Distracted: An Everyday Heroes Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Michelle Fernandez

  We pull away and catch our breath. “If we keep this up, sweetheart, I may have to alter my original plan,” Spencer says.

  “What plan?” I look around the boat, seeing a pile of blankets, pillows, a picnic basket, and a cooler on the bench. “What are you up to, Spencer Hayes?”

  “Why don’t you take a seat while I drive to our destination.”

  I sit and drink him in as he turns on the engine, switches the gears, and we float away from the dock. He’s wearing a white T-shirt showcasing the muscular arms that held me last night.

  This man is my heart and soul. When we were kids, I told myself that I would love this man from afar, as friends. But now that I have him, I don’t know how I survived all those years. We had to fall apart to realize how we easily fall back together, fitting perfectly. But, as he said, it was worth the wait.

  The cool wind whips my hair and I welcome the freedom of the open space in the middle of nowhere. I look over my shoulder at his family’s lake house. I visited this area many times as a kid, but this time it’s different. It’s just us two instead of being accompanied by our parents.

  The boat comes to a stop, and he shuts off the engine. “We here,” he says.

  “Here?”

  “Our retreat,” he says. “And the dare you still owe me.”

  I give him a questioning look. “What in the world are you talking about?”

  “Well, you got the tattoo. I finally got my forfeit kiss and now it’s time to jump in this cold water with me.”

  My laugh echoes in the open space. That explains why he wore board shorts. “You’re crazy. I’m not jumping in that freezing water. And that’s not even a dare. Plus, it’s long overdue and expired.”

  “You’re jumping in with me, Buttercup.” He narrows his eyes, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

  I look down at my sweater and yoga pants, then look back at him. He pulls off his shirt and throws it to the side. He’s serious. He really wants us to jump.

  I shake my head. “You’re nuts, Spencer.”

  “I’m nuts over you.”

  “Don’t try to woo me,” I caution him. “It’s not going to work.”

  “I already did. All last night.”

  I shake my head. “Nope. Not doing it.”

  “You owe me this. Come on, whatever happened to the adventurous and daring Sabrina Kent? Are you chicken or something?”

  He’s taunting me, knowing I hate to be called chicken.

  Even though he’s almost a foot taller than me, I stand to be eye level with him. “I am not a chicken.” I take off my sweater and remove my pants, leaving me in just my bra and panties.

  “Let’s make this more interesting,” he says. His tongue glides along his bottom lip as he steps closer, and his sinful eyes lock onto mine. He hoists me, wrapping his arm around my waist and flush against his warm chest. “Skinny dip.”

  “No. No!” I raise my voice, squirming out of his hold. “Absolutely not! What if someone sees us?”

  “Look around, sweetheart.” His eyes fill with mischief as he challenges me. “This is our oasis, and there’s no one around for miles. So, let’s jump in.”

  My eyes peer over the edge of the boat. “What if there are fish that want to eat me, like piranhas or sharks?”

  His laugh roars. “I guarantee there are no piranhas and sharks in these parts.” Spencer squeezes me a little tighter. “Try again.”

  “What if I catch a cold? Yeah, that’s it. You don’t want me to get Lily sick, right?”

  “And it’s okay to get me sick?” he tosses back.

  “Well, you are the one making me jump into that insanely cold water.”

  “Suit yourself,” he says, and without a second thought, Spencer pulls down his board shorts and plummets into the water.

  Holy shit! He really jumped.

  My hands grip the edge as I stare into the shimmering water below and wait for him to surface. Seconds go by and nothing. He’s toying with me, but I’m not falling for his silly games.

  It’s almost a minute, and he hasn’t come up for air. Now I’m getting worried.

  “Spencer?” Nothing. Then a few bubbles break the surface. “Oh my god!” He probably landed wrong, got stuck on some water plant, like moss or water lettuce.

  Without preamble, I draw in a deep breath and torpedo into the cold water. I go under and it’s murky as I swim around. I don’t see him through the dark and cloudy blue-green water.

