Beautiful One (22 page)

****

Simon and Shawn were beat. We had spent the day at the beach. Mason had been a lifesaver and had joined up with Melissa and me. He'd spent most of his time in the water with Shawn boogie-boarding. Simon had befriended a couple of kids and built an enormous sand castle. My mom insisted the boys stay for dinner, doting on them like they were her own. The boys seemed pretty content, and I felt satisfied they'd had a good day, considering they'd had to spend it with me.

When we approached Spencer's front door, Simon opened it for me. I had rifled through our pantry and produced a care package of canned soup, crackers, and juice. Shawn went to take a shower. Simon stretched out on the floor of the family room and turned on the TV.

I emptied the contents of the bag on the kitchen island and began opening drawers in search of a can opener. I heated up the soup, arranged a layer of saltines on a plate then grabbed a bowl, napkin, and spoon. When the soup was warm, I filled the bowl, placed it next to the crackers on a tray, and carried it down the hallway to Spencer's room.

His door was still open. I noticed he'd drunk the orange juice. He stirred as I placed the bowl of steaming soup on his bedside table. I grabbed his empty glass and went back to the kitchen to refill it. When I returned, Spencer was sitting up, blinking the sleep from his eyes. I grabbed his extra pillow and helped him place it behind his head. His face was pale, eyes glossy, and he had nasty bed-head. He glanced at the soup.

“Hungry?”

“Yes.”

I looked around his room for something I could put his lunch on. When I eyed a laptop desk for the bed, I grabbed it. Spencer sat up straight. I handed him the mini-desk, and, after he'd placed it on his outstretched legs, I set the soup on top of it. He took a spoonful of the broth and slurped it down.

“Thank you.”

He continued to eat his soup and crackers. I sat on the edge of his bed near his feet.

“Have you been asleep all day?”

“Pretty much. I was so out of it I forgot you had the boys.”

“They were great.” I told Spencer about our day while he finished his soup. He placed the empty bowl and plate on his bedside table.

“Feeling any better?”

“Pretty good. Do you mind bringing me a few more ibuprofen?”

“Not at all.”

The extra bathroom was still steamy from Shawn's recent shower. I grabbed the pill bottle and opened it on my way back to Spencer's room. I gave him two tablets and handed him the remaining juice. He swallowed the pills and drank the rest of his drink. He tossed the mini-desk to the side, slid lower into his bed, and curled his body toward me. His gaze met mine.

“Thank you for today, Elizabeth. You're a lifesaver.”

“I guess we're even now.”

Spencer's eyes crinkled in the corners, and he smiled at me.

I stood up and grabbed his dirty plates. “I'll be right back.”

I went into the kitchen, cleaned up the mess, filled a glass with water, and went back to his room. Simon was standing over him going into animated detail about his day. Spencer cut him off mid-sentence and told him to go and take a shower.

Simon is cute, but exhausting.
I giggled and held up the glass. “Water?”

“I'll drink it later.” He closed his eyes, and I placed the water on the bedside table.

“I'm gonna take off, Spencer. Don't worry about tomorrow. Mason and I can handle it.”

Spencer's eyes popped open.

“No. I'll be there.” I reached over and felt his forehead. Still warm.

“No. You need to get better. Do you want me to come by in the morning and get the boys?”

He rubbed his face with his hands.

“No, my mom will be here in the morning. Are you sure you guys will be okay without me?”

“We'll be fine.”

“Alright,” he answered, closing his eyes again.

“I'll stop by tomorrow and see how you're doing.”

I was a step outside his bedroom door when I thought I heard him say, “
My angel.”

We got through the church service with only a few slip-ups. I'd talked Mason out of having me do my solo. There was no way Spencer would have let me get away with not singing, but I think Mason had been relieved. Me freaking out on stage had been one less thing for him to worry about.

He was quiet after our performance. I knew he was disappointed things hadn't gone as well as he had planned. I collected the music sheets and handed them to him.

“Hey, Mase, don't beat yourself up. You did great.”

