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

by Alex Grayson

  Juliet snorts. “True. Although I have to say, James’ jackassness is minimal. He learned real quick in our relationship that I don’t put up with bullshit.” She slides the deli sandwich over to me. “Eat.”

  I eye the ham and swiss on rye, ordinarily my favorite, and my stomach twists. Food hasn’t been my friend lately. “I’m not hungry.”

  “I don’t care. You need to eat, Alaina. Women are supposed to gain weight when they’re pregnant, not lose it.”

  “You’re losing weight?” Allison asks, her brows creased in concern.

  I shoot Juliet a glare before turning to face Allison. “Just a few pounds.”

  “Because you haven’t been eating the last few days,” Juliet adds.

  “I can’t help that even the smell of food makes me want to hurl,” I argue.

  “Have you talked to your doctor?”

  “No, she hasn’t,” Juliet answers for me.

  “I plan to. I was giving it a few days to see if it passed on its own. Morning sickness is normal.”

  “This isn’t morning sickness. This is all day sickness, and I think it has to do with more than your pregnancy. Enzo hurt you badly, and you’re wallowing in grief.”

  I drop my eyes from Juliet as the truth of her words hit me. She’s right. What Enzo did, did hurt me. There’s a constant pain in my chest that, no matter what I do, won’t go away. I knew from the beginning he had the capability of breaking my heart. That’s why I tried so hard to withstand him. Once again, my judgement in men failed me.

  Since the night he left, I’ve lain in bed, the pillow he used to sleep on when he stayed with me, clutched to my chest. His scent still lingers, but is fading fast. Juliet doesn’t know it, and I have no plans to tell her, but each night I cry myself to sleep. I miss him. Dear God, I miss him fiercely.

  My eyes land on my hand that’s unconsciously resting against my stomach. When I first found out I was pregnant, it terrified me. I’ve always wanted children, but I was nowhere near ready for one yet. But I’ve grown used to the idea. It’s only been days since I’ve known my baby existed, but I already love her so much and can’t imagine my life without her.

  It’s for that reason, I take a small bite of my sandwich. Surprisingly, my stomach doesn’t revolt. My mouth actually waters for more. I’ve forced crackers down the last few days because that’s all my stomach could handle, so the sandwich is a nice change.

  Relief flashes across Juliet and Allison’s face as I continue to slowly eat. I feel like a zoo animal on display.

  All too soon, the familiar churning in my stomach starts.

  Ignoring Juliet’s questioning look, I get up from my seat and gather the rest of my sandwich along with my cup and walk both to the trash, setting the cup on the shelf on top.

  “You ready?” I ask Juliet, desperate to get out of here before I spew chunks in front of Allison.

  “Yeah.”

  I turn to Allison. “It was lovely seeing you again.” I swallow thickly at the lump forming in my throat. “And thank you for believing in me.”

  She pulls me into a tight hug. “Don’t give up on my brother,” she pleads. “He’s confused right now and isn’t thinking straight. Give him time and he’ll realize what a huge mistake he’s made.”

  All I can give her is a sad smile when she steps away. What Karen did to him had to have been traumatizing. Unless he has tests done to prove his vasectomy wasn’t as successful as they initially thought, I’m not sure Enzo will realize he was wrong. No matter how hard I may wish it otherwise.

  “It was nice seeing you again, Juliet,” Allison says, offering a smile.

  “You, too. I can see you’re a lot better person than your brother.”

  I elbow Juliet in the ribs. “Stop.”

  She huffs, but thankfully doesn’t say anything else on the matter.

  “Before we leave, I’m going to hit the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”

  As Juliet walks away, something catches my eye over Allison’s shoulder. A shot of anger curls in my stomach when I spot Heidi heading our way. Her eyes are on me, and from the smug look on her face, she knows what happened between Enzo and me. No doubt she’s been eating it up.

  “Hey, you, what are you doing here?” Allison asks her bitch best friend.

