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

by Michelle Fernandez

  “Was it over a girl?” I ask, chuckling, remembering those days.

  “You can say that,” Grayson replies, then leans back in his chair. “Where’s Sabrina?”

  “She went home to grab some clean clothes for Lily.” I look at my watch. “She should be here soon.”

  “I don’t remember seeing you after Hooligans. Then again, I don’t remember much about that night,” Grayson says, running his fingers through his hair.

  “The photo in The Gazette should spark your memory,” I snicker.

  “Christ! Don’t remind me,” Grayson snorts.

  I scratch my two-day-old scruff on my jaw. “Gray, can I ask you something? Father-to-father?”

  “Excuse me?” Grayson cranes his neck. “Did you say father-to-father?”

  “Yeah. Lily is mine. I just found out.”

  “No shit.”

  “Lily walked in on us when Sabrina told me, and that’s when she ran away. Sabrina told her that her dad died when Lily was a baby.”

  “I hate to say this, but I totally understand why Sabrina did that,” Grayson says, giving me a knowing look. “She was saving face.”

  “It still sucks. She told Lily her daddy loved her but died, just in case I didn’t want her.”

  “Now that you know you’re a dad, how do you feel about it?”

  “Instant love, man. I don’t know how else to explain it,” I say, then look over at Lily as she squirms under the sheets.

  “Being a dad is the most gratifying feeling.”

  “When we were out looking for her last night, I have never been so fucking scared in my life. I hated myself for not being able to protect her. I couldn’t breathe, but when we finally found her, it was like she was the air I needed to fill my chest.”

  Grayson chuckles. “You’re preaching to the choir, Spence. I get it. So, what are you going to do now?”

  “Sabrina and I have a lot of things to sort through,” I say, combing my fingers through my hair, glancing over at Luke. He’s fidgeting with the corner of the card he made Lily, patiently waiting for her to wake while holding the small bouquet in his hand.

  Lily squirms a bit, and slowly her eyes open, revealing blue eyes that mirror mine. Grayson and I stand and walk closer to the bed.

  I kiss the top of Lily’s head as she blinks a few times. “Hey there, Lily-pop,” I say. “How are you feeling?”

  “Hi,” she replies, her voice groggy. “Where’s Mommy?”

  “She went to get you some clean clothes. She’ll be back soon.”

  Her gaze moves to Luke, who has the biggest smile on his face. “Hi, Lily. I brought you these,” he says while raising his hands, “it’s a get well card, and you said you like lilies.”

  “They’re pretty,” she says, referring to the flowers. She takes them and the card and rests them on her lap.

  “You don’t have to read the card right now,” Luke says, then looks at her leg. “How long do you have to wear that thing? I’ve never broken a bone before. How does it feel?”

  “One question at a time, buddy,” Grayson says, his hands on Luke’s shoulders, standing behind him. “Hey, Lily. You remember me?”

  Lily nods. “You’re Luke’s dad,” she says, then turns to me. She takes my hand and says, “This is my dad.”

  A smile widens my face. This little human has somehow captured every fiber of my being. I have never loved someone instantly.

  “Feels good to hear it, huh?” Grayson says with a smile.

  “It’s the most indescribable feeling, man.”

  We watch the exchange between Luke and Lily as they talk about cartoons. Ah, the innocence of youth. It’s like I’m fifteen all over again.

  “You sure you’re not mad at me?” I ask desperately, needing her forgiveness. I can’t have her hate me.

  She scrutinizes the cast overshadowing her entire right leg. It was my fault to dare her to do a ridiculous stunt. But I never thought she’d do it. All I dared was: Jump from the fourth branch, tell me her deepest, darkest secret, or kiss me to forfeit.

  She’d never kiss me because she didn’t think of me like that. So, I gave her one minute to decide: jump or reveal. Then she leaned in, her lips so close to my ear, and I swear my dick tingled when I got a whiff of her peach-scented hair. That’s when she told me she’d rather jump than tell me any secret of hers.