“I don't know. It seemed like everything was rushed.”

“It was fine.”

“I hate that word…
fine
. I know you mean it as a compliment, but it doesn't sound like one.”

“Okay, you were great, fantastic, even better than Spencer!” I glanced over at Mason and smirked.

He raised his arms in the air and yelled out an enthusiastic “Yes!”

That was one thing I loved about my brother. You could easily get him out of a bad mood. I giggled and walked off the stage.

“I'll see you at home. Bye, Mase.”

“See ya, Liz.”

****

I took my foot off the gas when I approached Spencer's house. I was about to pull up to the curb, but Kara's car was in the driveway. Stopping for a moment, I decided if I should go in or not. My thoughts went to the promise I'd made the night before to stop by. But he didn't need me. He had Kara. She'd take care of him. I knew I'd get used to seeing them together. No sense in having their relationship flaunted in my face. Since I had a choice, I chose to go home.

****

It was after 7:00 p.m. My emotions were all over the place until I finally decided, yes, I was going to go check on Spencer — only because I told him I would, and I wanted to make good on my promise. Kara's car was gone, and the house was dark. I placed my ear to the front door, straining to hear any activity. Nothing. I rang the bell and waited. About the time I was ready to turn around and walk away, the door opened.

“Hey,” he said.

Spencer was wearing black pajama pants, no shirt, and his hair was wet. He had a brown towel draped around his neck. The sight of his shirtless body had me in awe. I couldn't help but stare at a few droplets of water falling from his wet strands, dripping down his bare chest.

“I… I… came to check on you,” I stammered out.

“Come on in.” He motioned. Spencer used the towel around his neck to dry his hair.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Much better.” Spencer gestured to the couch. “Have a seat. I'll be right back.”

I sat on the couch and waited for Spencer. A few minutes later he came down the hallway, pulling a white t-shirt over his head. He sat on the loveseat to the side of me. I nibbled my thumbnail as he slicked his damp hair back with his fingers. I knew he was going to ask me about the solo.

“So, how'd today go?”

“Well, we had a few mishaps, but I think it went pretty good.”

“How was Mason?”

“I thought he did great, but he didn't think so.”

Spencer flashed me a knowing smile. “I knew he'd be hard on himself. It's good for him. How'd you do?”

“Umm, I didn't do it.”

“Elizabeth.” Spencer shook his head back and forth. “What am I gonna do with you?” He shook his head and smiled. “Come in my room. I want to show you something.”

Spencer led me down the hallway to his room and pulled out his computer chair for me. After I sat down, he leaned over me. My skin tingled from being so close to him while the scent of his body-wash enveloped me. He opened his laptop and clicked on an email account.

“Look at this.” He lightly tapped on the screen. “I get emails about you daily.”

Shocked, my gaze
me
t his.

“As of today, there are one hundred and ninety-six emails begging me to have you sing more often. Go ahead, open a few.”

He sat on his bed while I opened email upon email. People I didn't even know had written the kindest things about me. It was overwhelming. I turned the chair so I could look at him.

“See what I'm up against?”

“Ya know, a lot of these emails mention you too.”

Spencer dismissively waved a hand in front of his face.

“It's you they want, Elizabeth, and it's you they're going to get.” Spencer eyed me before he spoke again. “What is it that makes you so nervous? I'm trying to understand.”

It took me a few minutes before I could look up and answer him. “I don't know. Maybe because I was picked on as a kid — frizzy hair, being overweight, not measuring up, I guess.” I bowed my head and started biting my thumbnail again.

Spencer rose from the bed and kneeled in front of me, forcing me to make eye contact.

“Hey, you're not that girl anymore.

“I'm trying to believe that. It's just still hard,” I whispered.

“Believe it. You're beautiful, and you don't even see it. And I'm not just talking about your face or your voice. The way you look after people. The way you took care of me, and my brothers. Even now, you being here to check on me. You have a goodness in your heart and a gentleness in your soul.”

