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

by A. C. Wilds

  “Did you know who I was when we met?”

  He hesitates and sucks in a breath. “Yes.”

  The world tilts. It’s all too much. I feel like I’m suffocating.

  “Don’t follow me,” I growl and march toward the door, pushing past Marissa and her husband.

  “Bliss!”

  I don’t stop. I can’t be here with him like this. He’s a liar. Just like everyone else. The night air whispers on my skin as I scan the parking lot for my driver. He’s sitting on the hood of the car, cigarette in hand.

  When he sees me, he tosses the butt aside and opens my door. “Sorry, Ms. Meyer. I didn’t realize we were leaving so soon.”

  “No worries, Sam. Just get me the fuck out of here.” I slide into the seat, taking the first breath since I’ve left Carson. How could I have been so stupid?

  For once in my life, I believed being myself was okay—Carson let me believe that—and now I find out he isn’t who he was. He’s a spoiled rich heir, same as me, except he ran from his pain. I drowned mine in alcohol.

  There’s no coming back from this. Regardless of what he says or does, I never knew the real Carson. The wounds rip open as I stare out into the night, watching my whole life crumble.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CARSON

  I clutch the bracelet box inside my coat pocket. I hadn’t planned on Bliss finding out that way. The infectious barnacle that is Marissa has been a pain in my ass since we were kids.

  Our parents are friends but only in money, there have never been any true feelings between them. For a while, Marissa had it in her head that we’d get married, but I quickly let her know that was never going to happen. And now she ruined the only thing important to me.

  “Stagg, bro! What are you doing here?” Mike, another of those superficial friends, yells as I make my way for the entrance. He grabs my shoulder before I can ignore him and leave.

  “Hey, Mike. I’m leaving. Have a good night.”

  I remove his hand from my shoulder and shrug off his other attempt to get me to stay. I forgot how annoying these people can be when they’re drunk. No amount of money can give you class.

  “We haven’t seen you in months. Come have a drink with us. Steve has a new hottie.” He leans in to whisper. “I think she’s up for sharing.”

  He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, and the thought of being anywhere near these assholes makes me want to vomit.

  “I’m good. Have fun with that, though.”

  Now that I’m outside. I have no idea where to go. I don’t know where she lives. I only know her parents’ address and they aren’t home from Bordentown yet. How will I find her?

  Frustrated, I grab my hair. This night could not get any worse. Just as those words play through my mind, a person I vowed to never see again walks around the corner.

  There, in a dark suit similar to mine with silver hair combed in the perfect wave, stands an older version of Eli. The only thing I got from him was my eyes. Other than that, I look like my mother’s side of the family. Eli always was a true Stagg.

  “Carson.” My name is a command.

  Clenching my jaw, I walk over to him. Hands fisted at my sides, I quake with anger, trying my hardest not to hit him.

  “Father.”

  “Your mother told me you’d be here. I was curious to see why the son who abandoned his family in their darkest time would come home to attend a gala for the children.”

  “You wasted your time coming here. I’m leaving.”

  Before I can walk past him, he grabs my forearm and growls into my ear. “You will not make me look like a fool. You wanted to come to this event, and so we shall. After you.”

  He pushes me towards the doorway. I stumble a few steps before catching myself. I’ve never been a violent person, but in this moment, I want to choke the life out of him.

  “No. Your time of lording it over this family is over. Once you let Eli die, you killed the rest of my ties to you. Being a father is about more than throwing money at your sons and turning your back on them when it’s convenient for you.”

  “How dare you speak to me that way? I gave you everything. I made you who you are. I am your father.”

  “YOU ARE NOT! You’re a fucking sperm donor. The guy who slept with my mom and created Eli and me. And the moment you discovered Eli was different, you allowed him to be killed. You’re a fucking demon. Not worthy of the name Stagg!”

  I’m yelling. All the hatred I hold for him has risen to the surface. My scalp tingles with a fury I haven’t felt since the day I left.

