The Bravest Hero (A Curvy Girls Club Novel Book 2) Read online

  Her eyes popped with her cat-eye eyeliner. Her plump lips looked even plumper painted a deep red. She curled her one-sided bob with big bouncy curls and feathered them back. The under layer of rainbow colors peaked out with every feather. She finished her look with a silver spiked ear cuff on the shaved side of her head, and a long dangling silver earring on the other.

  Royal felt hot and confident. She also felt like it was her silent way of saying, “Fuck you and your prim and proper looking fiancée.”

  It was a beautiful day, but instead of taking her bike, she opted for her Jeep. She still hadn’t been able to ride since she’d witnessed Mack’s accident. Royal wasn’t sure when she’d ride again. Watching someone lose their leg and almost their life, was enough to scare anyone away. And since she wasn’t speaking to Mack and only planned on seeing him this one last time, she doubted they’d go for that ride together like he’d suggested.

  Royal made the quick ride over to the hospital. When she got to his floor, the nurses smiled at her happily.

  “Hey, Royal!” Carmen said. “It’s good to have you back.”

  “Hey, Carmen! It’s good to see you.”

  Carmen leaned in and whispered, “If you ask me, he’s been missing you the last few days.”

  “Hmm… Doesn’t he have his fiancée to keep him company?” Royal quirked an eyebrow.

  “She certainly comes a little more often now, but getting her to look up from that cellphone is another story. But that’s none of my business.” Carmen gave Royal a knowing look, and then turned to file some paperwork.

  Royal breathed in deeply and walked to Mack’s room. She lightly knocked on the door as usual.

  “Come in,” she heard Mack say.

  She walked in and spotted a man she didn’t know but assumed was Matt the reporter and another guy holding a news camera. When her eyes landed on Mack in bed, her stomach flip-flopped. Mack’s eyes ate her up greedily from head to toe. A shiver rippled down her spine. Then Royal’s eyes finally drifted to the last person in the room…Ainsley.

  “Hey,” Royal addressed the whole room. “Am I late?”

  “No, we’re early. We like to get setup a little beforehand.” Matt said as he came over to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you in person, Royal.”

  “Nice to meet you too, Matt.”

  “Hey, Royal,” Mack said softly. “How’ve you been?”

  “McKennon,” she acknowledged him. “I’ve been good. Thank you. And you?”

  Royal couldn’t help her formal tone. It was her way of guarding her heart. She put up a wall and it was her way of showing him how it was going to be from there on out.

  “I’ve been okay,” he said.

  His tone was morose if anyone paid attention. Royal did. She knew the sound of his voice when he was happy.

  Ainsley placed her hand on his shoulder and rubbed. It was her way of marking her territory. She wanted Royal to know he was hers.

  Royal only glanced at her and then looked back to Matt. It was the only interaction the two women would have.

  “Okay, to start we’re going to interview Mack,” Matt began. “Then we’ll interview you, Royal. After that we’ll ask you some questions together, and finally get some B-roll of you two together.”

  Ainsley’s face fell a bit.

  “What about me?” She piped in. “Will the distraught fiancée get an interview?”

  Distraught my ass! Royal snorted softly.

  Ainsley glanced at her and quickly gave Royal the evil eye before looking at Matt again.

  “Currently, no. But thank you for wanting to help.” He turned to the cameraman. “Okay, Rich. Ready when you are.”

  Royal stepped back and leaned against the wall. Ainsley continued to stand next to the hospital bed by Mack’s head.

  “Uh…what was your name again?” Rich, the camera guy asked.

  “Ainsley,” she smiled sweetly.

  “Right. Ainsley, do you think you could move back a little. You’re in the shot.” Rich said matter-of-factly.

  Royal squeezed her lips together at the look of indignation that crossed Ainsley’s face. Her mouth flapped opened and closed as she backed away. It took all Royal had not to bust up laughing. It was obvious that no one had ever ignored Ainsley Prescott or not wanted her to be the subject of their admiration.

  Welcome to the club.

  “Mack, what happened that night?” Matt asked.

  Mack began to explain what happened from his perspective. Royal watched him. She could easily see how people just assumed he was the golden boy. Perfect in every way. Athletic, outgoing, manly, gets the hottest women, etc. And he tried so hard to be all of that for everyone.

  The accident was cracking his façade.

  “Royal, could you come and sit next to the bed? Matt asked, bringing Royal out of her deep thoughts.

  “Sure,” Royal said as she walked over to the chair.

  She felt Mack’s eyes on her but she tried to ignore him. She didn’t want to look at him. Those penetrative green eyes of his would weaken her resolve.

  “I’m going to ask Mack one last question that will transition us smoothly over to you, Royal. Then I’ll conduct your interview.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Perfect,” Matt said and then signaled Rich to start recording again. “So, now you’re lying on the road. What happened next?”

  “An angel showed up.” Mack said and looked over at Royal.

  The camera followed his gaze and stopped on Royal. She didn’t want to appear aloof on camera, so she chanced a glance at him.

  It was a bad idea.