  “I was leaving Eleanor’s when I spotted you and Alaina sitting here.” She holds up the dress bag she has draped over her arm. “She finally got the dress I’ve been wanting in my size. While I was there, I came across this really sexy lingerie outfit I just had to have.”

  Allison laughs. “Let me guess. You plan to use it to seduce your mystery man.”

  A self-satisfied smile comes over Heidi’s face as her eyes move to me, but answers Allison’s question. “Absolutely. There’s no way he’ll be able to resist.”

  My stomach cramps and bile rises in my throat. Would Enzo be able to resist? He’s told me numerous times he has no amorous feelings for Heidi, but he is a man, after all. And Heidi’s gorgeous with a killer body. Not many men would be able to resist her on the best of days. With his emotions high, there’s no telling what would happen if he was presented with Heidi all dolled up for seduction.

  Allison, unaware of my impending meltdown, giggles. She glances at me as she loops her arm with Heidi’s free one. “She’s finally going to let me meet this man of hers.”

  “That’s great,” I croak. My hand moves to my stomach as another wave of nausea hits. “I’m sure Heidi and him will be very happy together.”

  At the bitch’s amused look, I lose it. Is there actually a reason I should continue to be nice to her? It’s not like Enzo and I are together, so the chances of us running in the same circles no longer applies. The last thing I want to do is hurt Allison, but if Heidi wants to play this game, so be it. She hasn’t given up his identity because she knows it may cause problems with their friendship, because Enzo was happy with me. Having her best friend try to steal that won’t go over well.

  “Actually, you know what? Screw this.” I narrow my eyes and straighten my spine. “The man she’s hiding you from is Enzo. And unless things have changed over the last few days, since the night he found out I was pregnant and left, he has no clue.” I look at Allison. “I’m sorry, but your friend is a piece of shit. She knew of my relationship with Enzo and has openly admitted to hoping it fails so she can swoop in on him herself.”

  Allison’s eyes turn to saucers as she looks at her friend. “Is this true? You’re in love with my brother?”

  I don’t wait around to hear Heidi’s reply. My patience has dried up and I need to get out of here before I do something crazy; like yank all of the bitch’s hair out and shove it down her throat. Allison calls my name as I hurry away, but I ignore her and walk inside the café.

  “Hey!” Juliet calls, walking out of the bathroom right as I pass the door. “What’s wrong?”

  I grab her hand and drag her behind me. “I’ll tell you later,” I throw over my shoulder. “I really need to get out of here.”

  She looks behind us, her eyes narrowing into slits when she spots Allison and Heidi through the glass in a heated argument. I’ve told her about my misgivings toward Heidi and the incident in the bathroom while at lunch together. I’m sure, if it wasn’t for me frantically dragging her behind me and the determined look on my face, Juliet would have yanked her hand out of mine, stormed outside, and beat the shit out of Heidi.

  Thankfully, she doesn’t.

  Instead of going for the front door, which would put us feet away from the fenced area where I just left, I go for the back door. My stomach’s still churning and my heart’s going a mile a minute when we blast through the doors. I stop and bend over, resting my hands on my knees to catch my breath. I’m not winded from our trek across the small café. I’m angry and fed up with Heidi’s bullshit.

  “Are you okay?” Juliet’s concerned voice comes from beside me. Her hand rubs soothing circles on my back.

  “Yeah. Just give me a minut
e.”

  I stay bent over with my eyes closed, taking in calming breaths, until I’m reasonably sure I won’t march back there and do major damage to Heidi’s face.

  “That was her, wasn’t it?” Juliet asks once I stand up. I nod. “You should have let me at her. Say the word and I’ll go back over there and show her exactly why you don’t fuck with my best friend.” She shoots her eyes to the door, like she’s contemplating going anyway, before looking at me. “Seriously, Alaina. I’d love nothing more than to jack that bitch’s shit up.”

  As tempting as it is, Heidi isn’t worth the trouble something like that would cause.

  “As great as that sounds and would have been even greater to see, I don’t think James would like me very much afterward. Just leave it alone.”

  “Screw James. You’re my best friend. That cunt in there messed with the wrong person.”