  He takes a menacing step toward me, but I don’t back down. I’m itching for a fight. I’ve played this scenario in my head for months. I need this to happen.

  “You’re an ungrateful little shit. Just like your brother with his disgusting lifestyle. It was better he died than sully the Stagg name with his actions.”

  There is a time for thinking and a time for action. I react to his words like someone threw me into a burning fire pit. My fist connects with his jaw, and he goes flying to the ground.

  I’m on him, raining down punch after punch. I scream out all my rage. Trying to get it out—all that’s consumed me since the first moment I knew he wasn’t going to help Eli.

  I feel hands on me, but I don’t care. The only thing I want is to end his life. I want him to beg me to save him like Eli did. He needs to feel helpless and depleted.

  “It’s over, bro. It’s over. I got you. Carson, look at me.” Tears make it hard to see straight and, for a moment, I can’t believe who I see.

  “Let go. He’s not worth it.” Ashton pulls me into a hug. What is he doing here? How did he find me?

  I howl out my pain, losing my shit for the first time. I’ve never dealt with Eli’s death. I’ve pushed it in the corner where I couldn’t reach it. It was in a box labeled “do not open”.

  Sirens blare in the background but I barely hear them as Ashton pulls me over to his piece-of-shit VW Beetle. The rusted grill and missing side mirror stand out like a piece of trash in the beautiful tropical ocean.

  Only Ashton wouldn’t give a fuck what these rich pricks think of him. He opens the door and shoves me in before running to the driver’s side. We drive away just as the police pull into the lot.

  There’s no way my father would ever press charges and sully the Stagg name. He let my brother die for being gay. A fight is something he had more control over.

  “What happened?” Ashton’s voice cuts through the silence.

  “You first, how are you here?” I ask, running a hand through my hair.

  “The note. You said you were going home. It didn’t take a lot of detective work. When I showed up at your house, your mom was a little pissed, but I guess she knew you’d need some help.”

  “I came after Bliss. But then she found out who I was and that I knew who she was all along.”

  “You, what? How the fuck did you know who she was?”

  “Her brother and Eli went to the same boarding school. They played on the same lacrosse team. Royce was at Eli’s funeral. I’m surprised he didn’t out me sooner.”

  “That’s fucked up. You saw how broken she was and judged her for it. Carson, I love you like a brother, but this is beyond. You should have come clean before you slept with her.”

  I bang my head against the window, hoping the pain will make this whole night disappear. I’ve been such an asshole. Thinking that a bracelet would make her forgive everything.

  “I was going to give her this,” I say, taking out the box with the bracelet. “It was my grandmothers.”

  He laughs, a crazy sound. “I should throw you out of my car. I don’t know who taught you about wooing a girl, but this is not the way. You can’t make the biggest fuck up and then throw diamonds at her.”

  “What the fuck am I going to do?”

  “You’re going to take me to a dope-ass hotel since I now know you’re Rockefeller rich. We’re going to eat pizza and drink beer until we pass ou
t. Tomorrow, we’ll find a way to fix this.”

  I’m too drained to argue and tell him I want to find her now and make her see I was scared. Ashton is right. I need a plan. Something that won’t make her try to kill me.

  BLISS

  I don’t remember much after Sam drove me home. All I remember is that my parents weren’t home yet, but our maid and my old nanny, Sydney, was there for me.

  I don’t know what time it is or even what day, but there’s no chance that I’ll be getting out of this bed. I pull the covers closer to me and try not to cry as I think about what Carson did.

  There’s a knock on the door, and a stream of light comes through from the hall. I turn over, trying to ignore whoever is there.

  “Bliss. It’s Cassy. I came to see if you were okay.”

  I hear her turn on a lamp, and I squeeze my eyes shut tighter. If I can’t see her, she can’t be real.

  “It’s been two days. You have to eat something.”

  At the mention of food, my stomach grumbles. It’s been two days? It seems like hours. Hours since I found out Carson knew me all along.

  “Go away. I know you have good intentions, but I’m not in the mood for company right now.”

