by G. Bailey
"I have no fucking idea how to be a dad, but I am not going anywhere. I can’t say this is going to be easy Ellie, but I think we can make it work. No, I’m going to make it work because you’re carrying my child." he says and a relief fills me. A relief I didn't know I needed and I give him a little shaky smile. I don’t say anything as he steps closer and leans down to place his hand on my flat stomach. The warmness of his hand is soothing and as he looks up, his eyes catch mine. We both just stare at each other, both of us knowing this the start of something. His mouth parts open a little as I look at his lips,
"I'm sorry Ellie, I didn't mean to be rude to you. This is a shock to us all and I do want to become your friend," Dom says as he stops next to Andre and making me look away from Andre’s lips. I glance up at him and nod.
"What the fuck happened in here?" A deep male voice says before I can respond to Dom. The man sounded American, at least he sounds like Americans from some tv shows I have watched. I have never met anyone from across the pond before.
A man walks into the room, his hair is a dark brown and similar to Dom's in length. I would guess he is the same height as Kaiden and is wearing just tracksuit bottoms. The man has a thin line of sweat all over his chest and a spiral black tattoo on his right shoulder that dips into his chest. I watch as he steps over the shopping bags and stands next to Andre. Andre is taller but both of them are extremely attractive. Hell, all of them are attractive.
So, Andre has three hot guys that live with him? I definitely think he found them off a website or app because there’s no way four attractive guys like these would happen to move in together. I feel very small in the room with all these men. It’s even more concerning when I can feel all their eyes on me, like they are waiting for me run out of the door. It’s not exactly a thought far from my mind.
The new man looks me up and down before turning to look at Andre with a glare. If I thought Dom was stern, this man gives him a run for his money.
"Who the fuck is this?" He asks bluntly.
"Our new roommate," Andre answers, and I look at him in shock.
Did he really just ask me to move in? Well I guess he didn’t even ask, just a demand.
Who the hell are these guys?
Chapter Seven
Ellie
"I am not moving in, I just can't. I don't even know you," I say and Andre grins. A grin that I remember as he took my clothes off in the hotel room and it makes me blush from head to toe. Any memories of that night make me blush, and I never blush at anything.
"I know you well enough," he says and looks over my body. A wave of heat touching every part that he looks at. Oh, my body knows him but the rest of me doesn't. I can’t move in with a stranger, not while I’m pregnant. It’s just not a smart idea.
"She can't move in here, have you lost your mind?" The man next to Andre says.
"Todd, seriously man, you need to hear the whole story before you say something fucking stupid," Kaiden says, his hand moves to rest on my shoulder as he stands next to us. I watch as Andre, Todd and Dom all look at Kaiden’s hand on my shoulder.
"What fucking story?" The man, whose name is apparently Todd, says.
"Ellie is having my baby and moving in, end of story," Andre says still standing close to me and watching my face for my reaction. I forgot how nice he smells; without the alcohol, he smells even better. He must have some mint body wash or shampoo. I might have to find out which one, as I like it.
"Well, you have done it this time, Andre," Todd says coldly and Andre moves slightly so I can see Todd walk over the shopping and stomp out the room.
"He is a hot head, don't worry about it." Andre says and places a hand on my arm.
"Thanks. I should be going," I say and duck under Andre’s arm, away from them all. This just seems to amuse them as I meet all their gazes.
"Where do you live?" Andre asks, and moves straight in front of me again.
"I'm staying with my friend; she lives in York." I answer him because there is no point in lying.
"Look, I'm not saying you have to, but we have a spare room. Our roommate moved out and we all work nights so you would have a free house most the time. You’re pregnant with my baby and I want to get to know you more," he says and gives me a sweet look.
"Your friends don't seem cool with me moving in," I say and Andre frowns a little.
"I don't mind," Kaiden says and I turn to see him grin at me.
"You are welcome to stay, but it is your choice," Dom says and I turn so I can see him.
"You don't know me," I say.
"I didn't know any of these guys when I first moved in but it works." Dom says. I bite my nail as I think about it, a nervous habit of mine. I do want to get to know Andre more and I am homeless for a while. I can always leave if it doesn't work.
"Maybe for a few nights and we will see how it goes," I eventually get out. Liz is not going to be happy about this, but at least she will get her apartment back. I know it’s not been easy with me living there.
"Good," Andre nods.
“I don’t have a lot of money but I will pay you rent,” I say and Andre shakes his head.
“No, you won’t, I inherited this house and the mother of my child is not paying rent.” Andre says shocking me a little.
“I can’t,” I say and Kaiden interrupts.
“Why don’t we discuss this another time? There is no point arguing about it right now,” he says and I nod to him. I can just sneak money into their coats or something if they won’t take it. I can’t just live here for free.
"What do you guys do for work?" I ask changing the subject as the room goes quiet.
"Why don't you come tonight? Todd and Andre are working." Kaiden offers and I look at him quizzically.
"What is it you do?" I ask and he laughs.
"I don't think," Dom gets out, and Andre interrupts.
"It's better if you see and you can run if you want," he says and I look at him. What the hell could they do that would make me run?
