AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I love hearing that. I try to make my trips a good experience.”
Chase’s father seemed to know everyone. People paused by the table to greet him again and again. Warmth encircled my heart as I watched the interplay between Chase and his dad and sister. They were a close family. That boded well for Chase being the father of our baby. Every time I thought about that, the reality of it slammed into me. It felt like a wave I wasn’t expecting. It would yank me under for a moment. I’d come up sputtering, trying to get my bearings.
I was pregnant. I was having a baby. With Chase. A man I’d practically plucked out of a hat because I happened to see him on a night I'd been emotionally hurting and just wanted to escape. I'd escaped, all right.
Now, we were trying to get to know each other, but it wasn't going the way I thought. I wanted this to be a reasoned, practical exploration. Instead, I felt as if I were tumbling off the edge of a cliff, scrambling to catch my balance, not quite falling, but stumbling again and again, and occasionally righting myself as the incline kept my momentum going faster and faster.
I was falling for him. Sweet hell. He was handsome. He was sexy. He was friendly. He was polite. He was a gentleman. He even had a nice family. The chemistry between us was an out-of-control fire. I couldn't even come up with anything to complain about. I was also comfortable with him. There was an ease to our interactions. My mind skittered away from the memories of my last serious relationship. That had been anything but easy.
I smoothed my hand over my belly. That was becoming a nervous habit.
Tiffany happened to be seated closest to me. Chase and his father were on the other side of the round table with Tiffany and me opposite them. He and his father were chatting about something to do with the police chief and an expansion of some town building.
Tiffany smiled at me. “It's so nice to meet you,” she said, excitement practically bubbling off her. Her smile was infectious.
“It's nice to meet you too. I bet you think this is…” I paused. “I don't know, irresponsible?”
Tiffany shook her head quickly. “Not at all.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Chase told me he used condoms. I didn't need to know that.” Her tone was dry as chalk as she rolled her eyes.
I laughed. “I swear, I'm not a flake.”
I wanted to tell her everything right then because I liked her. But we were at dinner, so I would have to save that for later.
“I just want to say one thing.”
“What?” I asked.
“Chase really likes you. Likereallylikes you. Like, he likes youlikesyou.” She shook her head. “That was a lot of likes.”
“What do you mean?”
She let out a quick sigh. “Let's just say I'm really glad you came along, and I'm even gladder…” She paused, wrinkling her nose. “Is gladder a word? I don't know. Anyway, I’m glad you're pregnant. He'll be a really good father. I promise you. Be good to him.”
“Oka-aay,” I said slowly.
My heart stumbled and fell in my chest. I felt like I was thrown back to middle school, excited over a boy liking me. Gah! I was being ridiculous when I needed to be sensible. We were having a baby. I couldn't just tumble into this relationship. I needed to be smart about it. Because if we weren't going to work out as a couple, we had to make it work one way or another.
