Lead Player: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Alex Grayson

  “Well, the procedure must not have worked,” she growls, her face growing red with anger.

  Fuck, but she’s damn good. Better than any actress I’ve ever met, and I’ve met plenty.

  “Why don’t you admit it?” I order sternly. “We both know you’re lying. I just don’t know why.”

  Her shoulders droop and something like pain twists on her face before she spins away from me, looking back out the window. A part of me desperately wants to go to her, to believe what she’s saying, and to pull her into my arms. She looks genuinely confused and upset, and the anger radiating off her is real, which boggles my fucking mind, because what she’s saying can’t be true.

  “Can you please leave?” she pleads, her voice devoid of emotions. Like she’s closing in on herself. She wraps her arms around her middle.

  I ignore her request. “Do you have any fucking idea what this is doing to me? Any clue at all? You know what Karen did. You’re no fucking better than her.” I laugh bitterly. “No, you’re worse. Because I fell for your trickery, hook, line, and fucking sinker.”

  Her body jolts and her arms tighten around her stomach. “I said get out!” she screams, the sound so loud it pierces my ears. “Now!”

  I grind my molars, wanting to insist she tell me what she has to gain from lying. But really, the reason behind her actions doesn’t matter. What matters is the gaping hole she punched through my heart.

  I look at her reflection in the mirror to see her eyes are closed. Her shoulders rise and fall rapidly. My hands fist at my sides; anger, confusion, and betrayal waging a storm inside my head.

  After several tense moments, I spin on my heel and head to the door. I’ve got the knob in my hand when I stop. Her back is still facing me and her voice is quiet, but her words ring loud in my ears.

  “Eventually, you’re going to realize just how wrong you are about me, Enzo. How wrong you are to think I’d actually cheat on you, let alone lie and push another man’s child on you. When you do, you know where I’ll be.”

  Without looking back, I open the door and slam it behind me. As I walk down the steps, I knuckle the achy feeling in my sternum.

  I don’t know if I want to take my anger out on something or wallow in the grief of losing what I thought was special. Something Alaina obviously felt was worth giving up for some goddamn reason. I question every moment we spent together. Was it all a ploy of some sort? Did she fake her feelings, thinking she could trap me into marriage? Hell, I would have married her. I know down to my soul she was the one I was meant to be with. Or I thought so. Now she’s like all of the other women who used me to gain something.

  I slam my car door and peel away from her house, anxious to get the fuck away from her.

  I’m at the stop sign a couple of blocks away from my house when my phone rings. I swipe my finger to answer it without looking at the screen.

  “What?” I bark.

  “Whoa there, big brother,” Allison says over the line. “What’s got your panties in a twist?”

  I debate lying to her, but decide against it. She’ll find out eventually anyway, especially when she realizes Alaina and I are no longer together.

  “Alaina says she’s pregnant,” I answer bluntly. There’s no sense in sugarcoating it. “And she claims it’s mine.”

  Silence greets me for a moment. “How is that possible?”

  I laugh, the sound coming out as anything but humorous. “It’s not.”

  I never told our mom I had a vasectomy, because to be honest, I’m scared of her reaction, but I have told Allison.

  “Enzo,” she starts, and I can already hear the lecture coming. “Maybe you should get checked out. The doctors could have botched the procedure. Or maybe you healed just enough for it to happen.”

  “They tested me, Allison. None of my swimmers were in my semen. The procedure was successful.”

  “I just can’t imagine Alaina lying about something like this. She’s not the type.”

  “I didn’t think so either, but apparently, we were both fooled.”

  “How are you doing?” she inquires quietly.

  “Like I want to run my fist through a wall repeatedly.” I lean my head against the head rest and close my eyes. “But also like someone cut out my heart and put it in a shredder.”

  “Oh, Enzo, I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s whatever. She’s just another woman. I’ll get over it.” The words taste bitter coming out of my mouth. Sure, I’ll get over it.

  I think.

  Eventually.

  “You and I both know she wasn’t just some woman.”

