Pulling into the parking lot, I wasn’t surprised to see his oversized red truck missing. Bowie was notoriously late, and we often joked that the man would be late for his own funeral. Spying the bakery across the road, I strode across the street before ducking inside.
Ignoring the fluttering lashes of Phoebe from behind the counter, I grabbed a box full of mixed sugary indulgence and got the hell out of there. Phoebe was a nice enough girl, but she hit on everyone in a uniform in a hundred-mile radius.
With still no Bowie in sight, I walked down the street and entered the florist, those annoying little bells announcing my arrival.
“Back again so soon?” Sage asked sickeningly sweetly.
“Ah, sweetheart. You’re awake. Feeling better?” Mom asked, coming towards me.
“Ah yeah. I stopped and grabbed these for you. Thought the three o’clock sugar rush might need supplies,” I explained, handing over the box.
“Yay treats!” Sage snatched it away before opening it on the counter and snagging herself one of the pastries, biting into it noisily.
I was trying to be sneaky and catch a glimpse of Lily, but obviously I was doing a pretty shitty job.
“She’s not here, Zach,” Mom offered, patting my hand.
“I wasn’t…”
“Sure, you weren’t. She’s taken Ava to the doctors.”
“What?” My voice was barely recognizable. It sounded like a pre-pubescent teen’s, cracking and crumbling. “Ava’s sick?”
“No, no. Ava’s fine,” Mom clarified quickly. “Just a check-up. She wanted to make sure there was nothing…”
Mom didn’t have to finish that sentence. I knew exactly what she was getting at. Since Ava had been abandoned, or the correct word so I’d been informed was ‘surrendered’, we didn’t know her medical history. We didn’t know if her mother had smoked and drank, or worse, through the pregnancy and if there were any lasting effects. Even though Lily assured me that everything was okay, I guess deep down, she was as nervous as I was.
“Okay then. Well, I gotta run. I’m meeting Bowie.”
“Are you home for dinner?” Mom asked.
“Yep. I’ll be there. And we can talk.”
It felt weird being the one to give my own mother the ‘we need to talk’ speech, but it was the truth. I needed to know what was going on in that head of hers. What her plans were. Barely two weeks ago she was protesting about coming to my place for a night and now she was keeping my house and cooking me breakfast. Not that I was complaining, it was just odd. Not to mention she seemed better somehow. Maybe it was the loneliness making her symptoms worse? Maybe having her move in permanently was the answer I’d been looking for.
My stomach growled and that was my cue.
“Alright, ladies. I’m out. Enjoy your afternoon,” I announced loudly before kissing Mom’s cheek and heading for the door.
A chorus of ‘byes’ followed me out.
Twenty minutes later my burger arrived but still no Bowie. I wasn’t even pissed anymore. I’d given up waiting and ordered without him and now I was digging in greedily. Sitting in a booth in the back corner, the last thing I wanted was random company. If I could just sit, eat in peace and get out of here, I’d be a very happy man.
“You Zach? That hotshot firefighter?”
Fuck! There went my quiet meal.
Wiping my hands and face on my napkin, I turned to face the interruption. He was overweight, already drunk, slurring and looked like he had a dribble of barbeque sauce down the center of his boobs. Yep, dude had man boobs. Big ones.
“I’m Zach Higgins. I work at the station,” I clarified, ignoring the hotshot comment.
“You’re the one shacking up with Lily Evans?”
Putting my hands beneath the table, I balled my hands into fists, quietly reminding myself punching this guy wouldn’t do me any favors.
“Lily and I are friends.”
“Friends? Wish I was Lily’s friend. Went to school with her. She gives head like…”
Thank God Dan, the bartender, cut off his comment. I didn’t know Lily’s past, but I didn’t need to. No woman should be talked about like this dipshit was talking about Lily. If Dan hadn’t interceded when he did, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold back.
“You’re out of here, Jack. Come back when you’re sober and not looking to get your head knocked in,” Dan cautioned him as he nudged him towards the door.
