Baby Duties

Baby Duties

A BWWM

Pregnancy Romance

Novel

Published by Nina Ford at Smashwords

1st Original Edition

Published November 2017

Copyright © 2017 Nina Ford

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real people, places, or events are strictly coincidental. This book may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without the expressed permission of the author. Exception is made in the case of brief quotations used in published reviews.

Table of contents

Chapter one

Chapter two

Chapter three

Chapter four

Chapter five

Chapter six

Chapter seven

Chapter eight

Chapter nine

Chapter ten

Chapter eleven

Chapter twelve

Chapter thirteen

Chapter fourteen

Chapter fifteen

Chapter sixteen

Chapter seventeen

Chapter eighteen

Chapter nineteen

Chapter twenty

Chapter twenty-one

Chapter twenty-two

Chapter twenty-three

Chapter twenty-four

Chapter twenty-five

Chapter twenty-six

Chapter twenty-seven

Chapter twenty-eight

Chapter twenty-nine

Epilogue

Chapter one

Professor Shelton, would you mind taking a look at this specimen? Mya called out to her biology professor and waited for him to come over to assist her.

Everyone else in the lab was working quietly in groups of two or three, but Mya preferred to work independently. She didn’t like to entrust the quality of her work in other people, and the last lab partner she had spent the entire hour staring at her belly.

It’s off by about a millimeter, Professor Shelton said as he looked into Mya’s microscope.

I thought it might be, but I wasn’t sure, Mya replied.

Well, that’s precisely why I encourage students to work in pairs. It helps to have a fresh set of eyes on things sometimes.

Thanks, but I really do prefer to work alone.

"Well that’s fine for this lab, but you will need a partner for this upcoming assignment."

Time was on Mya’s side that day, as class had just come to an end. Professor Shelton would not have time to stick Mya with anyone that day and for that she was eternally grateful.

Mya gathered her belongings and said a silent prayer that she would be able to make it across campus to her next class without anyone asking how she was doing or how she felt.

The past year had been a nauseating rollercoaster for Mya. She and her close friend Shane had fallen in love and started dating only to end up pregnant at the tender age of twenty-two, and the stress of impending parenthood ended up drawing the new couple apart just as fast.

In the end, Mya was left to make one of the hardest decisions of her life on her own. Which was why after a lot of careful contemplation, she buried her sudden longing to become a mother and made the difficult yet selfless decision to give her baby up for adoption as soon as it was born. Of course, the problem with that was that every time the baby moved, she thought about it. Every time someone asked her how she was, she thought about it. And every time she saw HIM…she thought about it.

Hey Mya, how are you feel…ouch! Owen fell stone silent when his long-time best friend Porsha elbowed him in the ribcage.

Hey guys, Mya greeted as she entered the science building. She was on her way to her noon Organic Chemistry lecture.

Don’t ask her that! How many times do we have to tell you? Just act like nothing is different with her, Mya overheard Porsha scold Owen as she passed them to enter the lecture hall.

And exactly how am I supposed to do that? Owen retorted. "Just look at her. She's huge. It’s not exactly easy to ignore."

What’s not easy to ignore? Shane asked as he approached his friends.

Owen’s cologne, Porsha’s best friend Veronica rushed to say, He smells like he burnt his underwear in the dryer.

Well that’s better than what he usually smells like, Shane joked as he walked into the lecture hall shortly after Mya had taken her seat.

And what about that? Owen questioned once Shane was out of earshot. I hate feeling like I have to choose between them.

I know, Porsha agreed, I’m always having to censor myself when I talk. Can’t talk about Mya to Shane, can’t talk about Shane to Mya – it sucks.

"And meanwhile, there’s this precious little baby on the way that they both need to be talking about..."

The three friends turned and looked into the lecture hall at the subjects of their conversation. Mya was seated toward the front of the class with her laptop open and her hand absentmindedly resting atop her belly. Meanwhile, Shane was seated to the far left in a row slightly behind Mya’s with his head tilted to one side and his eyes locked firmly to the back of her head.

She looks bigger this week, Shane ruminated, I wonder if that’s normal? Aunt Karen said I was a big baby...I wonder if our baby will be big too?

Why don’t you go over and talk to her? Owen asked as he took his usual seat beside Shane.

Why? She made her decision. It's not like there's anything I can do about it. Her body, her choice, right? Besides, she’s perfectly fine with the whole solo thing. Trust me.

Owen shook his head. "Man, do you hear yourself? Do you really think she’s enjoying being pregnant? And in college, no less? She's literally watching her glory days pass her by."