  “Is there a reason you called?” I ask tiredly, ignoring her comment.

  “Not really. I just wanted to talk. I’m on break and I’m bored.”

  I roll my eyes behind my closed lids.

  “I’ll talk to you later, Allison.”

  I pull the phone away to disconnect the call when she says my name. With a sigh, I put it back to my ear.

  “Do me a favor, please?” Before I can answer, she continues, “Go see your doctor and get rechecked. Just to ease both of our minds. You know Alaina, Enzo. You’ve got to know she wouldn’t pawn another man’s baby off on you.”

  I blow out a breath to try and fan the fire building inside me. Alaina is the last person I would think to do something like this, especially after hearing about what Karen did.

  “I’m letting you go now and heading home where there’s a fifth of liquor waiting on me.” She starts to talk but I speak over her. “I’ll be fine. Just leave me be for a few days. Okay?”

  “I hate that this happened to you. You were so happy.” I bite my tongue at the quiver in her voice.

  “Maybe being happy isn’t in the cards for me. Or rather, maybe being happy with someone isn’t. Not everyone finds the person they’re supposed to spend the rest of their life with.”

  “I don’t believe that,” she protests vehemently.

  “Goodbye, Allison. I’ll call you in a few days.”

  I can tell she wants to say more, but she knows from my tone that I’m done.

  “Love you, big brother. I’m here if you need me.”

  “Love you too,” I mutter. “Later.”

  I hang up and squeeze the phone in my hand. When I hear it creak, I toss it in the passenger seat. I don’t know how long I stay at the stop sign. Luckily, no assholes come up behind me and blare their horn.

  Pressing the accelerator, with my heart feeling sluggish and white-hot anger still coursing through me, I head home, planning to spend the night just as I told Allison.

  Drowning in a bottle of liquor.

  Chapter Nineteen

  ALAINA

  “So, Hudson and I are kinda an item now.”

  Both mine and Juliet’s jaws drop open at the bomb Nikki just threw at us.

  “Say what?” I ask at the same time Juliet demands, “When did this happen?”

  Nikki giggles from behind her latte at our stunned faces. “Yep. It happened yesterday.”

  “We need answers. No more stalling or hiding. Give us the goods on what happened between you two.”

  I nod my agreement. We deserve to know the truth after suffering the last year watching the two of them poke and prod at each other.

  Not to mention it’ll be a damn good way to focus on someone else’s issues besides my own.

  “Spill it,” I say, leaning my elbows on the table.

  “Hudson and I knew each other when we were kids. You know the beach house where my family spends their summer vacations?” We nod. “His family owns the house next to ours. I had a major crush on him from the first moment I saw him. I was eleven. He was thirteen. You know how us girls are at that age. We can’t hide our feelings for shit. I was no different.”

  “Let me guess,” I say. “He shunned you.”

  “Not exactly.” Lifting her latte to her lips, she takes a sip before lowering it to the table. “He was my brother’s age, so he came over a lot. He was always so
nice to me, which made my crush stronger. I never came right out and told him, but there’s no way he couldn’t have known. I was pretty pathetic.”

  “You were eleven, Nikki,” Juliet states. “All girls are pathetic at that age when it comes to boys.”

  “Yeah.” She smiles. “Anyway, each summer, my fascination grew. In my mind, I already thought of him as mine. I had our wedding planned out, where we would live, how many kids we would have, and even their names.” Her smile slips some. “The day I turned fourteen I had planned to tell him how I felt. It was stupid—I was only fourteen and he was sixteen—but I was naïve enough to think he’d tell me he felt the same way. He’d ask me to be his girlfriend, we’d start out slow, keep in contact during the school year, then be together during summers. Boy was I wrong.”

  She pauses and her face drops as memories resurface. I reach across and grab her hand, offering her support.

  “What happened?” Juliet asks gently.