"Why don't I follow you back home and we can get some of your stuff for you?" Andre offers changing the subject quickly as I see Dom about to say something.
"Sure," I say and follow Andre out.
"See you later," Kaiden shouts and I wave goodbye at him. His devilish smile stays in my mind as Andre follows my car back home.
Chapter Eight
Ellie
"So, you found your baby daddy?" Liz asks when I walk into her apartment with Andre following. Liz has thankfully changed out the tight dress she was wearing earlier, and into a blue sundress. I have no idea how she isn’t freezing in just a small dress. I expected Andre to check her out, like my ex-husband always did but he doesn’t. No, he smiled politely and shook her hand. I'm not surprised she knew it was him, she did see him before at the club when we left together. My stomach rumbles loudly and Liz chuckles. Thank god that the apartment is tidy, as it is not usually because Liz is a little messy. The studio apartment is small, with an open plan kitchen which doubles as a lounge, too. There is a tiny bedroom and a small bathroom which is perfect for one person but cramped for two. Living in the middle of the city is really expensive and most people cannot afford anything more than this. The kitchen is dated with brown cabinets and older appliances. There is cream carpet throughout the studio and painted white walls. The lounge has three large windows that show off the park the apartments look over. It's the best part of the studio, the amazing view. Liz is an estate agent, so she would have found somewhere better if she could.
"I will make us all some sandwiches and drinks," she says and winks at me. I groan and turn to Andre who is looking around. I don't have much because everything was lost in the fire, there is only two bags of new clothes I have and what little of my personal things that escaped the fire. It really sad to think I only have four outfits and I’m currently wearing one. Its sadder when I remember I’m pregnant and I’m going to outgrow most of my clothes soon.
"Come and sit," I say and w
alk over to the sofa, I sit down and Andre takes the seat next to me. He could have sat at the other side but he doesn't, choosing to sit as close to me as possible.
"How is the baby? Have you had any scans?" Andre asks me after an uncomfortable silence, where he looked around the room. I wish I had hidden the photos of Liz and me at prom that’s on the fireplace. My date that night was sick all over my dress when he decided to get drunk. Liz’s date also ended up drunk so we left the prom and went to the fair. The picture is of us in our dresses in front of the big wheel. Some random person took it of us and we both look very happy. We both look very innocent at the start of our adult lives.
Andre clears his throat and I pull my gaze away from the photo to answer to him.
"I think everything is fine, the first scan is next week if you want to come," I offer and he nods.
"Thank you for finding me," he says and our eyes catch as he moves that slight bit closer on the sofa. I watch as his hand takes mine in his and he opens his mouth open to say something,
"Chicken or ham?" Liz shouts over and the moment is gone as I move away slightly. I say back loudly,
"Chicken, ham sounds..." I stop mid-sentence as I feel sick at the idea of a ham sandwich.
"Finally, a normal pregnancy thing," Liz shouts back.
"So, no ham?" Andre asks and I nod.
“It makes me feel sick, some foods are…” I stop as I don’t know how to explain it.
“I will make sure no one has ham in the house and anything else that makes you feel sick,” Andre says, a wave of protectiveness in his voice.
"Tell me about you? The whole moving in thing is a way to get to know you." I say and he leans back on the sofa.
"I was brought up in Birmingham, in a foster home. That's where I met Dominic. We grew up together." He tells me.
"That's a long time," I say not wanting to ask him about why he was in foster home. It seems too personal considering this is the first time we have really talked. Andre just nods at me and changes the subject,
"I like to play guitar and I play at the local pub once a week for fun," he says and I smile a little trying to imagine the hot man in front of me playing guitar for fun. In fact, the thought just turns into a sexy one, Andre would look beyond attractive playing guitar.
"What about you? How did you get to sleeping on your friend’s couch?" He asks me and I look away as I answer. I really don’t want to explain all the details.
"I did have a house, but there was a fire," I say and he nods seeming to understand.
"Well you can live with us, get yourself sorted while we look after you." He says and smiles gently at me.
"We?" I ask remembering Todd's reaction, I don't think he will be helping look after me. Kaiden seemed to be okay with me moving in and Dom did say I was welcome but I doubt he really wants me there.
"Todd is a gentle giant but he speaks before he thinks about it and Kaiden is a flirt but every girlfriend he has had, he has always looked after them." Andre tells me and I wait for him to explain Dom. I have trouble believing Todd is a gentle giant. Well I believe the giant part, as he was huge but I cannot see him being nice to anyone.
"Dom is well, he has a complicated past with women but he invited you to stay. He also let you call him Dom, I don't know anyone that calls him that other than us." Andre tells me. I wonder why he let me call him Dom, it seems strange considering I’m a stranger to him.
"Here you go," Liz hands us a sandwich each. We all eat in silence, before Liz says,
"So baby daddy, you’re not going to run when things get difficult, because they will and I will need to hunt your ass down," Liz says casually but it still makes me cough on part of my sandwich. Andre pats my back while I give Liz a wide-eyed look.
"Liz," I start and Andre putting his hand on my thigh stops me talking.