When Jack stumbled and turned back to us, I thought he was going to have another go. Instead, he just shook his head and murmured something about Lily being a lousy lay and not worth it, before falling back out the door.
“Want me to wrap that up for you?” Dan offered.
Looking down at my barely eaten burger, I nodded automatically. Dan disappeared with my plate and reappeared a minute later with a to-go box. “Forget Jack. He’s drunk and he’s just been laid off. He’s spouting shit to anyone whose path he crosses. Lily’s a great girl, and I don’t know anyone in town who’d say a bad word about her.”
“Thanks.”
Taking the box, I headed home, not liking the off-balance feeling settling over me. By the time I made it through the door I was mad. I didn’t know if I was mad at Jack for being a douche, mad at Bowie for bailing on me or mad at Lily for not being in the shop when I stopped by. I was just generally pissed off. Stuffing my food in the fridge, I changed into a pair of shorts, a tank, stuffed my feet into my runners and took off out the front door. A long hard run along the hiking trails should help sweat my frustrations out. At least I hoped it would.
14
LILY
I can’t believe I let Linda talk me into this. I mean, I know I’m an adult and I’m completely capable of saying the word no, but despite my protests, I kind of wanted to come.
After taking Ava for her check-up, something she passed with flying colors thankfully, I went back to work to find an empty bakery box sitting on the counter and everything finished. The floors were swept, the trash taken out. Even the ribbon and paper for wrapping had been restocked for tomorrow. Sage and Linda had done an incredible job. So much so that I couldn’t really be annoyed at them for not leaving me a cinnamon roll. And since I’d skipped lunch, again, something that was becoming a really bad habit, I would’ve killed for a muffin or even a cookie. Especially one of those peanut butter cookies they make at the bakery. Those things were my damn weakness. Probably why I didn’t buy them too often. If I did, I’d probably eat the whole thing in one mouthful and end up with a butt the size of a bus.
Having everything done and ready, as soon as four o’clock hit, I was locking the door and we were all getting out of there for an early afternoon. That’s when Linda got me. Right when I was at my weakest.
“What are you doing tonight, Lily?” she asked as I was buckling in Ava.
“Ah, probably the same as every other night. Dinner, bath, bed. Repeat.”
“Well, why don’t you come over to Zach’s for dinner? I’m cooking.”
My heart sped up. I hadn’t seen Zach since he’d been conned into playing pizza delivery boy the other night. Linda was definitely a master matchmaker. As soon as Zach had been bounding up the steps, pizza in hand, she remembered she had somewhere else she had to be. Somewhere my ass. I’d never seen someone hightail it out of my house so quickly. But not before stealing the keys to Zach’s truck and telling him to make sure he helped me finish the pizza.
Turned out to not be the worst thing in the world. We sat out on the porch, eating and talking. Mainly Zach was talking, while I peppered him with a million and one questions about what it was like growing up in Australia. He’d almost wet himself laughing when I asked him about the wildlife. How was I supposed to know that not every house was surrounded by things that wanted to kill you? Everything I saw, everything I read, told me as amazing as the Australian beaches were and as sexy as those accents sounded, it was filled with snakes and spiders and drop bears. No thank you. I was staying put. Right where I w
as. Safe and sound.
“I don’t know…” I deflected.
I hadn’t heard from Zach since, and I was beginning to think he was avoiding me. Well, I was until the baked goodies mysteriously showed up this afternoon.
“Come on. I’d love to hang out with Ava, and you could use someone looking after you for a change,” Linda offered, and tears unexpectedly filled my eyes.
“That sounds so good.” I caved, wiping away the tears as quickly as they’d appeared.
“Great. I’m not sure if Zach will be home or not, but it doesn’t matter. If he isn’t; girls’ night. If he is; girls’ night.”
“Isn’t it his house?”
“He won’t mind,” Linda promised.
