There For Her Read online

  There For Her

  Julianne Reid

  [email protected]

  There For Her

  Copyright © June 2017 by Julianne Reid

  First E-book Publication: June2017

  [email protected]

  All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters, or incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  This book is intended for mature, adult audiences only. It contains extremely sexually explicit and graphic scenes and language which may be considered offensive by some readers. This book is strictly intended for those over the age of 18.

  All sexually active characters in this work are 18 years of age or older. All acts of a sexual nature are completely consensual.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  There For Her

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Epilogue

  Coming Soon

  About The Author

  There For Her

  Brenna

  Six months ago, I left my good for nothing boyfriend. Finding out I was pregnant afterwards, wasn’t exactly ideal; neither of us wanted anything to do with each other and he suggested that I ‘get rid of the problem’. I didn’t tell him that I never had any intention of doing that; if he didn’t want to be involved, he didn’t even need to know anything about it.

  But when you’re seven months pregnant, wondering if your kid will hold a grudge that their father never knew they existed, you start feeling guilty. So, sucking it up, I went to tell Alex only to find out that he had moved and no one had heard from him since.

  His old roommate, Nic, however, offered to help me if I needed anything and, seeing as we used to be friends, it was good to know. I’d always been attracted to Nic, but now, pregnant by his loser of a friend, there was no point in even thinking about him. There was absolutely no way that there would be anything between us.

  Nic

  When Brenna showed up on my doorstep pregnant, looking for my waste of space ex-roommate, I was surprised. I hadn’t even known she was pregnant… but I quickly realized that I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Something about her made me desperate to be near her, to help her. I couldn’t explain this primal need I had for her… but I had to have her.

  If you like your stories over the top, sugary sweet, and with a hint of possessiveness, get some candy and stay awhile because this quick one is sure to satisfy that craving.

  Chapter 1

  Nic

  “Hey, is Alex here?” I looked down at Brenna on my doorstep. I hadn’t seen her in a long time; her huge belly the only thing I could stare at.

  “Um… no,” I stammered, getting back up to her face, “He’s uh… He doesn’t live here anymore.”

  She sighed in relief, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Oh. I didn’t know that… His phone’s disconnected. Do you know where he moved to?”

  I shifted on my feet, wondering if I should invite her in. We used to be friends but that was when she was dating Alex, obviously before she was pregnant. And she was very pregnant. I was vaguely aware of the blood rushing below my belt. I always thought Brenna was gorgeous, way out of Alex’s league, as well as mine, and now… she was even more attractive.

  I had to stop myself from staring. She waited patiently; she hadn’t noticed.

  “I have no idea where he moved to, honestly,” I offered, “But let me check the phone number I have for him to see if you have the same one. C’mon in.”

  Brenna hesitated, looking past me at my apartment, where she’d spent hours at a time last year. I wonder if she thought of me as a stranger now since it’d been so long, like I was just a friend she used to have. When she broke up with Alex, she broke up with all his friends, too.

  “Okay,” she accepted, “I guess I can get off my feet for a few minutes.”

  She smiled as she walked past me into the living room, settling down on the same couch, in the same spot where she used to. She smoothed the skirt of her dress over her stomach and her lap. I hadn’t seen her in a long time and this all felt so weirdly strange; almost like an alternate reality. It was still Brenna, but not smiling and laughing with Alex, not even with Alex anymore, and now very pregnant. Now, she was just another girl, a friend I used to have but my memory and subconscious were having a hard time placing it as reality.

  I grabbed my phone off the coffee table and checked Alex’s number.

  “I have a 254 number for him,” I raised my eyes to meet hers, “Is that the one you have?”

  She glanced at her phone, pulling up the old contact. I was surprised she’d even kept his number. “Yep. That’s the one.”

  I tossed my phone back on the coffee table as I took in a seat in the chair opposite of her. It didn’t quite feel right showing her to the door just yet; we used to be friends, surely we’d have something to talk about.

  “Sorry I couldn’t help,” I said, feeling just as worthless as I knew Alex was, “You uh… needing to file some kind of paperwork?”

  She blushed, raising her eyebrows. “For child support or something? No way. I don’t want anything to do with him.”

  I cocked my head, genuinely wondering why in the hell she was there. “Then why try to get in touch with him? Does he know about…”

  Brenna nodded. “Yeah, after we broke up I told him about it just to let him know. He suggested that I terminate it.”

  I scoffed against grit teeth, the reaction sudden. Just like that good for nothing asshole.

  She smirked, motioning at her belly. “Don’t worry. Obviously, I didn’t. It was never on my radar but I didn’t tell him I was keeping the baby. If he didn’t want to be involved, he didn’t need to know about my decisions.”

  I shrugged, agreeing. “Makes sense… But why look him up now?”

