by K. Anderson
She had never met a woman as young as she was with a child, though of course she knew they were out there. Though her high school was small, it was also very old school. There were no teen pregnancies that she knew of, and there weren’t any in college either. Kylie thought of how different her life would be if she had a husband and a family.
She pictured, for a moment, being married to Brandon and having his children. They would travel around the world, helping those in need while Brandon would stand watch protectively over them, making sure that no one brought harm to their cause. She had to smile as she pictured children with caramel colored skin, green eyes, and springy brown and blonde curls. The picture moved her to another tear, but this time she quickly wiped it away. It was just a thought, she told herself. Nothing more than that.
For the next few minutes Kylie let her mind go blank and just absorb the day. Not too long after Brandon came out with his own mug of coffee, wearing only his old swimming trunks. He kissed the top of her head and ran a hand over back before he sat down next to her on the picnic table. Kylie thought he looked incredibly sexy, all rumpled and still sexy.
“What are you doing out here?” He asked, following her line of sight.
“Just watching the forest,” she replied simply. “Wishing we didn’t have to leave already.”
Brandon let out a low breath, and raised his cup to his mouth. “Me too,” he whispered. “This has been the best trip I’ve ever taken with anyone.”
“Ditto,” Kylie replied, laughing. “And at least we’re actually bringing some fish home for mom and dad. It will make our story seem more legit since we ‘forgot’ our camera.”
Brandon nodded his head with a smile, but stayed silent. They both knew that it was time go, but neither wanted to say it. Neither wanted to break the news that their beautiful time together was actually over.
~
“Are you okay?” Brandon asked, reaching over to squeeze Kylie’s hand. They had had an eerily quiet drive back home. Kylie had barely said a word, even when Brandon tried to talk to her. All of her focus seemed to be on the passenger side window and its passing scenery.
“I’m fine,” Kylie said softly, almost distantly. They had pulled into the driveway of their parent’s house, and were simply sitting there. Brandon looked around to make sure no one was watching, and when he deemed it safe he leaned over to give her a final kiss.
To his complete surprise, Kylie moved away from him and out of his reach.
“Vacation is over,” she said softly. “We have to watch what we’re doing now.” Before Brandon could reply, Kylie pushed open her creaky passenger side door and got out of the car. She grabbed the quickly melting bucket of iced fish out of the back seat, and without another word headed towards the house.
A sharp ache cracked through Brandon’s heart as he watched her walk away from him. He couldn’t be mad at her for pushing him away. How could he? He wanted to do the exact same thing. He should be doing the exact same thing, especially since he was leaving in two weeks. Still, no matter how hard he had tried, he hadn’t been able to do it. Having her close was just too good to resist.
CHAPTER 13
“Cassie, sweetie. Are you okay?” Gerald asked, wrapping his arm around his wife. “You look upset.”
Cassie shrugged her shoulders, then leaned into her husband’s arms. The arms that had caught her, held her, and supported her for the last fifteen years. He was a good man, an amazing man. It still bothered her when people would look at them cross-eyed in the super market as they shopped and held hands. Though the fifties had come and over half a century ago, some people still didn’t like seeing white women with black men, or vice versa.
But Gerald, no matter what color he would have been, was her husband, the love of her life. As she leaned into his arms, he wrapped them closer and kissed her temple. He could always tell when something was wrong, he was observant like that.
“I’m worried about Kylie,” she said with a sigh. Her eyes darted over to her daughter, who was lying on a pillow on the floor, watching the TV in fascination. Brandon sat in the blue lazy boy, watching Kylie in fascination.
“Ever since they got back last week they’ve been different,” Cassie whispered. “Like something bad happened.”
Gerald followed his wife’s line of sight, trying to see what she saw. He did find it odd that Brandon was watching Kylie so raptly. He wasn’t even trying to pay attention to the TV anymore, but instead staring straight at the back of Kylie’s head, as if he were silently willing her to turn around and talk to him.
“Son,” Gerald said, a little too loudly, “will you come out to the garage with me? I need to get to fixing that old table leg, and I could use a hand.”
Brandon tore his eyes away from Kylie and looked over at his father. “Sure dad,” he answered simply, getting up.
“Kylie baby,” Cassie said, standing up as well. “Why don’t you come with me to pick dinner huh? We can stop in at the consignment shop and pick out some new things while we wait for the food.”
“Okay,” Kylie said softly, as if she didn’t care one way or another.
~
Brandon pushed open the door without knocking, letting himself into Kylie’s room. She looked up from her book startled. They had barely spoken since they’d returned from their camping trip, and she had been locking her door. Tonight however, she’d simply forgot.
“What are you doing?” She whispered, her eyes full of anger.