  Cunt isn’t a word Juliet uses often—she actually claims it’s vile—so for her to use it now, I know she’s pissed.

  I grab her hand again. “Come on. I just want to get out of here.”

  Reluctantly, she falls into step beside me and we head for the small lot where our cars are parked around the corner. “What did she say to you?”

  Lead forms in my stomach when I hear Heidi’s voice taunting me in my head. “Apparently, she bought lingerie to seduce Enzo,” I admit quietly.

  “I swear, if I find out he’s laid one finger on her, I’m going to chop off his balls and feed them to Griffin.”

  Griffin is the oldest living lion at the Park Crest Zoo. He’s twenty-five years old and has become quite famous with the locals.

  Coming to a stop at my car, I face my best friend. “You’ll do no such thing. Enzo is free to be with whoever he wants.”

  “You give him too much credit, Alaina.”

  I shrug. “Maybe, maybe not. I just want to move past it. I’ve got more than myself to worry about now. If he refuses to acknowledge this baby, then that’s on him.”

  “You’re stronger than I am,” she says, pulling me into a hug. When she steps back, she brushes my hair away from my face like a mother would. “I would have neutered James if he pulled what Enzo did.”

  “You say that, but I don’t think it’s true.” I place my hand protectively over my stomach. “You see things differently when you’re carrying a small human being inside you. Sure, I want to rail and scream, maybe even slash his tires, and beat the shit out of him for not believing in me. In us. But there’s not one good thing that would come from that.” My eyes sting, but I blink before the tears fall. “I just wish I could forget him,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

  “Oh, honey.” She pulls me forward for another hug. “If only things were that easy.”

  We hold our embrace for several moments, my head resting on her shoulder, soaking up the comfort she’s offering. I love Juliet like a sister, but I’d give almost anything to have my mom right now. Laurie, my step-mom is great, but it’s not the same.

  “Are you going to be okay?”

  I nod and wipe away the few stray tears that have fallen and smile as best as I can. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

  Her eyes bounce between mine. “Promise you’ll call if you need me.”

  “I will.”

  She kisses my cheek and goes to turn for her own car, but I grab her hand. She looks at me in question. My eyes drop to my feet before I gather my nerve.

  “Has, uhh….” I stop and clear my throat. “Has James spoken to Enzo?”

  “He’s tried calling him a few times, but there’s been no answer. He thinks he’s avoiding him because of our friendship.”

  “So, he hasn’t stopped by or anything? James hasn’t seen him?”

  Her lips press together. “That man is not allowed in my house. James knows this. I can’t stop James from seeing him, but he damn sure knows not to bring him home,” she states stubbornly.

  I don’t attempt to cool her temper or tell her she shouldn’t restrict Enzo coming around. I don’t think what she’s doing is right, but I know if the situation were reversed, I’d do the same.

  “What does James think about everything?”

  If I’m honest with myself, I’ve avoided going to her house, because I don’t want to face her husband. He’s a good guy, but guys tend to stick together. It would be devastating to find out James blamed me.

  Juliet’s expression softens. “James knows you would never do what Enzo accused you of. Not only because he knows I’d cut him off permanently, but also because he’s gotten to know you over the last year. He knows the type of person you are and doesn’t believe for a second you’d cheat on Enzo and pawn another man’s baby off on him.”

  I hate the thought of James and Enzo’s friendship being affected by all of this, but I can’t help the relief I feel knowing my best friend’s husband believes me.

  “He has the same mindset as Allison. That Enzo’s confused and will realize what a mistake he made. I personally believe even if he does, you need to think long and hard if you want to forgive him. He’s broken your trust and accused you of something horrible.”

  A few minutes later, I’m in my car still sitting in the parking lot. My arms are heavy, and I feel drained and exhausted. I’m telling you, being pregnant can really wipe a person out. Of course, it could also be the stress over the last few days.

