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

by Rebecca Barber

  “Honestly, I’m not sure. But I’m a smart girl, I’m sure I can figure it out.”

  “Lily…”

  The radio crackled again.

  “Go. I’m fine. I’ve got this.”

  Reluctantly I moved towards the bed, reaching out and taking hold of her hand, the one not wrapped in a sling. Giving it a quick squeeze, I bent down and kissed her forehead, accidentally catching a glimpse down her gaping gown. While the gown might’ve been designed for function and not fashion, making everyone look sick and sad, what Lily was wearing underneath, had my heart rate picking up. A low-cut, lacy black contraption propping up her perky tits. I needed to get out of here and now before I did something stupid, like crawl into the hospital bed with her.

  “I’ve gotta go. Please, take it easy.”

  “I will.”

  “And if it’s okay, I’ll stop by on my way home in the morning.” I held my breath, hoping she didn’t tell me to stay away. Although, if I was being honest, even if she did, I couldn’t promise that I wouldn’t show up on her doorstep anyway.

  “That’d be great.”

  “Okay then.”

  “Okay then,” Lily repeated.

  With heavy feet, I managed to make it a couple of steps.

  “Hey, Zach?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Be safe.”

  With a wink, I confirmed, “Always am.”

  “Good. Oh, and don’t forget my coffee in the morning.”

  “Never.”

  In a better mood than when I’d barged in, I hurried out of emergency to find Samuels with his hand wrapped up and ready to go. Idiot had tried to block a piece of metal from falling with his hand and sliced it open, even through his gloves.

  “All good?”

  “Yeah. Just some stitches, a shot and a phone number. I’m good to go.”

  Shaking my head, I wasn’t surprised that Samuels had come in bleeding everywhere and twenty minutes later he was striding out of the hospital with a phone number for probably another notch on his bed post. Guy had the biggest mouth when it came to his conquests. Conquests that we were convinced were actually more talk than actual action.

  “Good. I just need two minutes to talk to Mom and we can go.”

  “Zach, man. Come on. We gotta go.”

  “Two minutes!”

  Not bothering to stand around and wait for him to bitch, I headed over to where Mom was playing with a very cheery Ava.

  “See Lily?”

  “Yeah. She says she’s okay…”

  “And she is.”

  Rolling my eyes, I was sick of hearing how okay she was. She was in the hospital for damn sake. If everything was okay, she wouldn’t be. “She’s not going to be able to drive or look after Ava while her arm is out of action.”

  “Probably not.”

  “She said she’ll figure it out.”

  “And I’m sure she will. Lily’s a smart girl. She’ll come up with a plan.”

  Frustration was bubbling. Reaching out for Ava, I stole her from Mom’s arms and held her close. She screwed her nose up at me, probably because I stunk like smoke in my turnout gear but when I started talking to her, her chubby little cheeks softened. “Why are all the women in my life determined to drive me crazy? You wouldn’t do that to me, would you Ava?”

  “Give her a couple of years and I’m sure she will,” Mom interrupted, standing up. “Look, Zach, I know you, and I know how big your hero complex is, look at what you do for a living, but Lily’s got this. She’s smart. Resourceful. If she needs help, I’m sure she’ll ask for it. Now, give me back this gorgeous girl and get back to work.”

  After kissing Ava’s cheek and letting her grab at my nose, I handed her back to Mom before kissing Mom’s forehead. “Take care of my girls.”

  “Girls?” Mom questioned, looking smug.

  “Yeah, girls. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Be careful.”

  Leaving them, I grabbed Samuels by the scruff of the neck and dragged him away from the nurses’ station. I didn’t even want to know how many of those women he just hit on. We had work to do and from the way my radio was going ballistic, the sooner we got back out there and gave the rest of our crew a hand, the better.

  What a night.

  What a fucking ridiculous, exhausting, frustrating night.

  I don’t think we’d had more than ten minutes in a row to take a breath. Call after call came through. And more than one house fire getting out of control. After the third call, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how people who owned an open fireplace in their home didn’t clean their chimneys. It was a proven recipe for disaster. Especially when something had taken residence in said chimney for the summer months.