  “Bliss Prudence Meyer, get your ass out of that bed. Can’t you see my wife is trying to be nice to you?” Royce’s voice booms throughout the room. He takes the corner of my blanket and rips it from the bed, instantly popping my comfort bubble. I’m forced to spring up.

  “Dick. Give it back.”

  “No. Get the fuck out of bed. I had my sister back for all of a week before you threw yourself down this hole again. I’m not going to let you do it continue.”

  He jumps on top of me, hugging me so tight that I can’t breathe. He weighs like eight hundred pounds. Just when I think breathing isn’t an option anymore, there’s another shift on the bed, then Cassy is on the other side of me, squeezing us both.

  Tears pour from my eyes as a part of me shatters. I’ll never have what they have. Someone to always hold them regardless of what they’re going through.

  “You can’t put yourself back into that hole, sis. We won’t let you. Even if you have to live with us for a while.”

  I twist around and hug my brother until I can’t feel the void in my chest anymore. I roll over and pull Cassy into my arms. “You guys are amazing, but I can’t let you all do that. I’ll be fine.”

  “It’s no trouble, really. The house Royce insisted we buy is too big, anyway. You’ll love Sunnyville. It’s a great place to live.”

  The mention of her small town makes me smile. How she convinced my brother, the real-life Richie Rich, to move to a place like that shows how much he loves her.

  “I’ll be sure to visit, but don’t newlyweds need a honeymoon phase? I’m not going to get in the way of having nieces or nephews.”

  “Okay, that’s enough of that talk.” Cassy gets up from the bed, but Royce doesn’t let her get too far before he pulls her in for a kiss.

  “Gross, guys.”

  “We’ll stop if you come down for some lunch. Take a shower. You smell.”

  He manages to dodge the pillow I chuck at his head. They’re right, though. I can’t lie around and let Carson drag me back into my black hole.

  Hand in hand, they exit my room, leaving me in the dark again. I fling my legs over the side of the bed and head for the bathroom. After turning the taps on for the shower, I brush my teeth while the water heats up.

  There are bags under my eyes, and my skin is paler than usual. I look like a total mess. A shower will do me good. I step into the spray and let the hot water wash away the last two days.

  Carson was the first person in a long time to wake me up from the nightmare in which I was living. He gave me hope that things could be good again. That maybe I could find myself back on the path my life deserves.

  If there was a reason for this to have happened, it was to show me that I can continue on. Tilly’s death destroyed me, but I can’t keep letting other people define my life. I have to do this for myself.

  But all the determination in the world isn’t going to make me forget him. He dug his way inside my heart, and I’m not sure I can get him out. Carson is my perfect match in every way, but he made it all fall apart.

  I shut off the water and step out of the shower. Getting dressed feels like a chore. I’d give anything to get back into bed, but I can’t let the darkness take me again.

  With a sigh, I put on a pair of leggings, a soft t-shirt, and pair it with comfy socks. When I make my way downstairs in search of food, I find Royce and Cassy sitting at the breakfast table in the kitchen, a spread of brunch food in front of them.

  “You sure do know how to cheer a girl up,” I say, sliding into the seat and scooping up a piece of bacon.

  “You’re welcome, but I can’t take the credit. Cassy cooked,” Royce says, kissing her hand.

  “Why would you cook when we have a cook? He gets paid very well.” I can’t imagine wanting to do mundane tasks, but that’s the difference between my family and the rest of the world. I was born thinking these things.

  “It’s more about the love than the action. We’re family now. I wanted to show you how much I love you through the bacon.” She smiles at her own joke, but I can’t help the tears that fall down my face. It’s been ages since anyone has done something like this for me. This small gesture makes me feel.

  Well, there was that one time with tacos and a blowjob.

  Shaking my head, I pick up a pancake. “Thank you, Cassy. I really . . . it means a lot.”

  She folds the napkin across her lap and gives me a bright smile. “What do you want to do today? We’re leaving for our honeymoon tomorrow, but we have the day.”