  I think on Juliet’s comment. I know I told Enzo I’d be here, waiting, when he realizes his mistake, but what will I actually do if he does come to apologize? Would I simply accept it and move on? Could I ever trust him again? What would happen the next time he has doubts about our relationship? Even if he does come to me and admits he’s wrong, it doesn’t mean he’ll want to continue our relationship. Hell, he might not want anything to do with his baby, although I don’t truly think that would be the case. I can’t imagine Enzo abandoning his child, but then again, I never thought he would accuse me of the things he has.

  My eyes drop to my still flat stomach, and I rest my hands over the spot where she’s tucked protectively inside me.

  “It’s okay, baby,” I whisper. “No matter what, I’ll always love you and take care of you. You’ll never have to worry about losing me.”

  Tears slide down my cheeks and drip on my hands.

  Chapter Twenty

  ENZO

  I stumble out of Dr. Whitaker’s office and lean against the wall beside the door. The paper he handed me a few minutes ago crinkles in my hand when I ball it into a fist. Confusion, anger, and regret war for dominance in my head.

  How could I have been so fucking stupid? Alaina’s not capable of cheating. And she sure as shit isn’t capable of lying about the father of her child. Rationally, I knew this. Even when I was in her living room accusing her of just that, I knew I had to be wrong.

  What the hell is wrong with me? Am I so fucked up over what Karen did that I sabotaged one of the best things I’ve ever had?

  I cringe and fight the need to smash my face into the brick wall behind me for the shit I said to Alaina. Sure, I may have had good reason to doubt her, but I should have given her a chance. I should have spoken with my doctor and been tested before I went off the rails. What she and I shared wasn’t something many people find. Or it wasn’t until I fucked it all up.

  I gnash my teeth together and jerk away from the wall. I love Alaina, more than I thought possible, and now I’m not sure she’d throw water on my ass if I was on fire.

  On the way to my car, I yank out my phone, find her name, and press Send. There’s no answer, not that I really expected her to answer. I’m sure I’m the last person she wants to talk to.

  I shoot off a text message.

  Me: I fucked up. Where are you? We need to talk. If you’re at home, please don’t leave. I’m on my way there.

  Pocketing my phone, I get behind the wheel and take off out of the parking lot. The urge to see Alaina grows with each mile I take. Unfortunately, my doctor moved his practice to the next town over, which puts me for
ty-five minutes away from Park Crest. I grip the steering wheel and press down on the gas.

  As I race along the highway, the truth slams into me. Holy shit. I’m going to be a father. When I had the vasectomy, it wasn’t because I never wanted kids. The truth was, and still is, I do want them. I just didn’t want to be forced into having them with a woman I had no desire to spend the rest of my life with. I refused to be trapped. Karen tried it and thankfully wasn’t successful. I wasn’t giving anyone else a chance.

  I think back to James and Juliet’s wedding reception when I saw Alaina holding Grant and Emerson’s daughter. The longing I felt when I imagined her in the role of being a mother. Vasectomy reversals aren’t one-hundred percent effective, but the chances are high.

  The thought of Alaina’s belly swollen with my child has that longing blaring back a hundredfold. Now to get her to forgive me. Whether she does or not, I will always be a part of my child’s life, but I’d much rather have Alaina by my side, raising our child together.

  Looking down at the speedometer, I let off the gas slightly when I realize I’m going twenty over the speed limit. The last thing I need is to crash my fucking car.

  Pressing the Bluetooth button on my steering wheel, I find Allison’s name. It rings five times before going to voicemail. Frustrated, I opt to not leave a message. Up until yesterday, my sister’s left me alone as I requested. But between yesterday afternoon and this morning, she’s called me five times. I ignored each one, not ready to talk to her about Alaina, and I know damn good and well, she would have brought her up. Now that I need to talk to her, she’s not fucking answering. I wanted to see if she’s talked to or seen Alaina, so I’d have somewhat of a clue regarding her mindset. Does she hate me completely? Is she still upset? Has she been eating and taking care of herself?

  When my phone rings through the speaker in my car, I don’t even look at the screen before I accept the call, hoping it’s Alaina or my sister.

  “Hello?” I answer, unable to hide the hopeful note in my tone.

  “Enzo.”