  She twisted her mouth, shifting where she sat. “I started thinking about what I was going to tell her if she ever asked. It’s one thing to say that her father didn’t want to be involved, it’s quite another to tell her that he never knew she ever existed. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want anything to do with him but I don’t want her to ever hold a grudge to me that I never told him.”

  I nodded. I knew if it had been me, I would’ve wanted to know… But then again I would’ve never told the girl I was with to get rid of it, even if we were broken up. Alex was always an asshole, probably the reason Brenna broke up with him in the first place.

  I’d never really thought about being a father. I always thought about kids like some distant accomplishment; one of those ‘one day’ kind of things that I didn’t put much time into think about since it was so far off my radar. It would’ve shocked the hell out of me if my ex girlfriend told me she was pregnant… But I couldn’t imagine just fucking walking away. Especially from a girl as gorgeous and sweet as Brenna.

  “So it’s a girl?” I asked, interrupting my own thoughts, trying to keep up with the conversation.

  She grinned, beaming, hair bouncing on her shoulder. “Yeah, it’s a girl.”

  Her excitement was profound, the light in her eyes dancing. It was contagious, a warm feeling spreading in my chest. Strangely, it continued to my fingertips, tingling under my skin. I spread my hands out on my knee.

  “Pick a name yet?” I wondered, watching her carefully touch her belly, the tingle in my hand growing.
>
  “No, not yet,” she frowned, “I can’t stand anything I think of. I still have some time left at least.”

  I leaned forward on my elbows, the tingle taking hold in my chest. “How far along are you?”

  “Seven months,” she smirked like she was asked that question a lot, “I still have to get a lot of things done.”

  I nodded, wondering how she was doing getting it all done by herself. True, she’d always been independent and taken care of herself, but surely she had to be tired.

  “Well, if you ever need any help, just give me a call,” I offered genuinely, hoping she would call, “You still live at the same place?”

  She smiled, the warmth spreading all the way to my toes. Alex was a fucking idiot. Not only did he never deserve her, he was a fucking asshole for not sticking by her when she got pregnant.

  “I should be going,” she said, standing up carefully, having to take her time to get her balance.

  I walked her to the door, seeing her belly from over her shoulder. “I mean it, please call me if you need anything. I know we haven’t talked in a long time, but you know I’m right around the corner and I can be there to help you in a few minutes.”

  Brenna smiled again, glancing down at her belly. “Thanks, Nic. I appreciate it.”

  I watched her carefully make her way down the front steps and turn back towards me when she got to the bottom.

  “Do you think it’d be horribly fucked up if I never told Alex that I kept her?” she asked, shading her eyes with her hand.

  I leaned against the doorframe. If it were me, I would’ve wanted to know… But Alex had had his chance and look what he’d said about it. He clearly didn’t want a baby and didn’t want her to keep it either; why should he even know any different?

  “Nah,” I decided, crossing my arms over my chest, the tingle strong, “You need to do what’s best for you. Fuck that asshole.”

  She grinned, shrugging and nodding. “See ya later.”

  I watched her walk away, knowing it was only a few blocks to her apartment. I’d been there a few times with Alex while they were dating and I knew the walk wasn’t too bad.

  I waited till she got to the end of the street before I went back inside.

  I sat back down in the chair I’d been in before, elbows on my knees, chin in my hand, staring at the empty seat that Brenna had been in a minute before. The tingle was starting to fade but the warmth, the ache in my chest persisted. I rubbed my hand on the back of my neck. It was a strange feeling and I didn’t quite know the name of it.

  It felt like attraction… but stronger. A lot stronger.

  I tried to think back to the times I ever thought I was in love… But that wasn’t quite it; I definitely wasn’t in love with her… But that feeling was close. I’d always thought she was gorgeous… But now, pregnant, she was fucking glowing.

  It was something… instinctual, uncontrollable. I couldn’t put a name to it… But it was a strong pull, something that made sense on a primal level.

  The ache in my chest that wasn’t going away. I’d always liked Brenna… But this was more. Something about seeing her pregnant had kicked some kind instinct into hyper drive for me. I wasn’t sure what it was… But I desperately hoped she’d call me so I could see her again.

  Brenna

  I kicked the gigantic box lightly with my foot. The crib I ordered had been delivered while I was getting groceries. I’d been tracking the order to make sure I’d be home so that the delivery guys would bring inside into the nursery.

  My plan hadn’t worked; the tracking status still hadn’t been updated even when I got home to the package blocking my front door.

  There was no way in hell I’d be able to drag that heavy box inside on my own, pregnant or not.

  I rubbed my belly, thinking. Nic had said he’d come help but did he really mean it? People were always nice to pregnant women and offered things they didn’t really mean.

  We’d been friends… but only because of Alex.

  I put my hands on my ever-growing hips- one day I’d be able to fit into my old pants again- eyeing the box.

