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

  “What the hell are you talking about, Ains? My leg is fucking gone!” He threw back the blanket to expose his stump. “It’s not coming back! I’m not a goddamned crab. The shit ain’t growing back. You can’t pretend as if it’s still there.”

  “Just give me some time. I’m trying to get used to it.”

  “‘Used to it?’” Mack asked incredulously. “First of all, you’d have to actually be here to get used to it. You’d actually have to look at it. You act like I have the flu that’s a minor inconvenience until it passes. It’s going to take months, maybe even years, to learn how to walk and live with just one leg and a prothesis.

  “So, you need to decide now. Are you going to be here or are you going to keep avoiding my new normal?”

  “I’m here, Mack. I swear.” Ainsley said as she laid a hand on his shoulder.

  He didn’t feel the tingles the way he did when Royal would touch him there. He felt…nothing. And he highly doubted Ainsley’s words as she pulled up a seat and began texting and scrolling through her social media, leaving him to his thoughts.

  Thoughts of a touch that nearly made him cum on his stomach minutes ago. Thoughts of eyes filled with so much hurt and betrayal. Thoughts of Royal.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Ainsley?!” Mia exclaimed. “Ainsley?”

  “Yeah, that name does sound pretty pretentious. She sounds like a girl who went to boarding school, drives a yellow convertible Vdub, and has an American Express Black card.” Kennedy cringed.

  “I don’t know for sure, but I doubt you’re far off. She looks like how her name sounds. Tall, slender, blonde, and pretty.” Royal said before chugging the last of her fifth beer.

  She looked around for the waiter to bring her another. She got his attention, pointed down to her empty bottle, and nodded solemnly. She had no plans on stopping. The girls looked at each other and then her.

  They were at one of their favorite divey bars. Where the music was low, the patrons weren’t rowdy college students, and the drinks were flowing.

  “Don’t you think you should slow down just a smidge. At the rate you’re going, I approximate you’ll be praying to the porcelain gods in two hours.” Payton calculated with her mathematically genius mind as the waiter delivered Royal’s drink.

  “Better to feel like shit physically than to feel it emotionally, my friend.” Royal winked and held up her fresh bottle in a solo toast.

  “So, let me get this straight. You visited him every day for a week. Had relatively deep chats about life. And he never found the opportunity to mention a whole ass fiancée?” Mia asked.

  “Nope,” Royal shook her head slowly. If she did it too quickly, she’d be in the bathroom puking sooner than Payton calculated.

  “But…just to play devil’s advocate here, did he have to tell her? Was he obligated to?” Kennedy asked.

  Mia looked at her like she was crazy.

  “Of course, he did!”

  “But why? They weren’t dating. She saved his life and was visiting him.”

  “Have you not been sitting here listening to her? They had a connection. Hell, she was about to give him a fucking handjob in his hospital room! He knew she had feelings for him.” Mia gestured angrily as she spoke.

  “That he did.” Royal nodded her agreement.

  “Look, as a writer, it’s my job to analyze why people do the things they do. If I were to guess, Mack unexpectedly fell for you. And once he did, he didn’t want to lose you, but also didn’t know what to do about his fiancée. So, instead of telling you, he kept it to himself as he tried to figure out his dilemma,” Kennedy finished.

  “I can see both sides,” Payton interjected.

  “Well, I can’t. He should’ve told the truth and let Royal decide for herself.” Mia held firm.

  “Honestly, this is just my life. I’ve accepted it. I will never be more than the friend some guys like to fuck every now and again. I’m just one of the guys…with a vagina.

  “I mean, seriously. Who finds out their boss that they’ve been fucking for months is engaged while they’re in bed with him? And about a week later, finds out the guy she’s falling for is also engaged? AND…both of these women look like different versions of a guy’s wet dream. Kelly Kapowski and Serena van der Woodsen,” Royal slurred.

  “Who?” Mia frowned.

  “You know the girl from Saved by the Bell and the blonde chick from Gossip Girl.” Royal said it as if they should know.