“Talk to me,” Brandon begged, sitting on her bed and reaching for her hand. “Tell me what’s going on. Dad pulled me into the garage and started talking to me about family values and whatnot. I think they know something is up.”
Kylie’s heart began to beat faster as she heard the story. Her mother had had the same conversation with her. They were definitely on to them.
“What are we going to do?” Brandon asked.
“What do you mean?” Kylie said softly. “We’re not doing anything. Anymore.”
Brandon looked over at her as if she’d struck him in the face.
“What?” He asked.
Kylie felt tears prick at her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
“I mean, you’re leaving next week, right?”
“Yes I am,” Brandon replied. “And I think we should make the most of it, Kylie. I don’t want to be pushed away from you. I want to get as close to you as possible before I leave.”
“And what will that accomplish?” Kylie hissed. “Except for a broken heart, nothing!”
As she said the words, a wave of nausea rolled through her stomach, and she brought her hand up to her mouth. Brandon was there in a flash, his hands bracing her shoulders as she swayed.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” He asked, reaching up to feel her forehead. “You have a fever. Hang on, I’ll get you a Tylenol.”
Before Kylie could tell him no, he disappeared into her bathroom, coming out a second later with a pill and a glass of water. “Here. Take this.”
Though she didn’t want to, Kylie felt a wave of warm, fuzzy emotions watch over her as she took the medicine from Brandon. Even when she was being so mean to him he was sweet as ever. Obediently she swallowed the pill and the water, and handed the glass back to Brandon.
“You probably just have a little summer flu,” Brandon said, leaning up to kiss her forehead. This time Kylie didn’t pull away, but instead cherished the intimate contact between them. She missed him so much, and suddenly regretted spending the last three weeks mad away from him.
“Try and get some sleep and we’ll talk about this in the morning, okay?” Brandon said, turning off her light.
CHAPTER 14
“Are you okay?” Daisy asked, her eyes full of concern as she watched a very pale Kylie slide back into her booth. They had once again met at the pizza parlor to catch up on their lives. Unfortunately, this time, Kylie had spent a good portion of it in the bathroom throwing up.
Before Kylie could answer
, Leo walked up to their table and slapped their money onto the counter.
“What’s this?” Kylie asked meekly, already feeling like she shouldn’t have left the safety of the bathroom.
“Your refund,” Leo replied, his eyes full of remorse. “You have food poisoning.”
“I do?” Kylie asked.”
Daisy shook her head. “I don’t think so Leo. We ate the same pizza, and I feel fine.”
Leo shrugged his giant shoulders and pushed the money back to the girls. “Either way, you didn’t get to enjoy your food, so you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Please, I insist.”
Before either girl could protest, Leo walked back towards the counter where a line of customers had formed. It was a Friday night and a lot of the working moms had come in pick up pizza for their families. It was a long-standing tradition in the small town, and the main reason Leo was able to stay open despite barely having customers any other day of the week. Every Friday, nearly every household in town ordered one to three pizzas.
“Are you sick?” Daisy asked after Leo left. “I think we should get you home.”
Kylie shook her head slowly, reaching for her water.
“I’m not sick,” she whispered. “I’m pregnant.”
Daisy’s eyes went as wide as dish plates as she heard the news.
“Are you sure?” She asked.
“Positive. Or at least that’s what the three pregnancy tests have told me.”
“Oh, God,” Daisy whispered. “How did this happen? What are you going to do?”
Kylie looked around to make sure that no one in particular was paying attention to them, then leaned in closer. The truth was a little hard to admit, and she didn’t want anyone to hear it but Daisy.
“About two or three weeks after Brandon and I started hooking up I ran out of my monthly supply of birth control. I kept meaning to get it filled, but then I would forget about it.”
“What, you don’t use condoms?” Daisy asked.
“We did the first time,” Kylie replied. “But it broke. That was the only time we used one. I’ve just been so spaced out you know, about the whole falling in love with my stepbrother thing. It’s like I’ve been in a dream, and this baby is a wake up call.”
Daisy gave her best friend a sympathetic smile. “Are you going to…going to keep it?”
Kylie bit her lower lip and nodded her head. “It’s still early. My little bean is only a few weeks along. But yeah. I am. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw the little plus sign. I’ve already thought about it, and here’s the thing. I’ve worked my ass off in school to graduate early this December. I already submitted my application for Grad School and should be hearing back from them next month or so. If I get in I would start in January, and the baby would come in May, which means I’d have the entire summer to be a stay at home mom before going back to finish in the fall.”
“That’s all well and good honey,” Daisy replied. “But what about Brandon? He needs to know too. The baby is half his, and he needs to know what’s going on.”
“Yeah,” Kylie sighed, putting her hot forehead down on the cool surface of the table. “I know.”