  I come back up for air and take a deep breath. Blinking the water off my lashes as I whip my head around, but there is still no sign of him.

  I plunge back under the water, going deeper and deeper, until I am almost at the lowest point, thinking he may have hit his head and is at the bottom of the lake. My heart is pounding in my tight chest as I hold my breath. I can’t see a damn thing. I swim back up and break the surface, filling my lungs with the air it needs.

  “Spencer!” I scream, treading water and trying to stay afloat. But my legs are getting tired.

  I paddle to the other side of the boat, all the while calling his name.

  When I reach the other side, I am met with Spencer’s smug smile as he holds onto the ladder. Now I am beyond pissed.

  “You’re an asshole!” I yell at him, splashing a wave of water at him, then swim away.

  “Oh, come on!” He catches my wrist. “Come back here. I was only playing around.”

  “That wasn’t funny, Spencer. I seriously thought you drowned.”

  “Sabs, you do know that I can swim. Very well too.” He chuckles, and I want to slap that smile off his face.

  “I hate you!”

  “You don’t hate me,” he says, pulling me closer.

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure I do.” I wiggle my hand to loosen his grip, but he doesn’t relent. I narrow my eyes and demand, “Let go of me, Spencer.”

  “I told you I’m never letting you go. Plus, you can’t hate me because we’re family, remember?” He gives me one of those endearing smiles that completely hypnotizes me.

  I can’t resist him when his eyes lock onto mine as we go back in time. “I remember.” Only this time, we really are a family. I love this man so much, even more than I did back then.

  The sun feels good on my skin as we lay on the floor of the boat, soaking in the rays. We spent most of the morning and afternoon pleasuring each other. Who knew having sex on a rocking boat could elevate our orgasms?

  “You’re beautiful.” Spencer’s voice is low and gravelly. He gently brushes my hair behind my ear. “I love you, Sabrina.”

  “And I love you,” I say, lying buck naked as he feeds me grapes like I’m a goddess. He did say he wanted to worship me while we made love. So, I’m playing the part.

  Spencer dips down, his lips meeting mine, and he kisses me softly as if I’m a delicate flower. “I have a gift for you,” he says. “I wanted to wait to give it to you later, but I think now’s a good time.”

  I sit up with excitement, pulling the blanket around me and tucking my feet under my butt.

  Spencer reaches behind me and grabs a white box tucked behind the bench cushions.

  My eyes go wide and my hand covers my mouth. He’s given me flowers and a friendship bracelet, but never jewelry, which is safe to assume is in the small Pandora box resting on his palm.

  “What’s the occasion?” I ask.

  “Just open it,” he urges.

  It creaks as I slowly open the lid.

  Spencer pulls the bracelet out of the box and takes my wrist to fasten it on. “I saw this at the jewelry store in town the other day. And I thought it was perfect. It is the epitome of what we are.”

  Several charms dangle from the dainty chain.

  The sun.

  The moon.

  Two S’s.

  A rainbow.

  A unicorn.

  And a heart with family engraved across it.

  I lift my gaze back to him and the waterworks stream down my face.

/>   “Am I to assume you like it?” Spencer asks, softly wiping the wetness with his thumbs.

  “No. I don’t like it . . . I love it.”

  “I fucking love you, Sabrina. So, so much. I wish I could turn back time, to the moment you got this tattoo.” His hand pushes the blanket to the side and his fingers slide over the ink. “Sometimes you have to lose something to realize what it’s worth. I should have told you then, but I was the one who was the chicken.”

  “Spencer,” I whisper just before he kisses me with so much reverence. When he says those words, I feel it in the marrow of my bones. I love how his lips feel on mine and how his fingers wrap around the locks of my hair.

  We pull apart and his hand cups the side of my face. “I’m scared as hell to lose you again,” he says.

  “I’m not going anywhere. You have me. All of me. And Lily. You are my home. My happy place.”

  “And you are mine.”