  “Duh,” Mia rolled her eyes. “I know who Kelly Kapowski is. I didn’t know who that Serena Von Trapp chick was though.”

  “Van der Woodsen.” Royal corrected. “Anyway, all that matters is, I can’t compete with that shit.”

  “Are you for real right now?” Kennedy asked her in shock.

  “You’re gorgeous and fucking bad ass. A gotdamned Goddess!” Mia declared.

  “Hear, hear!” They shouted before clinking glasses.

  “If those women were so perfect, why do these guys want to spend so much time with you?” Mia asked.

  “While that’s a great point, it’s heavily flawed. You’re missing the shitty part of that theory. It’s those women who get the proposals. No one wants to put a ring on this finger.” Royal held up her naked left ring finger. “I’m always the side piece.”

  “And they’re always the women being cheated on.”

  “Nope. Still doesn’t make me feel better,” Royal shook her head. “But that’s okay. I’m done. I’m done with men. From hence forth, I am celibate!”

  Royal slid off her stool and stood up. She wobbled a bit before standing straight. She held out her hands with her fingers tight together and stiff. Then she did a karate chop motion down at her crotch.

  “Only battery-operated devices will go past this point. This shall be named ‘No Man’s Land.’ And if anyone dares try to enter, I will say, ‘Thou shall not pass!’”

  A round of snorts, guffaws, and full out shrieks of laughter went around the table.

  “I’m serious!” Royal slurred.

  “Mmhmm.”

  “Yep.”

  “Sure, sweetie.”

  “How about another round?!” Royal shouted.

  “How about you lie down?” Kennedy suggested.

  “That sounds good too. Whatevs.”

  Royal started to sway as if she were going down. The girls jumped up and caught her.

  “Oh, boy. We better call Bradyn.”

  “Yeah, I think we should call it a night,” Kennedy said.

  “You guys can’t hang anymore,” Royal piped in.

  “You’re the one fall down drunk right now,” Mia stated.

  “Hey! I’m in the middle of a cri…cris…”

  “Crisis?”

  “Yeah, you know what I’m saying.”

  They got her some water and waited for Bradyn to come pick them up. Once he arrived, he helped them load her into his SUV.

  “Woohoo! The world is spinning!” Royal shouted out of the window.

  “You better drop us both off at my place first,” Kennedy suggested. “She’s moments away from painting the side of your truck Upchuck Green. And she shouldn’t be alone.”

  “Aye, the lass does seem a wee bit pished.”

  “Nooooo, you’re a wee bit pished. Iiiiiii drank too fast and forgot to eat,” Royal gasped. “Speaking of, let’s get some food!”

  “I have food at the house,” Kennedy said.

  “Really? What am I? Seven? And you’re suddenly my mom not wanting to take me to Mickey D’s? Are you also gonna make me a hamburger in between two slices of white bread with some wrinkly fries from the freezer?”

  “You got that off social media. Your mom never fixed you a poor man’s burger in your life. What did you have a gourmet chef on call?” Mia called her out.

  “I mean, sometimes. But naw, she’d make me eat a salad or some nasty ass veggie burger. She was a cruel woman.”

  “We’re here,” Bradyn said as he put the car in park out
front of Kennedy’s house.

  “So, I’m really not getting any food?”

  “I’ll make you a pizza.”

  “Eh…that’ll do.”

  Royal tried to get out of the car and nearly face-planted on the ground. Luckily, Bradyn was there to catch her.

  Suddenly she was lifted up into the big man’s arms. Royal’s head fell back and she looked at Payton from upside down as she followed them.

  “Look at this shit! He picked me up like it was nothing.”

  “He did,” Payton nodded.

  “Payton, you’re smart. Let’s fucking clone his ass. You could do it.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think that’s possible.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m pretty positive. Besides, I kinda like having a one of a kind.”

  “Damn. That’s too bad. You’re all just stingy! No food. No man!”

  “And you need to go to bed,” Mia shouted from the car.