  Nikki clears her throat before continuing, “My family planned a barbecue to celebrate my birthday. Hudson was invited, but he was late. When I asked my brother, David, where he was, he said the last time he saw him he was at home. So, I moseyed my ass next door.” Her lips twist in distaste. “I found him getting a blowjob from one of the girls who worked in the tourist shop.”

  I gasp. “That bastard.”

  Her eyes meet mine. “He was. I hated him so much after that. I was barely fourteen and my heart was crushed. I never knew pain like that. All of my hopes and dreams were obliterated.”

  “Did you crush his balls?” Juliet asks, her tone hard. Her hands are fists on top of the table. “Please tell me you did.”

  “I didn’t. I quietly left. He never even knew I was there.”

  “You really should have crushed his balls,” Juliet mutters.

  “Believe me, I wanted to. After that day, I avoided him at all costs. He cornered me the day before my family and I left for the year. He was genuinely surprised when I told him what I witnessed and how much seeing that hurt me. He apologized profusely, but I was still angry, and my heart was barely beating again after what happened. I told him to shove his apology up his ass and to never talk to me again. After that, I never went back to the beach house with my family. After begging my parents, they finally let me stay with my aunt and uncle over the summers.”

  “So what’s happened now? You’ve obviously held onto that anger over the years. What’s changed?”

  She shrugs, flicking her eyes to Juliet. “I realize it’s dumb to hold onto something so strongly for so long. Yes, the memory of seeing what I saw still hurts, but he was only sixteen. I was fourteen. He didn’t really do anything wrong. Even if he knew my feelings then, he and I weren’t together.”

  “Yeah, but it still sucks he missed your birthday party because he had some little bitch sucking him off.”

  Juliet snorts. “For that alone, he deserves to have his dick severed from his body.”

  Nikki laughs. “I came close to it a couple of times over the last year.”

  “But not now?” I ask quietly.

  Her eyes sparkle. “No. As much as I hated it and fought it over the last year, and despite the many years since I last saw him, my feelings for Hudson are still there. I love him and want to be with him.”

  I grin and get up from my chair, holding my arms out. Nikki follows suit and we hug.

  “As long as you’re happy, that’s the only thing that counts.”

  Her smile is wide and beautiful when we release each other. Juliet steps up next for her own hug. “I’m happy for you both.” She pulls back and stares at Nikki pointedly. “But if he pulls any funny business, I’ll be the first in line to castrate him.”

  Nikki laughs. “Only after me.”

  Her phone rings from the table and her smile gets bigger when she notices the name on the screen. She answers immediately.

  “Hey.” The way she says the word sends a sharp pain to my chest. That one word alone was filled with so much love.

  I bite the inside of my cheek to keep my tears at bay. I’ve been crying too much lately. I guess that’s what happens when who you thought was the love of your life rips your heart to shreds.

  I force a smile on my face when Nikki hangs up and looks at Juliet and me.

  “I hate to ask this, but do you mind if I leave early? Hudson wants to take me to lunch.”

  “Go.” I shoo her with my hand. “Be with your man.”

  “Lay and I are good here,” Juliet says.

  We hug again and she murmurs in my ear, “If you need anything, anything at all, please call me.”

  “I will.”

  “You’re going to be okay, you know that, right?”

  Pulling back from her, I nod. I have to swallow the lump in my throat before I can speak. “I know.”

  After kissing Juliet on the cheek, Nikki dashes away.

  “I’m going to grab a refill. Do you need anything?”

  “I’m good.”

  Sitting back in my seat, I tap the screen of my phone to bring it to life, deciding to check my email.

  “Alaina?”

  I look up from my coffee at someone saying my name, but wish I hadn’t when I spot Allison heading my way. It’s not that I don’t like her—I actually really do—I just don’t know how she feels about me now. I’m sure Enzo has told her everything, but even if he didn’t, she has to know we’re not seeing each other anymore.

  “Hey,” she says, moving her eyes cautiously over my face. “How are you doing?”

  I force a smile. “I’m great.”

  She eyes the empty chair across from mine. “Do you mind if I sit?”