  I grabbed my phone off the end table, pulling up Nic’s number. It’d only been a few days since I saw him, surely he’d feel bad about turning me down after offering to help.

  I started a text: The crib I ordered was delivered. I can’t get it inside on my own. Help?

  I shoved my phone in my pocket. If he didn’t answer, I was going to have to get this thing in on my own. I grabbed the ends and started pulling, getting no traction. Damnit.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket.

  Nic: On my way!

  Setting my phone aside, I was determined to slide the giant box a few more feet before he got there. I’d be able to accomplish something on my own, damnit!

  I thought about getting on the other side of the box, outside the doorway, and pushing it in, but there was no way I’d get my belly around it. I had no choice but to wait.

  Nic bounded up the front steps, his hair messed up, panting, taking the steps two at a time.

  “Hey! Holy shit,” he laughed, seeing the massive box jammed in the doorway, “You tried to get this in yourself?”

  I stuck my hands on my hips, trying not to feel stupid. “What else was I going to do?”

  He laughed, “Well, good thing you called me. Let me get this.”

  Nic squeezed around the box and pulled it inside effortlessly, doing in two seconds what would’ve taken me an hour.

  “Where do you want it?” he asked, pulling it into the hallway more.

  “Down the hall in the nursery,” I pointed, grabbing the end of the box and pushing to help.

  Nic easily maneuvered the box down the hallway and into the nursery, lowering it onto the floor with superhuman strength. I was suddenly very relieved that I’d called him. This just made my life a million times easier.

  He started pulling the tape off the box at the seams.

  “What are you doing now?” I demanded, not wanting him to think I couldn’t do anything myself.

  He looked up at me, blinking. “Setting her crib up. What? Like you’re going to do this yourself?”

  I frowned, not needing a hero to swoop in an rescue me. “Well… maybe.”

  Nic scoffed with a smile, glancing around the nursery. “Brenna, you still haven’t painted in here, the decorations are still over there in the bag. You weren’t going to get around to this for a while.”

  Stiffening, I pointed to my belly. “I’ve been busy.”

  He smiled warmly, pulling out the direction booklet and settling down on the floor. “I can see that. I’ll need a screwdriver.”

  I shifted on my feet, torn. I hadn’t seen Nic in a really long time and I already had a hard time asking him for help getting the crib inside, I didn’t want him to think I needed help doing everything and needed to be rescued.

  But… He had a point. It would be a while before I got around to putting the crib together and I wasn’t really in the position to be passing up help.

  I went and got him the screwdriver along with a bottle of water.

  “Now sit down,” he ordered, taking them from my hands, glancing at the rocking chair behind me.

  His handsome eyes met mine and I made the decision to be gracious about accepting help. If he wanted to help, I should fight him every step of the way.

  Nic wanted to put the crib together and give me a break, I should accept it. I did what I was told.

  Sitting actually felt really good on my hips and lower back; I’d been aching lately.

  “You know, if you really want to talk to Alex,” he said, looking over the directions, “I have his mom’s number.”

  I shifted my weight. Truly, I’d been relieved when I couldn’t find him. It made my decision easier. I really didn’t want him involved and who knows… maybe five years down the road, he’d demand joint custody or something. There was no way that was happening.

  “No,” I shook my head, “I don’t w
ant to call him or let him know… As far as I’m concerned, she doesn’t have a father. I’m sticking to my guns and leaving him out of her life.”

  Nic nodded, setting down the directions, confident he knew what he was doing. “Good idea. He had his chance. It’s a shame though.”

  I watched his strong arms pull out the rails and screws out of the box, muscles sliding under his skin. “What is?”

  His jaw hardened, lining up the first two pieces, balancing them in one hand while he reached for the screw and screwdriver. “That he wanted you to get rid of her… I mean, no dude in his right mind would bail on his kid like that. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of deadbeats out there, we both personally knew one, but it’s fucked up how someone can walk away from something like this.”

  I looked across the bags of baby things I’d bought, the décor and clothes that I hadn’t done anything with. There were times when I wished Alex wasn’t such an asshole, that it would’ve been easier with someone else, but that someone wasn’t him and nothing I did would make him any better.

  I watched Nic piece together the crib, large hands manipulating pieces easily, wondering if I’d gotten pregnant by someone like him instead just how different things would be. I’d met Nic through Alex and there had been more than a few times that I wished I’d met Nic first. He was more my type, nice, more gentlemanly than Alex. He was incredibly handsome and possibly even more so since then. It was probably just my hormones taking over.

  Men didn’t exactly flock to me in the past six months, not that I cared. What would I have said anyways? ‘Nice to meet you, I’m Brenna. Yes, I’m pregnant but totally single!’ Yeah right. I’d spent a lot of time alone.

  Nic looked over at me, eyes on my belly, then back to the crib pieces. “All I know is that if she was mine… there wouldn’t be anything that could keep me away from here.”