  Royal held up her middle finger, “Sit and spin, sister. Sit…and…spin!”

  They all busted up laughing.

  Royal felt Bradyn’s body shaking as he carried her into the house.

  “Goodnight, everybody. I’ll be here all night!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mack couldn’t get Royal out of his head. He thought about her constantly over the next couple of days. He waited for her to show up with her infectious dimpled smile and quirky style.

  His skin still felt the heat from her touch. That rubdown that she’d given him would not soon be forgotten.

  Before that day, Mack had thought he’d never get it up again. His mind had been so weighted down with how to navigate his new life. If he’d be able to go back to work, and if he’d ever feel attractive again. Or if his fiancée or any woman would be able to look at him like a sexy lover and not with pity. Not to mention the on and off excruciating pain he suffered. He hadn’t really even thought about sex, let alone the possibility of feeling horny again. Even the sponge baths by the nurses hadn’t done anything to arouse desire in him.

  And then Royal came in with a bottle of lotion and attraction in her eyes. Before her hands touched him, he felt himself harden a bit. But once she put her hands on him, and when she payed special attention to his chest and nipples, Mack swore if he hadn’t been bedridden, he’d have jumped out of his bed and fucked her against the wall. Royal made him feel like he was still whole. Made him feel like he was a man.

  But she was gone. And it didn’t look like she was coming back.

  Ainsley had tried to pamper him the same way the next day after his sponge bath, but he could tell her heart wasn’t in it like Royal’s was. And truth be told, Mack didn’t want it from his fiancée anyway. His cock didn’t even twitch as Ainsley rubbed him down.

  This has to be the worst timing in history. Falling for someone as you fall out of love with the person you’re about to marry.

  Not that it mattered. Mack was certain Royal would never speak to him again. But whether she spoke to him or not, Mack wanted to do something for her. She’d been so giving and kind even beyond saving his life. Which she’d done twice. Once from death and then again from slipping into a depression he may not have been able to come back from.

  He pressed the button for the nurse. Within seconds Carmen entered his room.

  “Hey, Mack. You feeling okay?”

  “I’m fine, Carmen. I have a favor to ask.”

  “Shoot.”

  “I want to do something for Royal. She recently quit her job and went freelance. There are a few people I know who might need a photographer and I want to message them about her. But seeing as how it’s kinda difficult to hold a phone…”

  “Say no more. I’d gladly do it. Royal is such an amazing person.”

  “She is.” Mack looked down at his lap.

  Carmen came around and grabbed his phone. Ainsley had at least helped him get a new phone after breaking his during the accident.

  He told Carmen where to go and she sent out several messages to people he knew in the modeling industry. He wasn’t sure if Royal needed any help, but just in case, it didn’t hurt to get more work.

  Just as Carmen was finishing up, Mack’s phone began to ring. It was an unknown number but local. He normally let those calls go to voicemail, but in the hopes that it could be Royal, he asked Carmen to answer it and put it on speaker. She held it up for him to talk.

  “Mack, here.”

  “McKennon Carter?” A man’s voice came across the line and Mack sagged in disappointment.

  “That’s me. How can I help you?”

  “My name is Matt Matthews from Channel 5 News. I know you’re a firefighter, and I heard about your accident and the good Samaritan who stopped to help you. I was wondering if I could interview you both. Sort of a hero saving a hero kind of story.” The reporter ended.

  Before, Mack would’ve said no. He was definitely getting used to the fact that his life would be different. But he wasn’t so certain he was ready to show off his missing leg to the whole Bay area.

  One thing made him say, “Yeah, I’ll do it.”

  Royal.

  If she said yes, it would be the only way to see her again.

  “I’ll contact the woman who saved you and get back to you on the date and time.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Carter.”

  “It’s Mack.”

  “Thank you, Mack. Have a good day.”

  “You too.”

  Carmen pressed the ‘End’ button and placed his phone back on the table.

  “I hope she accepts. She’s good for you. And she seemed taken with you.” Carmen said before walking out of his room with a knowing smile.