  Mack’s heart was on his sleeve. Or in his eyes, as it were. Royal inhaled sharply at the naked look of affection there. She looked away quickly. She found the camera and smiled shyly.

  “She saved my life. Simply by being there and helping me focus on her voice instead of letting the darkness take over like it wanted to.”

  “Royal what was it like witnessing the accident? And did you ever consider driving past him? To just keep going?”

  “It was horrible. My heart was in my throat. But I never thought of anything other than helping him. I ride a motorcycle too and couldn’t imagine being left on the side of the road broken like that.” Royal finished and looked at Mack.

  Their eyes held for a little too long. It was Ainsley who cleared her throat to break the spell.

  Royal looked over at her and Ainsley stared daggers at her. Her arms crossed over her chest tightly, and she scowled deeply.

  Be careful. Your face will wrinkle prematurely if you keep mean-mugging people like that.

  “Is this the first time you’re seeing each other after the accident?” Matt asked.

  “No, Royal came to the hospital a few days after the accident to check on me.” Mack said with a bright smile.

  “The police officer who took our statements made sure she passed our names along to each other. So, that we could find each other if we wanted to,” Royal said.

  “And now you’re fast friends?”

  “It’s hard not to be when you share such an intense situation like that. We were both probably at our most vulnerable. Sometimes you don’t even show the people closest to you that side of yourself.” Mack said sincerely as he gazed at Royal.

  Unfortunately, for his fiancée, it was a little too sincere. Ainsley huffed and stomped out of the room. No one noticed except Royal. Mack was too busy looking at her, and Matt and his cameraman were too focused on documenting such a dramatic story.

  “What are the next steps after getting out of the hospital?”

  “Once I leave this hospital, I’ll go to the rehabilitation hospital. They’ll assist me with caring for my leg as it heals and as my arms heal. Once I can use my arms again, I’ll learn to walk on a prosthetic leg.”

  “Do you think you’ll be able to go back to work as a firefighter?”

  “Absolutely. I need to train all over again, but I can do it. Besides, I might come back even
better. According to Royal,” he looked at her, “I’ll have a bionic leg after all.”

  “And I’m sure you’ll be there to cheer him on?” Matt asked Royal.

  “Of course.” From afar.

  “Alright, I think we’ve got it. We’ll be taking some B-roll round the hospital and possibly interviewing one of the nurses, but otherwise we’re done with you two. You did great,” Matt said.

  “Thanks.”

  “Thank you.”

  Royal and Mack said at the same time.

  “Mack, if you really are able to get back on full duty at the fire department, I’d love to interview you again. It would be an amazing comeback story.”

  “Absolutely. That would be great.”

  “Well, you have my number,” Matt said.

  “I’ll let you know.”

  Like a well-oiled machine, Matt and Rich were packed up and gone within minutes.

  All that was left was Royal and McKennon, and the deafening silence around them.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Mack’s heart had started pounding from the moment Royal entered the room until now when there was no one left but them.

  She’d walked in oozing that tough girl persona. She looked so fucking hot. And it was another moment where Mack wished he were completely whole or at the very least healed so he could strip her down, and fuck her so deeply he’d be imprinted on her body and soul for the rest of her life.

  “Royal, I missed y-”

  “Don’t,” she cut him off.

  “What? I did.”

  “And what does it matter, McKennon?” Royal looked at him with a deep scowl on her face. “You’re engaged. Something you failed to tell me when I asked if you had someone in your life. Something you failed to mention after I told you how I was humiliated by my boss only days before.”

  “I know. I know. I wanted to tell you so many times. But…but…”

  “But what, McKennon?” Royal said in frustration.

  “But I was afraid you’d never come back if you knew. And I…I needed you here,” Mack said lamely.

  “I still would’ve come to see you if you told me you were engaged that first night.”

  “But you wouldn’t have looked at me the same. Like I was still a whole man.”

  “But how am I looking at you now?”

  “With hurt. Disappointment. Disdain.”

  “You prefer that?”

  “No.”

  “Then you should’ve told me.”

  An awkward silence fell on them like a heavy blanket.

  “So, did you even notice that your fiancée disappeared?” Royal finally broke the silence.

  Mack’s eyes widened slightly. Shit!

  “I’ll take that look as a ‘no.’”

  Mack felt Royal’s weighted stare as she looked at him for a moment.

  “Today was an important day for you. She should be here. And you should’ve noticed that she wasn’t. You deserve so much more than this strange distant relationship you have.” Royal stood up. “I’m gonna go get something to drink. You want something?”

  “Water.”

  “I’ll be back.”

  Mack watched Royal walk out. When she was gone, he let his head drop back. He felt so exhausted.

  Even with Royal out of the room, Mack’s heart still pounded. He felt himself panting and he couldn’t stop shivering. Something felt…off.

  “Oh my God! Mack, are you okay?!” Royal said when she walked back into the room.

  “I don’t feel great,” Mack whispered.

  She was out of the room before he could finish his sentence. Seconds later the nurses came running in. They were all over him but Mack couldn’t concentrate on most of what they were saying. He only heard one small phrase.