And that’s what led me to here.
Since it was such a lovely afternoon, I’d loaded Ava into the stroller and we’d started walking. It was so nice to be out in the fresh air enjoying the dying afternoon sun.
Turning into Zach’s street, I could hear music pumping. It was old-school Guns and Roses, one of my favorites, not that anyone would ever guess. As we got closer, my grip on the handles tightened. This couldn’t be right. Surely. It was too good to be true.
Being super sneaky, I grabbed my phone from my purse and snapped a couple of pictures. Sage would never believe me if I didn’t have proof. Hell, I didn’t believe my eyes right now and he was right there in front of me.
With the hose in one hand and a sponge in the other, he looked quite the sight. His shorts were hanging low on his hips, hips he was shaking like he was Beyoncé as he washed his truck. Talk about man candy. He had muscles on muscles and those tattoos drew me in like beacons as my feet propelled me in his direction. The only saving grace was his singing. It was terrible. Off key. Out of time and completely out of tune. Thankfully, it made him human rather than the god with the six pack I was practically drooling over.
Knowing he hadn’t seen me yet, I kept staring. I mean, who wouldn’t. I had eyes and he was there. Movement across the road caught my attention and I noticed the curtain ruffle. Guess I wasn’t the only one enjoying the show.
As I got closer, before I had a chance to make my presence known, something I was putting off as long as I could so I could appreciate his assets – arms, butt, back and chest – Ava let out an ear-piercing screech which sounded like she was being attacked. Damn kid almost gave me a heart attack. A few minutes ago, she was sleeping quietly, her fist stuffed in her mouth and now she was screaming bloody murder.
“What the?”
Zach spun around quickly.
Too quickly.
Forgetting he had the hose in his hand, the arc of the spray waved out in front of him, splashing me straight across the chest, soaking me right through.
“Shit, Lily!”
While Zach scrambled to shut the hose off, spraying himself in the process, I checked on Ava who was now lying there silently, her big eyes blinking.
Once the hose was gone, Zach bounded down the driveway, ignoring the fact he had droplets of water running down his chest – definitely not something I could ignore. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to…” He pointed at my chest where the white fabric of my dress was clinging to me like a second skin.
“I’m fine. Just a little wet,” I confirmed, which was the understatement of the century. And it wasn’t just my dress that was soaked.
“What’s going on?” Linda appeared stomping down the driveway looking absolutely ridiculous in a pink frilly apron. When her eyes spotted Zach and I standing there both dripping wet, with only the stroller between us, she burst into an explosion of hysterical laughter. “You know what, I don’t even want to know. I’ll leave you two to… whatever this is.” Pointing her finger between us, she turned and headed back inside.
It wasn’t until she was completely out of view, did we crack up. We must’ve looked incredibly ridiculous right now.
Ava grumbled and Zach pushed back the hood and looked down at her. I couldn’t help but watch him. Watching a six foot four, fully built, tattooed guy melt at seeing a beautiful baby girl was enough to make your ovaries hurt. And he did it to me every time. Every. Single. Time.
“You didn’t?” he asked, looking up at me and straight in my eyes.
“I…I…”
“You taped a bow to her head?”
“Yes. I know.” I dropped my head shamefully.
“I thought we agreed we weren’t going to do that?” Zach unbuckled her and lifted her up into his arms letting her nuzzle against his bare chest. Damn she was a lucky kid.
“I had to!” I defended myself, trying to keep my damn hormones in check.
“You had to?”
“Yeah. I had to. Everyone at the doctors today kept calling her a him!”
A smirk crossed Zach’s face, making his dimple pop as Ava grabbed for his nose. Talk about wrapped around her tiny finger. That man would take on the world if he thought anyone was going to hurt her. A quality that made him even more attractive than those abs, if that was even possible.
A gust of wind tossed up, and I shivered as Zach held Ava even closer, adjusting the blanket around her.