  I dip my chin. “Sure.”

  I look around as she sets her purse down on the table and claims the seat. The small café we’re at has wrought iron tables and chairs in a little fenced off area outside. It sort of reminds me of a place you see in movies where a cute couple sits and falls in love over coffee and croissants.

  Surprising me, Allison reaches over and grabs one of my hands. “Let me ask again. How are you doing?”

  “Honestly?” She nods. “I could be better, but I’ll be fine.” I give her a sad smile.

  “That figures as much. And it’s to be expected.”

  I glance back down at my decaf coffee, noticing a tiny crack on the handle. Lifting the cup to my lips, I take a sip. After I set it back on the table, I look at Allison.

  “Why are you here?” I ask, not trying to be rude, but genuinely curious. She should be furious like her brother, but I get the sense she’s not and that confuses me. “And why are you being nice to me? I’m sure you’ve heard what your brother believes I did.”

  “He told me,” she responds slowly. “But I don’t believe it.”

  “You don’t?” I rear back in surprise.

  Her look turns thoughtful. “No, I don’t think you did anything nefarious. I’ve always thought I was a good judge of character, and I don’t believe you have that in you. But,” her eyes hold mine, “I also think Enzo shouldn’t be blamed for thinking the way he does. What Karen pulled did a number on him, and he refused to ever let it happen again. It’s not surprising his mind automatically went there. The vasectomy was meant to prevent him from getting a woman pregnant, which is one less way he could be trapped. In his mind, it’s impossible.”

  I wrap both hands around my cup and let the heat from it warm my palms. I’m still in shock I’m sitting here having a conversation with Enzo’s sister. A decent conversation.

  “But you don’t believe that?” I ask.

  Her hair sways across her cheeks when she shakes her head. “No. No form of birth control is one hundred percent.”

  She looks past me, and her bottom lip slides between her teeth. I look over my shoulder and spot Juliet heading our way, her coffee in one hand and a deli sandwich in the other. The scowl she has on her face would scare even the strongest person. She’s in protective mode and doesn’t realize it’s unneces
sary. But I love her for it.

  Her eyes move to me and I offer a smile, hoping to defuse her anger before she reaches us. Stopping at the table, she takes her seat, setting her items on the table and shooting a fiery stare at Allison.

  “Juliet,” I call her name. It takes her a minute to pull her eyes off Allison to look at me. “You remember Enzo’s sister, Allison, right?”

  Allison lips tip up into a smile and she offers her hand. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Juliet.”

  Juliet doesn’t even look at her hand, just keeps her heated gaze on Allison’s face.

  “Alaina didn’t do what your brother accused her of,” she says bluntly.

  Understanding comes across Allison’s face. “I know she didn’t.”

  “If your brother had any decency in him, he would know that too.”

  “He’s not perfect by any means, but his reasons for immediately thinking the worst is sound. He’s scared he was taken for a fool again.” Her eyes move to me and she lowers her voice. “It terrifies him because he loves you.”

  “Love?” Juliet scoffs. “Do you treat the people you love as badly as he treated her? If so, thank goodness she didn’t attach herself to your family.”

  I kick her leg under the table. I get she’s wanting to protect me, but Allison is trying her best right now. Juliet needs to knock it off.

  “That’s enough, Juliet. I love you for standing up for me, but it’s not necessary.”

  “What?” she demands. “Enzo was an asshole for what he did.”

  “I agree. And I’m not going to lie, it really fucking hurt, but in reality, can you blame him? As far as he knows, he can’t father children.”

  “I’m not making excuses for my brother,” Allison interjects. “He handled the situation badly, but he wasn’t thinking clearly at the time.”

  “He didn’t even give her a chance. He just assumed the worst.”

  “Because he had no other choice. In his mind, the only explanation is that I cheated, got pregnant, and is now saying the baby is his.”

  “I still say he’s a jackass,” she mutters, lifting her coffee to her lips.

  “Agreed,” Allison confirms. “But what guy isn’t?”