Baby by the Numbers
By Teona Bell
4/5
()
About this ebook
Andrea’s not ready to give up hope on finding the right one. She doesn't trust herself to spot him, but she won't quit looking. When the police are called again because Andrea's boyfriend decided to put his hands on her, her best friend also shows up to take her home with him.
Chase has always been there, even if he's kind of a loser too. Her friend might be a middle school math teacher, but he can charm any woman into bed. All he dates are model types, unlike the pleasingly plump Andrea.
Andrea and Chase have never denied the attraction they felt between them, but they never went beyond intimate kissing. One night together leaves Andrea pregnant, and she’s not sure who the daddy is. Chase claims her baby as his, but what happens when her ex starts making threats?
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Book preview
Baby by the Numbers - Teona Bell
Chapter One
Yo,
Chase called out as he walked in the door. He offered her a grin and a half wave as he usually did.
Shame washed over her, and she said nothing. She concentrated instead on not throwing up, not toppling onto the floor, or sobbing any more than she already had. Her back hurt. Her lip was swollen along with her eye, and half the world had crowded into her apartment to ask if she wanted to go to the hospital. No, all she wanted was—
Chase crouched in front of her, bringing himself to eye level. He rested his forearms on his thighs. You’re looking good, he said.
Did you lose a little weight?"
Leave it to Chase to say something inappropriate to try to make her feel better. Normally, she would have laughed, but she saw something else in his beautiful blue gaze—anger.
Chase dropped the pretense and held his arms out. That was something he always did, too. All her resolve to keep it together dissolved in the space of a few seconds, and she was on his lap, held tightly in his arms and crying her eyes out.
They didn’t catch him,
she muttered into Chase’s shirt. He ran off after.
She thought she heard Chase curse, but with the blood rushing through her ears and her head spinning, she wasn’t sure what went on around her. Her best friend held her firm but not tight with one arm and rubbed her back with the other. Chase was always there for her. No matter how many times she’d done this. Why couldn’t things be different, or rather why couldn’t she be different and not a loser?
I’d like to take her home,
she heard Chase say at last. Is that okay?
The officer standing nearby frowned and checked her notes. My information states this is her apartment.
Chase’s hand spasmed on her back, and he stilled it. I mean to my home. I don’t want her here by herself if you haven’t caught the bastard.
Everybody under the sound of Chase’s voice must have heard the accusation, and the officer didn’t take his insinuation too lightly that they weren’t doing their job.
Ms. Wood gave us her statement about her boyfriend Mr. Elijah Williams attacking her. We also have a witness to the incident in her neighbor. Don’t worry. We’ll find him.
I hope so.
Andrea tugged Chase’s shirt to try to get him to stop antagonizing the cop. He glanced down at her, and his frown only deepened as he studied her face.
You might want to have her see a doctor just to be sure she’s all right,
the officer suggested, and then she and her partner left. Chase stood up and placed Andrea on the couch. Then he cleared the room of concerned citizens
including Sheila, the next-door neighbor. Sheila had been the one to witness Elijah punching her in the face.
Andrea’s spirits sank lower, and she touched tentative fingers to her cheek. Swollen of course, and she might bruise by tomorrow. Chase appeared in front of her again, and she sighed. Her lips and throat were dry. She tried wetting them and failed.
What happened, Drea?
he asked.
She refused to look up, but he reached down and gently raised her chin. Her gaze met his. From the first time she’d seen him, Andrea had been struck by Chase’s eyes. They were ice blue but so full of warmth and humor. He wasn’t the sexy-hero type of romance novels, but he was handsome in his own way. Chase kept his dark curls tussled about his head like some playboy that had just tumbled off the cover of a magazine or out of a model’s bed. Unfortunately for him, he was not a playboy at least in money and lifestyle, and as far as she knew the women he slept with only looked like models. His lips were full for a white man, and his build passable. He had height going for him being six two. The smallest of pouches had gathered at his middle, and he made up for the lack of hardened muscle with charm. Those eyes and his words allowed Chase to coax almost any woman into bed. Her best friend was a serious male ho.
Drea,
he snapped, capturing her attention.
She focused on him, her belly doing flip-flops. I know you’re disappointed.
This isn’t about me.
I thought it would be different this time.
He said nothing. She twisted her hands together, and tears started down her cheeks. Sorrow vied with depression, and all she wanted to do was disappear and not have to face this again. Chase stooped and took her hands in his.
I’m sorry. You don’t need me to bully you. He’s the asshole.
Chase.
Don’t defend him.
I wasn’t going to.
She sniffed. We got into an argument, and he hit me. End of story.
Wasn’t the first time, was it?
Chase knew her. She pressed her lips together.
It’s over, right?
Of course.
Then let’s go.
He reached out and thumbed away her tears, then leaned over and kissed her lips. The brush of his mouth wasn’t sexual in any way. This was just their habit. Chase kissed her in greeting and in saying good night. Once upon a time they had explored each other’s mouths extensively just to see what it felt like. At the time, she had never kissed a white guy, and Chase had said despite his many lovers, he had never had sex with a black woman. She had informed him she wouldn’t be his first, but she didn’t mind sampling his kiss. They were best friends at that point, and he had tasted good. Kissing him had turned her on and been fun. They had ended it there though, and somehow those tongue-kisses had become innocent pecks. Maybe they were weird.
Andrea rose on unsteady legs to go into her room. She glanced around and for the life of her, she couldn’t remember what she had intended to do. Chase brushed by her and walked straight to the closet. He opened it and pulled her duffel bag from the back, set it on the bed, and began packing it with clothes.
Wait, I don’t want that.
She joined him and grabbed for a pair of jeans he’d put into the bag. He caught her wrist in a light hold and set her on the bed.
Park it, and let me do this. Just say what you don’t want.
She rubbed her temple. I can’t think.
If you don’t focus, I’m taking the whole dresser, and you can live with me.
She rolled her eyes at him. You wish. Then I could help pay your rent.
He shrugged and chuckled. Every little bit helps. Teachers don’t make enough.
"You would do better if you stop spending all the extra on women."
Chase looked horrified, and she tried to smile but moaned in pain.
He touched her shoulder. I have some prescription pain relievers at my place. I’ll have you fixed up.
Thanks, Chase.
"Hey, we’ve