  “I’m not really up for leaving the house. I’ve been thinking, and I’d like to know more about your town, Cassy. I’d like to get an apartment or house near you guys. I don’t want stay with Mom and Dad anymore.”

  I hold my breath, hoping they won’t be upset that I want to tag along. There’s nothing left for me in L.A.

  “That would be fantastic! You’d have built-in friends—Emerson, Grant, Desi. Then there is the rest of my family and theirs. It will be awesome. You’re going to love it,” Cassy says.

  Relief washes through me. I have a plan. Maybe when I’ve put all the pain behind me, I can make a better life for myself.

  “It’ll be good for you, sis. The people there aren’t who we’d expect. It’s sort of like a TV show.”

  “Stop it, Royce. It’s not perfect, but it’s loving. That’s all that counts.” She shrugs.

  I wish it was that simple.

  “I’ll start looking for something this afternoon, then. Do you have a real estate agent I can use?”

  “Yes, a friend of mine is one. I’ll leave you her number.”

  The rest of brunch carries the lightheartedness I’ve come to associate with Cassy. She brings the sunshine Royce and I needed in our life. I wonder if all people from Sunnyville are this way. Maybe I can find my own Cassy.

  “I’ll wash the dishes. You guys get going. And thanks again for cooking, Cassy. It meant a lot.”

  They each kiss me goodbye and leave me to it. I’ve never washed a dish in my life, but I guess now is as good a time as any.

  I grab the plates and stack them next to the sink. Opening up the dishwasher, I find two racks, one shorter than the other. I guess I just throw them in?

  As I’m about to put the first plate in, there’s a shout behind me.

  “Bliss! What are you doing?” Sydney says. She’s like the real mother we never had.

  “I was going to do the dishes.” I try to keep an innocent look on my face, but she’s having none of it.

  “You’ll make double the work for me. I don’t want to have to rewash them.”

  I know Sydney loves us in her own way, but I can’t help think about what Cassy said. It’s not about the action, it’s about the love you’re trying to show the person.

/>   “I want to do this for you. I haven’t been the best lately, and I want to show you I can change.”

  You’d think I had a giant spider on my face. I don’t know what’s more embarrassing, the fact that I’m offering, or the fact that she finds this shocking.

  “If that’s what you want. But, honey, you do know I get paid six figures to do this job, right? I’m not a poor housekeeper. I like my work.”

  “It’s not about the act itself, it’s about the love you put into it. Let me do this for you.”

  She gives me a kiss and a hug and returns through the kitchen doorway, leaving me alone with the mess. Rolling up my metaphorical sleeves, I get to work. Here’s hoping I don’t break anything, even if I am just putting dishes in the dishwasher.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CARSON

  My palms are sweating, my stomach firmly lodged in my throat. I shouldn’t have had that coffee. There is no other way to do this. I have to go on bended knee and beg her to forgive me.

  “Hello?” the intercom spit outs.

  “This is Carson Stagg for Bliss Meyer.”

  There’s a pause, then the gate buzzes. Wasting no time, I drive up to the front door. No one waits for me outside, and I can’t stop the ominous feeling that comes over me.

  Straightening my jacket, I walk up the steps and ring the bell. The bell echoes through the house, and I shift uncomfortably.

  A small woman opens the door. She’s dressed in a uniform, her dark hair up in a bun at the nape of her neck. Cool eyes scrutinize me. I feel like she’s the gatekeeper I’m going to have to get through, but then I see Royce standing behind her.

  “You have a lot of fucking nerve coming here,” he growls.

  “I need to see her, please. I want a chance to explain.”

  “I’m not sure it’s a good idea. It’s been two days. What the fuck have you been doing that you couldn’t come over sooner?”

  “I had to take care of something. I’d prefer to talk about this in private.” My eyes dart to the maid who hasn’t taken her disapproving look off my face.

  “You have twenty minutes before I kick you out if it’s not good enough. Sydney, could you kindly make some tea? We’ll be in the sitting room.”