CHAPTER 15
Brandon stared down at Kylie in disbelief, not sure of what he just heard. He had said his goodbyes to his parents at their home, and he and Kylie had gone alone to the airport. He had to catch his flight back to Germany. They had held hands and hugged and kissed, but as he had turned to go check in for his flight, Kylie had grabbed his arm and gave him the surprise of his life.
“A baby?” he echoed.
Kylie burst into tears as he said it. Shock was written all over his face and she knew that she had picked a horrible time to tell him about the baby.
“I’m sorry,” she rasped. “I didn’t mean to be so irresponsible,” she told him.
Brandon looked dumbfounded, and for a long two minutes he said nothing, and only stood there in disbelief. He had been expecting her to say she loved him, and but then surprise, a baby! A baby that they had created together.
“I messed up,” Kylie cried. “I should have spent these last weeks attached to you, but instead I pushed away and I’m so sorry. I love you, Brandon. I love you so much. Please, please don’t be mad at me,” she begged.
“Mad at you?” Brandon said, suddenly coming to life. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “There’s no way in hell I could ever be mad at you.”
Kylie felt a flood of relief wash over her as she felt his strong arms wrap around her. She leaned into his chest and let herself cry out her tears. It felt so good to tell him the truth, and knowing that he wasn’t furious with her had taken a huge load off of her mind.
“What are we going to do?” She asked when the tears finally stopped. “I mean, I can still go to school, and I can do this by myself if I don’t”-
Brandon put his finger up to her lips and shook his head no. “No way. I want to be here for you. For both of you. We’re going to do this together.”
“We are?” Kylie asked, her eyes lighting up with joy.
“Absolutely,” Brandon promised, bringing her into his arms again. “I love you Kylie. I love you so much. My eight-year contract ends in January,” he explained. “I’ll be home then, and when you graduate from grad school, I’ll go with you on your missions. We’ll save the world together. As a family.”
Love, appreciation, and happiness all flooded through Kylie as she felt a new wave of tears wash down her face. Brandon was no boy, no irresponsible lover. He was a man, her man, and he was going to do right by her.
They kissed a final time, and Brandon promised to call her as soon as he landed in Germany. After watching him board the plane, Kylie walked down to the parking lot and got in her car. A lot had happened over that fateful summer, and she would be forever changed. With her hand resting on her belly, she smiled and thought about the man she loved. She trusted him, and knew that when he said something he meant it. She only had to wait five months for him to come back. Five months, and her family would be whole again.
Oh Baby!,
A Best Friend Romance
By: Casey Newman
Oh Baby!,
A Best Friend Romance
©Casey Newman, 2016 – All rights reserved
Published by Steamy Reads4U
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events are purely coincidental. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.
This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return it to the seller and purchase a copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Warning
This book contains graphic content intended for readers 18+ years old.
If you are under 18 years old, or are not comfortable with adult content, please close this book now.
Chapter 1
The Claremont High School three-year class reunion was held at Stony Brook Park. It was the absolute perfect setting – most of the class had spent the days they ditched class hanging out alongside the river, watching the clouds float overhead and fighting over the one swing that wasn’t busted.
“I can’t believe my eyes!” Erica exclaimed, upon arriving at the park.
“What’s that?” Shannon asked. A petite brunette, she got up on her tip toes to see what had attracted her best friend’s attention. “Did they actually fix the swings?”
“Well, yes,” Erica said, “but that’s not wh
at I’m talking about. Check out Brendan – he’s absolutely ripped!”
“Brendan?” Shannon asked. “Where?”
She looked where Erica pointed and shook her head. “That’s not Brendan. There’s no way that could possibly be Brendan.” She’d been tight with Brendan all through high school, to the point that many people assumed the two of them were a couple. For every minute of that time, Brendan hadn’t weighed an ounce above 120 pounds; he spent all of his time playing World of Warcraft. The only muscles Brendan ever exercised were in his fingers, whereas the guy Erica was pointing to spent serious hours in the gym.
“It is!” Erica insisted. “Let’s go say hi!”
“I don’t know,” Shannon said, but her protest was lost. Erica grabbed her by the hand and dragged her over to the small knot of people surrounding Brendan.
He was talking. “My roommate was really into rowing, and he just wouldn’t stop talking about how I needed to try it. So I did, just to shut him up and…oh my God! Shannon?”
Shannon felt herself blushing as everyone turned to look at her. “Hey,” she replied.
Brendan opened his arms for a hug. “My God, you haven’t changed a bit!”
She stepped into his embrace, which was familiar and completely new at the same time. “You really have.”
He laughed. “Blame the weight room. I’m lifting four days a week now.” He stepped back and looked Shannon up and down. “What’s new with you? Tell me everything!”
“There’s not much to tell, to be honest.” Shannon shrugged. “I’ve been helping Mom with the store, and that’s pretty much it.”