  It was just before dawn when another call came through from Mrs. Davies. Her cat, Fleur, was stuck up a tree. I’d never been called out for this before, but here we were, loading up and heading across town to help the weeping widow.

  Fleur was a devil cat. The bloody thing hissed and swatted at us and climbed up to a higher branch. Forty minutes. Forty frigging minutes we spent chasing that damn cat up through the branches before it darted down the trunk and back through the flap in the door.

  Thank God it was now over, and I was headed home. Well, after I stopped by and checked on Lily. Mom had text me late last night and explained she was taking them home and would be staying with Lily the night to help out with Ava, and I was so grateful for her being there. I loved that Lily had just opened her life, her business and her home to Mom. I couldn’t believe how much her simple actions of inviting her in, wanting her there, had changed Mom in every way. She had purpose again. She was happier, more fulfilled, and the mother I remembered. At some point I had to figure out a more permanent plan, but that was a problem for another day. Today I was delivering coffee and checking in, then going to bed.

  Mom was sitting on the porch steps when I pulled into the driveway.

  “Morning,” I called out as I crossed the grass.

  “Ssh. Lily and Ava are still asleep.”

  “Don’t blame them. Why are you up? It’s still early,” I asked, dropping down on the step beside her.

  “I just got Ava back down. She had a rough night. Don’t worry, not like that. Just slept on and off. She’s fine.” My face must’ve given away my concern. “Zach, you’re awfully invested in that little girl,” Mom commented, trying to sound casual.

  “Can you blame me? She’s adorable.”

  “That she is. But have you thought about what happens next?”

  “Next?”

  “You know Lily’s just looking after her while they find her forever home?”

  The bile rose in my throat, making me gag. I didn’t like the sound of that. Not one little bit. Even though deep down I knew that was the reality of the situation, pretending it wasn’t was a much nicer place to be. Before Ava, I hadn’t really thought about having a family, maybe in the distant future, but now she was here, I couldn’t imagine a life where she wasn’t.

  Mom wrapped her arm around my waist and rested her head on my shoulder. Handing her her coffee, together we sat there and watched as morning sunlight erased last night’s storm. Lily’s front yard had taken a hammering, but it was all cosmetic. A few fallen branches, some of the dirt from the garden bed had washed away and bits of rubbish had blown in, but overall, she’d come through relatively unscathed. God, I hoped I’d been as lucky.

  Behind us, the door creaked open and I turned to see the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.

  24

  LILY

  “How are you feeling, Lily?” Linda asked.

  She’d been a Godsend. I was so glad it was her phone number I’d blindly dialed. Not only had she gotten me to the hospital, but she’d brought me home and taken charge. When I’d gone to change Ava’s diaper, I almost howled in agony. Linda had offered to do it, but I was being stubborn and determined to do it myself. While I sat on my bed, sobbing and feeling sor
ry for myself, Linda took charge getting Ava changed, fed and tucked into bed. Then she turned her bossiness in my direction.

  “I’m okay.”

  “And now the real answer?”

  Zach handed me a coffee and quirked his eyebrow.

  I yawned loudly and took a sip of my coffee. If I could’ve found a way to inject it intravenously, I’d be prepping the needle. Sleep had alluded me and I had the headache from hell. Then on top of that my arm was throbbing.

  “I need more sleep,” I admitted.

  “Here here,” Zach toasted me with his own coffee.

  “Long shift?”

  “Yeah. Really long.” Zach yawned.

  “Well, since I’m the only fully functioning adult here right now, you two need to go to bed and get some sleep, and I’ll take Ava out for a walk when she wakes up.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that…”

  “You didn’t ask. I offered. Now, finish your coffee and go get into bed.”

  Zach took another sip from his paper cup before tossing what was left on the lawn and standing up and pulling his keys from his pocket.

  “Where are you going?” Linda called out.

  “Ah, home for a shower and some sleep?”