  She wanted to jump first to prove she wasn’t chicken. Then she broke her leg, and I felt like shit. I carried her almost ten blocks until we got to her house. Aunt Marie nearly had a heart attack. Her Nonna gave me the evilest look ever and I knew I would be banned from hanging out with her again. That woman hated me.

  “No, Spencer. I’m not mad,” she says, sniffing the yellow rose I brought her. “It just sucks that I have to wear this at my birthday party.”

  “At least it’ll be a birthday you’ll remember forever,” I say, trying to comfort her. “Do you want me to grab you a Dr. Pepper from the kitchen?”

  “No, I’m cool,” she says. And she really is the coolest girl I’ve ever hung out with. All the other girls don’t want to do adventurous things like Sabrina does.

  “Can I be the first to write on it?” I ask, looking at the clean canvas of her bright pink cast. “Why’d you pick this color anyway? It’s kind of girlie for you, don’t you think?”

  “You don’t think I’m girlie?”

  She’s all girl, all right. Her hair is long with curls coming down her chest, which now has small mounds popping through her shirt. And for some reason, I find the freckles on her nose cute.

  “I don’t think of you like that,” I lie, avoiding her question.

  “Then, how do you think of me?”

  “You’re my best friend, Sabs. That’s how I think of you,” I deter as I grab the black permanent marker and pull off the cap. “Why? Should I think of you differently?”

  “No. I was just asking, that’s all.” She shrugs, and I have a feeling I may have hit a nerve. Does she feel that weird thing in her stomach too? Like fluttering butterflies or the thumping in her chest?

  Sabrina is my best friend. And a guy my age, fifteen and becoming a man, should be hanging out with the other guys, looking at other girls. But, when I wake up every day, all I want to do is hang with Sabs. Do I like her more than I should? I mean like-like her? Can I go there? I like us like this, and I don’t want to ruin what we have. But what if . . .?

  “So, what are you going to write?” she asks, shaking me out of my thoughts.

  I tap the pen to my chin, a cocky grin playing on my face.

  “Spencer, you better not write anything stupid.”

  After I finish, she peers over her leg and huffs. “You are such an idiot! Why did you write that?”

  Spencer Hayes is my superhero

  “Well, it’s true!” I say proudly. “I am your superhero. I carried you ten blocks.”

  “You’re pathetic!”

  And someday, I’m going to make you see that I am more than just your best friend.

  Sabrina

  Welcome home signs, balloons, hoots, and hollers echo from the street leading up to the driveway. The life of a small town and a community pulling together to celebrate yet another victory. It’s all for Lily and when I turn around from the passenger seat, her eyes light up.

  “Is this all for me?” Lily asks, her smile brimming from cheek to cheek.

  “Yes, Lily-pop,” Spencer says from the driver’s seat. “Like I said, the whole town of Sunnyville was looking for you, and they are so excited to welcome you back home.”

  “It’s like I got my own parade, Mommy!” she squeals.

  “All these people care about you, and they were worried sick,” I tell her.

  “Mommy, is that Auntie Rocky?” Lily points out the window. Rocky’s bright smile tells me she’s happy, but her narrowing eyes tell me she’s pissed and probably going to give me an ass-chewing for what happened. But I don’t see the famous boxer anywhere. I wonder how she was able to pull t
hat off.

  Rocky is standing next to Booker and his wife, Chloe. There’s Tyco, Dylan and his wife, Phoebe.

  I look over to Spencer as he slowly pulls up to the driveway. “Did you call them?” I ask.

  “Booker gave me his card when I saw him at the funeral. I figured you’d want them to be here since they are a part of Lily’s life.” He reaches over, grabs my hand, and presses a kiss to the top of my knuckles. “If they are a part of your life, then they will be a part of mine too.”

  “Who are you, and what have you done with Spencer Hayes?” I ask playfully.

  “I’m the same guy. Only now, I’m in love with my best friend who happens to be the mom to an amazing little girl”—he peers back at Lily sitting diagonally from him—“who also happens to be my beautiful daughter.”

  My heart dances around in my chest when realization hits and the waterworks start down my cheeks. This is all my mom’s fault. She cursed me with the crying gene. “Thank you,” is all I can say, then I lean over the console and press a lingering kiss on his lips.