I didn't feel like my heart was good. I had just ended things with Aidan. Spencer had Kara, and I couldn't focus on anything but being wrapped up in his arms with his perfect lips on mine. It took everything in me to forcefully push the image from my thoughts.

“Thank you for saying that.”

Spencer sat back on the edge of the bed, reached for the computer chair, and rolled me between his open knees. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes assessing me.

“I want you to do something for me,” he finally said. “I want you to continue to sing your solos at church, but I also want you to sing with Mason's band.”

My eyes widened. “What? No, Spencer, I don't want to.”

“Remember when you said you trusted me?” he questioned.

“Yes, but…” I faltered.

“But nothing.” Spencer reached out and squeezed my hand. “It will help you. Trust me?”

His reassuring touch had me nodding yes before I knew what was happening.

“Good girl.” He smiled.

“Wait, wait, wait.”

I shook my head back and forth. Spencer silenced me with his long index finger over my lips.

“Too late.” He chuckled, pulling his finger away. “Besides, I already talked to Mason about it.”

I couldn't hide the shock in my expression.

“And don't worry. I'll be there. Mason and Kyle are working on a duet for us. I'm going to sit in with the band for a while.”

“You are?” My mind was reeling.

“Yep, I need to rearrange a few things, and then I'll start.”

“Okay.” Again, I responded without much thought. My brain was too busy spinning into overdrive. I stood up and pushed the computer chair back under the desk. “I should let you get some rest.”

Spencer got up and gave my arm a reassuring squeeze.

“Don't stress. This is going to be a good thing.” He smiled and walked me down the hallway toward the front door. Once the door was open, he leaned forward and caught my gaze.

Feeling the familiar pull, I wondered if he felt it too.

He tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Stop overthinking and trust me.”

I sighed, feeling defeated, and stepped out the door. “Goodnight, Spencer.”

“Goodnight, Elizabeth.” Soft laughter was the last thing I heard as he closed the door.

****

Mason was in the kitchen eating his usual after-dinner snack, a bowl of cereal. I pulled out a chair and sat next to him. He glanced up after taking a large spoonful. My scowling expression and arms folded in front of me let him know I wasn't happy.

“I take it you talked to Spencer?” Mason dipped his spoon back in the bowl.

“Mason, why didn't you talk to me first? Don't you think this is going to be awkward for Aidan and me? I never wanted to sing with you guys. Now I'm stuck.” I sat back in the chair feeling defeated and rubbed my face with my hands.

Mason slurped the last of the milk from the bowl and licked his upper lip. “Look, first of all, this was Spencer's thing. I told him you wouldn't like it. So don't get mad at me.”

“I know… it's just… ugh… I hate this.” I began to nibble on my already-too-short thumbnail.

“Liz, listen to me.” Mason pushed his empty bowl to the side and leaned closer toward me. “A few days after you and Spencer sang, the manager called me. He's been getting inundated with phone calls asking when you two are going to sing again. I haven't even told Spencer about it. I was so sure you'd tell him no, I didn't want to say anything.” Mason sat back in his chair. “I think you should do this, Liz.”

I felt myself beginning to weaken.

“What about Aidan?”

“I'll talk to him. Besides, he might want to dump the band. He's leaving for school after summer.”

“What?”

“He got accepted to UC Santa Barbara.”

Hearing Aidan's good news made me remember our first tutoring session in my room when he'd told me he'd applied there. The thought of him leaving tugged at my heart, but I was proud of Aidan, and that made me smile.

“What?” he asked.

“I'm just happy for him.”

“Yeah, he said he couldn't wait to get away…” Mason cringed and stopped talking.

“That's okay. I'm sure he's ready to get out of here and away from me.” We were silent for a few minutes.

“I'll talk to the guys, and don't worry about Aidan.”

Mason picked up his bowl and placed it in the sink. I got up from the chair and headed toward the stairs.

“Liz?”

“Yeah?”

“I'm glad you're doing this. It's gonna be great.”

“Hope so.” My thoughts turned to Aidan. If he didn't decide to quit the band, this was not going to be good. Not good at all.