  “Don’t be daft. I’m pretty sure Lily has a perfectly good shower you can use.”

  “Mom! I’m not staying here.”

  “Why? Because I know about it? Look, Zach, you’re not fifteen anymore and trying to sneak Allison what’s-her-name in through your bedroom window. We’re all adults and you two aren’t going to get up to any hanky panky…”

  “Hanky panky, Mom? Really?”

  “Well let’s face it, you both look like absolute shit, and the only thing that’s going to happen in there is sleep. Now, I’m going to go check on Ava and move her out of your room, and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

  Linda strolled past, pinching my cheek before disappearing inside leaving me standing there, clasping my coffee.

  “You sure you’re okay with this?”

  “Honestly, I’m so tired I’d curl up under the tree if it meant I could get comfortable.”

  “That bad, huh?”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Well then, I need a shower.”

  “Let’s go.”

  I couldn’t believe I was sitting on my bed while Zach was on the other side of the wall – the other side of the very thin wall – naked in my shower. Naked and soapy and wet. Struggling the best I could, I changed into a tank top and a pair of sleep shorts before sliding back in under the covers.

  I’d barely laid my head down when Zach strode into my bedroom wearing a pair of boxers and an exhausted grimace. Poor guy looked completely shattered.

  Not having a clue what I was supposed to do or say, I blurted out something dumb. “Are you okay on the left?”

  Scrubbing his hand across his face, Zach nodded before climbing under the covers. “Oh shit! Do you need anything. Pain killers? Extra pillows? Water?”

  Exhausted, sore and feeling more than a little sorry for myself, I answered honestly. “Just you.” If I made a fool of myself, I’d just blame the drugs.

  With a smile, Zach dragged me gently into his arms, propping a pillow against my side, before snuggling against me.

  I woke up starving. It was the best sleep I’d had in weeks and I only had one person to thank for it. The man whose jaw was covered in stubble as he snored beside me. His body was hard and warm. I tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but the arm wrapped around my waist tightened and Zach murmured against my neck. I never would’ve guessed he was a snuggler, but damn it felt so good being curled up in his arms.

  “Where’re you going,” he mumbled, his eyes not even cracking open.

  “Time to get up.”

  “Five more minutes.”

  I should’ve been embarrassed to say that was all the convincing it took to have me conceding defeat and closing my eyes.

  When I woke up again, the bed beside me was empty and the sheets cold. I didn’t even realize he’d gotten up.

  “What’s that look for?”

  “What look?” I asked, sitting up and rubbing my eyes before slipping my arm from the sling. I needed to straighten it. “Motherfucker!” I swore as a shooting pain went through my arm, making my eyes water.

  “Shit, Lily!” Zach was at my side, taking hold of my hand and helping me settle my arm back in the sling. “That okay?” he asked, adjusting the strap behind my neck and making sure my hair wasn’t caught.

  “Thanks.”

  My stomach rumbled loudly. “What time is it?”

  “Time I feed you by the sounds of that.”

  “I’m so hungry. I haven’t had anything since… I don’t even remember.”

  “Lily, that’s not good.”

  I was bordering on hangry, something no human should ever be exposed to. Especially Zach. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I mean, I was a bit preoccupied…”

  “Calm down, sweetheart. I wasn’t having a go at you.”

  “I know. Sorry. I’m just…”

  “Well, let’s get you fed. What do you feel like?”

  “Umm…”

  “Anything you want.”

  “And you won’t judge?”

  “Of course I’m going to judge. If you make me eat a tofu burger, I’m totally judging you for that. I’m not saying I won’t eat it, because I will, but just know, I’ll be judging you the whole time.”

  “That’s fair,” I agreed. “Well in that case, do you mind calling Carlos and ordering a pepperoni pizza and garlic bread?”

  “Seriously?”

  “Is that judgement I hear?”

  “Hell yeah! Carlos’s is the best.”

  “Good. Start dialing. I’m just going to have a quick shower before food gets here.”