"My birth parents gave me up when things got difficult and I have no intention of doing that. I will be there for Ellie and this baby, no matter how tough things get," he says but he looks at me as he speaks. The promise is for me, I’m no longer in this alone.
"Good, good," Liz says and I glance over to see her big cheeky grin.
"So, are you still single? Because I know a certain pregnant girl that is," Liz says and he chuckles.
"I am single and thanks for informing me about Ellie’s status," Andre says. I watch as he goes back to eating his sandwich like he didn't just say anything. I glare at Liz who doesn't seem bothered at all as she eats.
"Ellie is moving in with us, we had a roommate who moved out last month so we have a spare room." Andre tells Liz whose jaw drops open.
"You sure about this? Moving in with your one-night stand is a little..." she draws off when Andre stands up.
"Ellie was never a one-night-stand in my mind, and at the end of the day, we have a spare room. I’m not asking Ellie to move into my bed, well at least not yet." he says leaving me shocked and takes my empty plate from me. I watch as he takes them to the kitchen and starts running the water in the sink.
"I'm going to give this a shot; the sofa is killing my back to sleep on and you have helped me enough. A few months will give me a chance to get on my feet again and plan for the baby. I need to be responsible," I say and Liz nods as she looks over at Andre.
"He cleans, too? Lucky you," Liz says with a sigh. I glance over at Andre,
I am definitely lucky.
Chapter Nine
Ellie
Once all my bags are packed in the boot of Andre’s Nissan Duke, Liz hugs me goodbye.
"Text me when you’re back and I want a text every day or I'm coming to find you," she says and I know she is just worried about me.
"I will and thank you. I won’t forget how much you have been there for me," I say and she lets me move away.
“Go, before you make me start crying,” she shoos me away and I grin at her.
Andre is holding the car door open when I turn around and it reminds me of the first night we met. I don't ask him anything this time as I get into the passenger seat and clip myself in. Andre gets into the driver’s seat and we sit quietly for a while as he drives. I close my eyes for a second as I watch the streets and the people walking down them as we pass them. The next thing I'm aware of is a warm pillow I'm lying against, a warm hand on the bare skin of my hip. I blink my eyes open and move off the pillow, which is actually Andre. We are in a lounge and lying on the black sofa. The room looks like something out of a magazine, I notice as I lean up. Two L-shaped black sofas and a large flat screen tv are all that's in the room. The floor has cream carpets and magnolia painted walls.
Andre is fast asleep, snoring lightly and his arm is resting across his eyes. I climb off his lap gently and freeze a little when he moves slightly, but he settles again. I wait until his breathing evens out before I move off the sofa. I walk to the two double wooden doors in the room and I open them quietly and slide out.
The entrance hall is empty and the door to the kitchen is closed. The house is silent and I can’t hear anyone around.
I want to go and have a look around but I don't think it's the best idea.
I open the doors to the kitchen and see that the other door in here is slightly open. I can hear some noise coming from there so I decide to walk over. The door leads to a massive conservatory. I stop in my tracks as I take in the site of Todd who is on a running machine. The rest of the room is full of weights and different exercise units I see as I briefly glance around but my eyes drift back to Todd as his impressive body. Todd's muscles are tight as he runs and I see the wires of the headphones he has on, which means he can’t hear me.
Does he never wear a shirt?
I gulp and force myself to look away for a second to work out that the conservatory is designed like a home gym. Outside the conservatory is a large square- shaped garden with newly painted brown fences. It's mainly just grass and at the end of the garden there is a small apple tree. I can see some chairs and a table on the one side. The sound of the running
machine stopping makes me turn my gaze back to Todd. I watch as he effortlessly gets off the machine, and he stops and he stares at me. Sweat is dripping off every part of his body and holy ducks, he is stunning.
"Congratulations," he says slowly and I give him a quizzical look. That not what I expected him to say. I was expecting something along the lines of, why the hell are you staring at me?
"Isn’t that what you say to pregnant women?" He asks as he picks a towel up off the machine and wipes his face.
"Not sure, I've never been pregnant before," I say dryly.
"Do you need anything?" He asks, not responding to my answer in any way.
"Andre is sleeping and I don't know where my room is." I say thinking of the first thing I can.
"Come on then, El," Todd says and walks around me to the kitchen doors.
"Did you just call me El?" I ask the giant of a man.
"Yeah, I did," he says but doesn't stop walking. This man is confusing. I never thought he would be nice to me and give me a nickname after our first meeting.
I follow Todd through the entrance hall and up the stairs. At the top of the stairs is a long square corridor and another pair of stairs going up in the middle.
"Your room is up here and ours are all on this level," Todd tells me as he walks towards the second stairs going up. I follow and at the top is an attic room. It's clearly been painted recently as I can smell it. The room has white walls and wooden floors. There is a large wooden double bed and a matching wardrobe. There is a little white fur rug at the end of the bed but little else. I'm relieved when I see my bags next to the wall under the two roof windows. The room is light and airy even if it slightly smells like paint still.
"This is the bathroom and it's yours," Todd opens the other door in the room and shows me the small room. It big enough and has a shower, toilet and sink. I can’t believe I’m going to have my own bathroom.