  “I think he might be septic.”

  Mack knew that wasn’t good. He was also too out of it to be too concerned.

  ~~~

  “Page the doctor. He’s going into septic shock,” Carmen shouted.

  Royal stood back and blinked rapidly. The sting of tears overwhelmed her.

  “Royal, if you’re going to stay, head to the waiting room. We have to take him to surgery. Someone will let you know when he’s out, and then you can come see him,” Carmen informed her.

  Royal pressed her lips together and only nodded. Carmen saw the look of distress on her face. The nurse walked up to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

  “He’s going to be okay.”

  “I know,” Royal rasped.

  Royal watched as they transferred him to a gurney and wheeled him down the hall. She walked to the waiting room on wobbly legs.

  God, please let him be okay.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Soft light greeted Mack’s eyes as they opened. It was fairly dark in the room aside from the low light above his bed.

  Mack tried to remember what had happened as his eyes adjusted. He remembered the interview. He remembered Royal being upset with him about not telling her the truth. But everything after that became hazy.

  “I think he might be septic.”

  The nurse’s words before everything went black came back to him. Mack remembered the doctor’s concerns about any infections getting into his bloodstream and him developing sepsis. It must have happened.

  Mack’s mouth felt like sandpaper. He turned his head in search of some water or at least to find the button to call for a nurse. His eyes landed on something unexpected.

  Royal.

  She was still there. She was sound asleep in the reclining chair. A white blanket covered her. She snuffled softly. Royal looked just as beautiful relaxed in sleep.

  Maybe it was his eyes on her. Maybe it was that magnetic pull he always felt between them. But Royal’s eyelids fluttered open. She looked over at him as if to check on him. She must have been doing that all night.

  “Mm…” she stretched. Mack’s eyes couldn’t help straying to her breasts as they pressed against her shirt. “You’re awake.”

  “Yeah,” Mack said.

  “Are you thirsty?”

  “Parched,” Mack croaked.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  “Alright. Thank you, Royal.”

  “You’re welcome.” She smiled down at him.

  ~~~

  “Hey, Carmen. You’re still here?” Royal asked as she walked over to the nurses’ station.

  A few of the nurses still on duty abruptly stopped talking when Royal appeared. Royal glanced at them curiously.

  “Yeah. Working a twelve today,” Carmen answered.

  “Ah, I see.”

  “Is our patient awake?”

  “Yeah. And he’s thirsty.” Royal gestured to the group of nurses with her chin. “What are they up to? They got super quiet when I walked up?”

  Carmen looked over and smiled.

  “The jig is up, ladies.” Carmen laughed and then turned back to Royal. “There’s a bet on the floor.”

  “Okay…a bet for what?”

  “To see who Mack ends up with.”

  “Say what?!”

  “Everyone is wondering if he’ll go through with his wedding or if he’ll break it off to be with you.” Carmen said with shrug.

  Royal blinked in shock. The nurses just smiled at her.

  “Honestly, it’s not even a bet anymore. Most of us are just hoping he dumps her to be with you,” one nurse with an adorable afro puff said.

  “Personally, we all think she’s a shit fiancée and person in general,” another added.

  “He better not be an idiot,” a third finished.

  “As you can see, there’s really no one betting against you. So, now we’re deciding if we should do a pool instead and pick dates of when he’ll dump her. That’s the conversation you walked in on.” Carmen informed her.

  “What if whatever he decides happens after he’s left the hospital?” Royal asked when she found her voice again.

  “Oh, we’ve got that covered already. We all are followi
ng you both on The Gram.” The second nurse said.

  “Ha! So that’s where all those new followers came from. I was wondering.” Royal laughed.

  “We know what we’re doing,” the first nurse said.

  “I see that.” Royal sighed. “Well, I’m not so sure you’re going to get your wish. My life in regards to men, rarely goes as planned. They love to keep me as a friend.”

  “If my guy friends looked at me the way Mack looks at you, my husband wouldn’t allow me to see them ever again.” Nurse number three said.

  “You haven’t seen the news story yet, have you?” Carmen asked.

  “No, I forgot. I was so worried about him; I didn’t think about it.”

  A collective, “Aww…” resounded through the group.

  “I’ll find it on my phone after I get him some water.”

  “Oh, yeah. Let me get that for you.” Carmen got up.

  A few minutes later, Royal walked back into his room with a pitcher of ice water.

  “Sorry that took a little longer than I intended. I chatted with the nurses a bit.”

  “It’s okay.”

  Royal poured some water into a cup. She held the cup with one hand and held the straw up to his full lips with the other. Mack drank greedily. She refilled the cup and he downed that one just as quickly.

  “Alright, I’m good.” Mack said.

  Royal’s thoughts about Mack, his fiancée, and even the bet going on about the three of them weighed on her heavily. As much as she hoped the nurses were right, she still didn’t want to stick around waiting for him to decide. It would crush her if she stayed and he chose differently. So, she took a deep breath before starting a conversation she knew they had to have.

  “McKennon.”

  “Yeah.”

  “As much as I love being around you, I think I should continue to keep my distance.”