  “Ew! That is totally gross!” Lily says from her back-row view.

  Spencer chuckles against my lips as his fingers trail down my arm. “That’s what you used to say to me when I dared you to kiss me. So, do you think it’s still gross?”

  “Yes, totally!” I joke and kiss him again.

  “Hello? Did you forget I was back here?” Lily calls from the backseat.

  We both laugh and climb out of the car. While Spencer pulls out the wheelchair from the back of his cab and settles Lily on it, Rocky greets me with a punch to my arm.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” she snickers as she pulls me to the side.

  I rub my arm and watch the crowd follow Spencer and Lily into the house.

  “My goddaughter goes missing and is hospitalized, and you don’t bother to call me?”

  “I’m sorry. I just thought—”

  “Thought, my ass! Lily is more important to me than the egotistical spoiled brat who hits like a girl.”

  “Admit it, Rock. You like him.”

  “I hate you, Kent.”

  “And I love you.” I wrap my arms around her neck. “Thank you for coming.”

  She returns the hug and squeezes me tightly. “Of course. I should kick your ass, you know?”

  “And I’d let you,” I say as we walk up the driveway. “So much has happened since I last talked to you.”

  “Give me the short version.”

  “Spencer knows about Lily. And he seems okay with it.”

  “And how does Lily feel about it?” she asks with curiosity.

  For a moment, I wonder how Lily does feel about it. I assumed she was okay with it, but I never got a chance to ask her. “I-I don’t know. She seemed fine at the hospital and on the way home.”

  “Come on, Kent. All Lily has known her entire existence is that her dad died when she was an infant and this news just blows up in her face? I wouldn’t be surprised once all this hoopla dies down and we are all gone that she has some confusion and may be disappointed. Just be prepared for it.”

  I tilt my head back. “God, I never thought of it that way.”

  “And what about Spencer’s parents and Callie? Have you talked to them?”

  I nod. “Yes. Aunt Rose and Uncle Henry were disappointed in me at first but understood.”

  “Let me guess . . . Callie, not so much,” Rocky assumes. “I think you have some big-time explaining to do.”

  “You may scare me, but Callie is a different kind of scary.”

  “Although Callie has always been thought of as Lily’s aunt, it’s different now because she’s really her aunt by blood. If I were Callie, I’d want all the details.”

  I take a deep cleansing breath. “I should have told Callie a long time ago.”

  “Listen, the past is the past. It’s time to move on.” She loops her arm with mine. “Now, let’s go inside before they come looking for you.”

  The house is buzzing, and I am in complete awe with all the people around. There is food and dessert everywhere. Everyone is having a good time. There is a short line to sign Lily’s cast, and it appears there’s no more space on her little leg.

  A hand rests on my shoulder—it’s Booker. “She looks happy,” he says as he points his chin at Lily.

  “God, I hope she is,” I reply.

  Chloe approaches us. “Hi, sweetie. How are you holding up?”

  “As good as I’ll ever be. Just tired, is all.”

  Laughter erupts in the corner of the living room where the Malone brothers and Spencer stand. “And who are those men with Spencer?” Booker asks.

  “The Malone brothers. Grant, a detective here in Sunnyville, is facing Spence. Grady, a firefighter, is to his right. And Grayson, a rescue pilot, on his left. Grayson and I graduated high school together.”

  “Wow,” Chloe says. “I’m impressed. Everyday heroes.”

  “Hey, hey,” Booker retorts. “I’m your everyday hero.”

  Chloe wraps her arms around Booker’s torso. “Yes, of course, you are, Hotcakes,” she jokes and winks at me. I envy these two. Booker and Chloe are madly in love. Their story is straight out of a romance novel, and I am so happy that he found Chloe after his first wife’s death.

  Spencer looks over at us and raises his beer in greeting. Happiness captures my entire body as I smile back.

  “He seems like a good guy, Kent,” Booker comments.

  “He is,” I respond shamefully.