  Sabrina

  “You’re not nice, Spencie. Why won’t you tell me?” Lily squeals as I help her settle into her seat.

  “What’s the point of a surprise if I tell you?” Spencer says, folding Lily’s wheelchair. She hasn’t grasped how to use crutches, and quite frankly, a wheelchair is much easier for her to get around in.

  “Not even a little hint?” Lily asks again while I cover my mouth, hiding my laugh.

  This girl will not relent until we get to our mystery destination. Lily will stop at nothing, and I am going to enjoy watching him resist her sweet charms.

  “Nope.”

  “No fair. Mommy? Do you know where we are going?”

  “No, Buttercup,” I answer. And thank goodness for that. If I did, she would hound me too, and I’m done keeping secrets, even if this is a good one to keep. I love how Spencer has done so much to keep a smile on her face.

  “Now, buckle up, squirt,” Spencer says as the train starts to move. “And if you’re a good little girl, maybe . . . just maybe I will give a teeny-tiny hint.”

  Lily mumbles under her breath as she pulls the strap over her jumpy little body. “This is pure torture,” she huffs as she tucks Astra under her arms and holds her tight. “I’ve never been on a train before.”

  “Never?” Spencer throws our overnight bags in the overhead compartment and settles into the seat next to mine.

  “Nope. Never ever,” Lily says, looking out the window.

  “What else have you never-ever done before, Lily-pop?”

  “Lots of things . . . remember, I am only five.”

  “Good point. Well, I’m going to do my best to have you explore as much as your little heart desires.”

  “Like horseback riding?” Lily proposes.

  Spencer gives a nod. “Sure.”

  Lily taps her chin. “Like go on a balloon ride?”

  “Sure.”

  “Like go flying out of an airplane?”

  “You mean skydive?” Spencer clarifies, then looks at me. I shake my head. “Um, maybe when you’re older. Much older.”

  Lily looks over at our linked hands. I can’t tell if she’s uncomfortable with it or she’s trying to get used to the idea we are together. For a thirty-six-year-old man to be shocked at the news, I can only imagine what her five-year-old mind must be thinking. And yet, here we are taking a train to somewhere that Spencer has planned for us.

  “So, are you like boyfriend-girlfriend or something?” Lily asks, scrunching her face.

  I don’t know how to answer that, so I look at Spencer as I tilt my head.

  “Do you want us to be?” Spencer asks, cautiously.

  Good one, Spencer, answer a five-year-old’s question with another question.

  Lily shrugs and her eyes go down to her fidgeting fingers. “I don’t know.”

  “What Spencer is trying to say, sweetie, is we are taking baby steps,” I answer.

  “Baby steps? You’re having a baby?” Lily asks.

  “There is no baby,” I say quickly. “Spencer and I are, er . . . getting to know each other.”

  “But I thought you already know each other,” she states.

  Spencer clears his throat. “I want us to be a family. If that’s okay with you?”

  “Okay,” she says softly and picks at her nail.

  I know my little girl, and there’s confusion percolating inside her head. As a parent, I’m doing everything I can to ease her worry about Spencer never leaving us. Lily just found out he’s her daddy, and from the outside, she seems like she’s taking it well. But, deep down, she must have so many questions for one, why I lied to her.

  Spencer has spent so much time with Lily by taking her to get ice cream, the toy store, and the park. He’s playing catch up and proving to me he’s going to be a good father to her.

  I told him I want to take things slow, but it’s kind of hard. This is surreal, and I can’t believe that in only a matter of a few weeks, how much my life has changed. But I need to stay focused, not be distracted by the butterflies in my tummy and the damn birds flying around my head.

  “You know what?” Spencer speaks up after a moment of awkward silence. “This place that we are going to has the best funnel cakes ever!”

  Her eyes brighten and so does that smile again. Spencer is a natural. Her ponytail swings side to side. He taps the sole of her sneaker and it lights up. Lily looks down at her teal-colored shirt with a rainbow on it before she looks up at us.

  “Now that’s a big hint, if I ever heard one,” I say, giving her a wink.

