock-still, almost as if she were in shock. Mallory glared up at her, about to let loose on my sister now that Jace was gone.