  I never gave Spencer the credit he deserved. Not once did he get upset with me when I told him about Lily. Not once did he tell me he did not want kids like I always thought. Instead, he was the complete opposite, as if he knew all along.

  Exhaustion hits after all the hugs and farewells a few hours later. It’s been a long couple of days, and I am glad to have the peace and quiet back in my house. Spencer makes his way down the stairs after carrying Lily to bed as I toss paper plates and cups into a plastic bag.

  “She’s sound asleep,” Spencer says and wraps his arms around my waist. “Put that down and sit with me for a minute.”

  “But I need to—”

  “Just for a minute. I’ll take care of it.” He pulls me to the sofa, and I sit on his lap. “How are you holding up?”

  “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

  “Because we are all worried about you, Sabs.” His hand glides up and down my leg to comfort me. “You’ve been through a lot.”

  “I’m just overwhelmed, that’s all,” I say with a sad smile.

  “What else is bugging you?”

  As I gaze into Spencer’s eyes, not only am I happy he’s with me, I’m also relieved that the secret of Lily being his daughter is behind us. But I am also worried. “When Lily went missing, I was petrified that someone took her.”

  “Babe, Lily ran away. She heard something, and she did what her little five-year-old instincts told her to do.” He kisses my shoulder. “She’s safe. Sound asleep in her bed. Speaking of bed, will we be sleeping together tonight?”

  “Spencer,” I playfully swat his chest. “I’m serious.”

  “So am I.” A shit-eating grin tugs at his mouth. I raise a brow, and he knows I’m not playing. “Okay, okay. What made you think someone took her?”

  “When she went to the park with Betsy and Luke the other day, Lily told me about a man in the park that gave her the creeps.”

  “Did this man do anything?”

  “No. He sat on the bench and watched her,” I explain.

  Spencer tilts his head and furrows his brows. “What the fuck? Did you mention this to Betsy?”

  “I haven’t had a chance.”

  “Betsy knows the people of this town, and if she saw someone out of place, she would tell Grant in a heartbeat,” Spencer says. “Look, if it makes you feel better, I will go to the station and talk to Grant.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Anything for you.” He brushes his thumb acro
ss my cheek. “Like I said before, you and Lily are my priority.”

  “Is this for real? Me and you?” I question.

  It feels like a dream. A part of me doesn’t believe this is happening, and the other part of me is dancing and doing cartwheels inside.

  “And Lily . . . can’t forget about that little firecracker,” he adds and angles his head.

  I touch his face with both my palms, feeling his two-day-old scruff along his jawline. I breathe him in, his clean, crisp scented aftershave. Spencer’s stare goes to my lips as he licks his own. We are on the couch, where we sat many times as kids watching movies with our parents in the next room. But this time, we aren’t kids, our parents aren’t here, the TV is off, and we have a daughter sleeping soundly upstairs.

  His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. Our eyes lock. I feel his hand slowly slide under my shirt, and his rough palms are on my torso, then moving up my back. His other hand brushes my hair over my shoulder and stays at the back of my neck. He pulls me closer, tipping my mouth to meet his.

  Our lips touch and everything around us fades away. Our lips are in sync as we part them and our tongues touch. My mouth tingles, as does the ache between my thighs that’s blossoming into desire. I moan for more.

  This kiss is tranquil and tender.

  Spencer shifts us on the couch, scoops me up with no effort, and carries me to the guest room, kissing me along the way.

  He lays me down flat on my back, and the weight of his body cast over mine. This moment is intense. Not like the other night. Our clothes peel off piece by piece until we’re completely exposed.

  No more lies, no more secrets.

  Spencer

  How am I the luckiest guy on the planet? I don’t know, and I don’t care. All I care about is Sabrina in my arms, her nose nuzzled in my chest, sleeping soundly. We dozed off an hour ago, and waking up next to her naked body is better than any dream I have ever had.

  The moon casts over her beautiful face as I watch her sleep. I kiss the top of her head and breathe her in. The peach is her signature scent, and it makes me happy that she hasn’t changed. It reminds me of our childhood when she laughed at my corny jokes and all the dares and stunts we did as kids.