  Lily taps her finger on her chin, whispers in her unicorn’s ear before touching her ear to the animal’s snout. Lily’s eyes turn back to us as she says, “Astra knows where we are going.”

  “Oh yeah?” Spencer questions. “Where?”

  “Astra thinks we are going to see rainbows. She said they have lots of goodies there, and she can get more dream dust.”

  “Well, there may be a rainbow or two there,” Spencer hints.

  “Cool,” Lily says. “Can I watch my movie now?”

  “Sure,” I say.

  She pulls out her tablet and headphones from her purple backpack, then powers it up. The only thing I know is our destination is at least a few hours from Sunnyville. I packed coloring books, toys, and whatever will keep her occupied while traveling and for our overnight stay. I normally don’t default to technology, but right now, it is my savior.

  Lily slips the headphones over her ears and is enthralled once the movie plays. We watch her for the next few minutes in silence before Spencer speaks up. “It’s weird, you know.”

  “What is?” I ask, turning my face to look at his profile. Lily has his nose. A perfect bridge and not too pointy.

  “I never expected my visit back home would be like this. I thought for sure I was going to be there for a couple of days max. Then I’d be back in LA, trying to figure out what the hell I would do during my six-week suspension.”

  “Since you brought up Los Angeles . . . we need to talk about that,” I say, nervously.

  “Okay, what about it?” he asks as he turns to me, then lowers his voice. “That’s where we are going.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes and no. We are going to drop off our bags at my place, and then we are off to Lily’s surprise.”

  “We’re staying at your place tonight?”

  “Is that a problem?” he asks.

  I turn and look out the window. Blurred lines of greenery pass us. Is it a problem? I have no idea. I’m going to see a different side of Spencer. In the last couple of weeks, we have been in the Sunnyville bubble. I am not sure what to expect when I step into his world.

  Will he realize how much he missed LA?

  Will he decide his leave is only temporary?

  Am I being silly about this whole thing? Probably. But I’m still nervous, nevertheless.

  His fingers press under my chin, forcing me to look at him. “It’s just one night, and we are back in Sunnyville by tomorrow night.”

  “Yeah. Su
re,” I say with a shaky breath.

  “Talk to me. What’s going on in your pretty little head.”

  When it’s just Spencer and me, it’s just us. And when I’m thrown back into reality, Lily is my priority and her well-being is at stake. I’m a big girl, and I can take it if Spencer changes his mind. But my daughter can’t go through the heartache of knowing she had a daddy that loved her for a short time, but not enough to stick around.

  “I’ve been thinking about our situation.” I look over at Lily when she giggles at something on the screen. “I love you. I love this new us. The way we are right now. And I don’t want it ever to end—”

  “I hear a but coming,” he quickly interjects. “Sabs, where is this all coming from? I told you how I felt. Do you not believe me?”

  “What if you realize when we get back to LA, you don’t want to leave your life there? What if you realize you don’t want to come and live with us in San Francisco? What if you realize this whole thing isn’t what you want—”

  He presses his lips to my fingers. “What if I already realized what I want is right here—you and Lily. And my suspension was a godsend, making me realize this break away was exactly what I needed. That I need to leave my LA cops-and-robbers-life and spend the rest of it with you and Lily.”

  “You mean that?” I ask. “I just want to do it right this time. Take things slowly. This is all new for Lily, and I want to make sure we ease into this.”

  His face gives nothing away when he smiles back at me. “I love you and that little girl over there,” he professes, “more than my own life and more than LA. I’ll do whatever it takes. If that means we need to take it slow, then we will. If that means I live in San Francisco, then okay. I will be the happiest man on earth as long as I have you and Lily in my life.”

  “Really?”

  “Really,” he answers.

  I want to take his face in my hands and kiss him. A flood of memories flashes through my mind. When we were kids, when I got my tattoo, our first kiss, and when we made love. Although we aren’t the same, my heart never truly stopped loving him, and I pray he doesn’t break my heart again.