  Mack raised his eyebrows. He had no idea the nurses had been paying that close attention to what was going on in his room aside from his injuries.

  Was it that obvious?

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Alright, ladies. Turn towards me.” Royal snapped a couple of photos. “Beautiful.”

  Her phone buzzed again. It had been buzzing non-stop for the last couple of hours.

  “Okay, relax, ladies. Let’s take a ten-minute break,” Royal said as she picked up her phone.

  She was working on a fashion spread for a magazine. One of the jobs that were paying her the most. It also kept thoughts of McKennon Carter out of her head. She’d been trying to keep busy the last few days. When she was idle, she felt the tears creeping up and her throat clogging. She felt more upset over Mack’s deception than she did over Devon’s.

  In a very short time, that man had left an indelible mark on her heart. Devon had been a placeholder. Mack felt like the real deal.

  She’d made the mistake of going on The Gram the day she’d found out he was engaged. She searched for his profile and found it easily. His profile name McKennon ‘The Mack’ Carter made her frown. She scrolled through the many photos of him modeling, working as a firefighter, and living his best life with his perfect woman. After their talks, his profile left a bad taste in her mouth. It was like he was playing pretend. Mack was a persona.

  Royal also found Ainsley’s page as well as a joint page they shared as a couple. Ainsley had several million followers on her page. She was a beauty vlogger. On their joint page, there were hundreds of photos of the smiling perfect couple. And their followers adored them.

  It had been enough to rip out Royal’s already broken heart, and smash it on the floor.

  I can’t compete with that. I refuse to compete with that.

  She already knew that outcome.

  Royal came back to the present, and opened her phone. She saw several DMs and emails from unknown people. She opened each one and they all wanted her for different jobs. Some models needing headshots, some fashion houses that needed editorial shots of their clothing line, etc. And in their messages, they all said the same thing:

  ‘McKennon Carter referred me to you.’

  Royal’s shoulders sagged. She sh
ould’ve known she wouldn’t be able to escape McKennon for long. And she really didn’t want him doing anything sweet for her. Not when she wanted to be furious with him. Not when she wanted to hate him. Because hating him was so much easier than loving him.

  Royal’s phone started to buzz in her hand and she jumped out of her musings. This time it was a phone call. It was local. Normally, she let those calls go to voicemail, but she didn’t know if it would be Mack, the hospital with news about Mack or even a new job, so she answered.

  “Hello.”

  “Is this Royal King?” A man asked.

  “Speaking.”

  “Hello, Miss King. My name is Matt Matthews. I’m a reporter from Channel 5 News. I heard the story about you and McKennon Carter, and I’d love to interview you both. A hero saving a hero kind of story. Mack already said yes, now that just leaves you,” he finished.

  I’m sure he did. Just another way to get me back there. And why am I gonna go running? Because like an idiot, you miss him.

  “Sure, I’ll do it.”

  “Fantastic!”

  “When do you need us to do it?”

  “How about tomorrow around three in the afternoon. That’ll give me time to interview you both and edit the story, so it can be on during the evening news.”

  “That’ll work.”

  “Okay, great! Let me confirm with Mack and I’ll text you with his answer.”

  “Sure.”

  “Alright then. See you tomorrow. And thank you, Miss King.”

  “Call me, Royal.”

  “Thank you, Royal. Have a good evening.”

  “You too.”

  Royal pressed the ‘End’ button and sighed.

  “So much for staying away,” she grumbled to herself.

  She finished out the photoshoot annoyed at how her heart thrummed and her skin tingled with excitement at the thought of seeing Mack again.

  And this is why you get caught up in crappy situations. You’re a dummy.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Royal dressed meticulously for the interview. She didn’t want to appear like she was trying too hard, but she wanted to be hot as well at the same time. So, she shimmied into her black faux leather pants and stepped into silver studded combat boots. And on top, she put on a black off-the-shoulder t-shirt, a black leather jacket, and a black lace choker.