“Lily?” Linda’s voice called out from a window above our heads. I had a really bad feeling our whole exchange had been watched and analyzed from Zach’s living room.
“Yes?”
“Come on inside. We need to get you dried off before you catch a chill.”
“Oh, I’m fine…” I replied, not wanting to intrude.
“Don’t be silly. Now both of you, inside.”
“Yes, Mom,” Zach replied automatically as he turned and headed back towards his truck, bending over and effortlessly picking up the bucket and sponge he’d been using while juggling Ava like a pro. How did he make everything he did look so easy?
“We don’t have to… I can just go home and change,” I offered, turning the empty stroller around.
“Nonsense. Now come on in before we both get in trouble.”
With Zach carrying Ava and heading away from me, I had no choice but to follow. Or stare at his ass. I mean, it was right there. Wasn’t like I could avoid it.
Taking a deep breath, I followed Zach and Ava up the back steps and inside.
15
ZACH
Wet shorts did not hide the boner I was sporting.
Stepping inside, I quickly unloaded Ava into Mom’s waiting arms, ignoring the all-knowing grin she was flashing in my direction, and made a beeline for my bedroom.
“I’ll grab Lily something dry to wear,” I called out over my shoulder as I stepped into my bedroom, closed the door, leaning against it.
For as long as I lived, I didn’t think I’d ever forget the way she looked in another one of those crazy fifties’ housewives’ dresses with the full skirt I wanted to flip up and the belt cinched at her tiny waist. And today’s offering came complete with tiny red cherries dotted all over her white dress. Her white dress that went completely see through when it got wet. The see-through dress that gave me a glimpse of the woman she was beneath the prim and proper pearls. Her white lacy bra was visible through the material, and the way her nipples poked the damp fabric told me I wasn’t the only one affected.
Taking a breath, I ran my hand through my hair before reaching down and adjusting myself. It took a minute or two reminding myself that my mother was standing on the other side of the door nursing a baby before I could convince the little guy in my shorts he wasn’t needed. He wasn’t as disappointed as I was, trust me.
Changing into a pair of dry gray sweats and a t-shirt, I snagged another pair and my station t-shirt from the clean pile on my bed; guess Mom was doing my laundry too these days.
Lily had kicked off her shoes and was standing in the lounge room with a towel wrapped around her shoulders while she watched on like a hawk as Mom talked to Ava.
“Here you go. They’ll be too big on you, but at least they’re clean and dry.”
“Thanks.” Lily accepted the clothes, and when her fin
gers touched mine, she stepped back, bumping into the door.
“Bathroom’s down the hall. Last door on the right,” I directed, trying to play the good host. After all, I was being watched and I didn’t need to give Mom any more ammunition she could, and most certainly would, fire back in my direction.
Once Lily was gone and I heard the lock click on the bathroom door, Mom stood up and placed Ava back in my arms. “She’s a special girl, Zach.”
“I know,” I replied automatically as Mom went back to the kitchen.
Slumping down into the couch, I adjusted Ava in my arms. She gurgled and smiled.
“How do you get her to do that?”
“Do what?”
I looked up and saw Lily looking completely different but somehow even more gorgeous than ever. Gone were all traces of the girly girl I’d come to recognize, only to be replaced by someone who looked completely at ease and relaxed. It suited her. Or at least my department t-shirt looked good on her. It hung down almost to her knees, and I shook off the idea of her wearing nothing else.
“Make her smile.”
“She smiles all the time.”
“Only for you.”
“That can’t be right. Surely she’s smiled when you’re talking to her?” I couldn’t believe Ava wouldn’t. Hell, it took all the restraint I had to stop myself grinning like a fool whenever Lily came close.
“Well maybe once. But I’m pretty sure it was just wind.” Lily shrugged it off, moving towards the bookshelf in the corner, making me wish I’d dusted.
She shuffled books around, picked up photo frames, while I watched as she took in my life. One that I’d lived a million miles from here.
Fallen: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Page 9