  “No worries. And don’t worry. I’ve spoken to Mom, her and Ava are currently hanging out at my place. Mom said to let you know she took your car with the seat in it, but they’re fine.”

  “Your mom is an angel.”

  “She’s certainly something. Now get in there so I can order some food.”

  Taking my time, I did the best with what I had. Trying to shave my most delicate areas with my wrong hand without cutting myself was a challenge and I wasn’t even sure I’d done a good job. Guess I was going to have to restrain myself from jumping Zach’s bones until I had the situation back under control, although knowing what a complete caveman he was in the bedroom had me giggling to myself. I really doubted a few stray hairs, or a little stubble would scare him off.

  Reluctantly I stepped out of the shower, shut off the water and wiped the condensation from the mirror. I wish I hadn’t. Turning from side to side I saw the ugly green and yellow bruises on my side from the other night’s stupidity. Grabbing a fresh towel from under the sink, I patted myself dry the best I could before wrapping it around my body and darting into my bedroom.

  I managed to get some panties on, but my bra was beyond me. Getting it on one shoulder was easy but trying to do the damn clasp up was driving me insane. I tried doing it up in front, behind me, hell, I even tried pulling it off my shoulders doing it up then sliding it back on.

  “Lily, pizza’s here,” Zach’s husky voice called out, and goosebumps raced down my spine.

  “Just a second.”

  The door was thrown open and Zach’s hulking presence filled the doorway. I panicked. I was standing there in only my panties, my wet towel at my feet and my bra tangled around me holding me hostage.

  “I… uh …shit…” Zach’s eyes bounced around the room, looking everywhere but at me. He looked at the ceiling, out the window and at his shoes before lifting his hand to his face, shielding his eyes and turning around. Clearly, he’d been caught off guard with my lack of clothing, but he wasn’t the only one.

  “Zach, it’s fine. It’s not like it’s nothing you haven’t seen before anyway,” I said, letting us both off the hook.

  “
I’m sorry, Lil. I didn’t hear what you said and…”

  “Nothing to be sorry about. But since you’re here maybe you could help me with something.”

  I must’ve said the magic word, because Zach was moving towards me, his intense eyes locking with mine. “What do you need?”

  “Well, I know you know how to get a bra off, but do you know how to put one on?” I teased, needing to lighten the mood.

  “Can’t say I’ve ever needed to, but I consider myself a smart guy, I’m pretty sure I could figure it out.”

  “Good! Our pizza’s getting cold and this damn contraption is trying to strangle me.”

  “We can’t have that now, can we?”

  “No, we can’t. So, if you could give me a hand…”

  With a good-for-nothing smirk on his face, Zach’s eyes lit up with mischief, and I was beginning to regret asking for help. “I think I’m up to it.”

  If he wanted to play, two could play this game. “I have no doubt you’re up for it,” I said as I glanced at his crotch.

  His answering groan was all I needed to know I was right on the money.

  25

  ZACH

  Oh boy was I up for it.

  I couldn’t imagine there was a red-blooded male on the face of the planet who wouldn’t be ‘up for it’ when standing in front of Lily Evans wearing the sexiest pair of black satin panties with a bright red bow front and center and asking for help. Fuck me sideways, did I want to help her. I wanted to help her scratch the itch she didn’t even know she had.

  As I moved towards her, her raspberry-scented body wash, the one I’d used myself earlier, filled my nostrils, and the semi I’d been sporting went painfully hard. I did not give a toss about the pizza going cold. The lunch I was suddenly salivating for was something deliciously sweeter and much more addictive.

  As she handed me the lacy contraption, it took all my restraint to not chuck it over my shoulder and say be damned with it, but the pout on Lily’s lips, lips that were dying to be kissed, made me man up and do what she asked.

  Rubbing my hands against my thighs – I didn’t want my cold fingers to touch her soft skin – I stood in front of her, the feel of her breath on my neck tickling me. Holding the straps out in front of her, Lily wove her arms through the holes, wincing. I watched on, completely mesmerized as she lifted and adjusted her tits, settling the scrap of lace I was wishing were my hands in place.