Shane looked over at Mya and watched as she rubbed her hand across the back of her neck. It was a gesture that she always used when she was working very hard and getting very little rest.

As Mya rotated her head and shoulders to stretch her muscles, she caught sight of Shane watching her and froze. They held each other's gaze for only a moment before she let out a sigh and rolled her eyes.

That girl doesn’t have a forgiving bone in her body, Shane continued, She hates me for doing this to her and I can't keep bending over backwards trying to change that.

Can’t, or wont? Owen asked just as their professor entered to start the class.

Thank God, Shane thought as he watched the older gentleman get settled at his podium. Had he been forced to answer that question, he wasn't sure what he would say.

Chapter two

This next assignment will require you to work in groups. It will take several weeks to complete, so I will explain it today and give you some lab time each week to work on it. That said, you will need to work on it outside of class as well. Now, Ms. Morrison, we need to…

Professor Shelton was interrupted in mid-sentence by the presence of a tall young man with dark wavy hair, a beautiful tan complexion, and the looks of old Hollywood royalty.

As Professor Shelton read over the note that accompanied the young man, the girls in the lab began to exchange glances that were full of raised eyebrows, winks, and whispers.

Alright, class, this is Brenton Archibald and he will be joining our program as a transfer from UCLA. Welcome, Brenton.

Actually, I prefer to be called Brent if that’s cool with you. Brent directed his comments at Professor Shelton, but his grey eyes remained steadied on none other than one very uncomfortable Mya Morrison.

Not a problem, Brent. Why don’t you take a seat over there between Veronica and Porsha and we will see what we can do about getting you up to speed. Professor Shelton gestured across the room.

Veronica couldn’t have been happier as she scooted her chair over to make room for Brent, who removed his leather backpack and sat down next to her as he returned the huge grin that was spread across her and Porsha’s faces.

As the class continued, Brent noticed that the answers to most of the questions that Professor Shelton was asking seemed to come from the back of the room. Curiosity finally got the better of him as he turned to see the face of the girl with the encyclopedic knowledge of nucleic acids.

Mya’s head was down when Brent turned to look at her for a second time since he’d entered the lab, but he could tell that she had a beautiful head of long midnight black curls, and that she wore glasses – a trait that he had always found strangely attractive in women.

Brent had been a fan of smart, pretty women for as far back as he could remember. In high school, while his friends drooled over the cheerleaders, he got his kicks with the brains and beauty of the girls who partook in drama club and student council.

That, in summary, was Mya Morrison.

As if she sensed Brent’s eyes on her, Mya looked up and met his gaze. She hadn’t been paying much attention when he was introduced to the class so she just smiled politely and went back to her work.

Who’s that gorgeous girl in the back? Brent asked Veronica.

Who? Veronica asked as she turned to look.

Her, with the glasses.

You mean Mya? Veronica balked. She felt a bit ashamed at her surprise at someone describing Mya as gorgeous, but considering Mya’s current condition, could she really be blamed for that?"

Yeah, is she like the resident science whiz or something?

"Um, more like the resident everything whiz. I have a few other classes with her and I don't think I've ever seen her get less than a 95 on anything."

Really? Brent raised his eyebrows. He couldn’t wait for class to end so that he could introduce himself to this girl who had more than piqued his interest.

Before we finish for the day, Professor Shelton began, We need to find a lab partner for Ms. Morrison here. Would anyone like to volunteer?

The room fell silent as no one volunteered to be paired with Mya. Even though it would have meant an A for sure, the guys in the lab didn’t want to work with her because she was such a perfectionist that they knew they wouldn’t be able to goof off, and the girls were all hoping that they would instead be paired with the hot new addition their class.

Brent looked around and noticed Mya in the back with her chin resting in her hand looking very annoyed at the whole process.

Professor Shelton, I said I don’t mind working alone. Mya raised her hand to end the agony.

And I said that everyone needs a partner, so who’s it gonna be? You've got two choices here, people. Either volunteer or be drafted.

I’ll work with her, Brent spoke up to the surprise of Mya and the disappointment of the other girls.

You’ll be sorry, some fraternity brother behind Brent whispered.

Yeah, somehow I doubt that. Brent smiled and leaned back in his chair.

Chapter three

Brent spotted Mya sitting in the study lounge as he passed by her on his way to lunch. After class Veronica and Porsha whisked him away and made it their mission to show him around campus and introduce him to everyone. He had missed his chance to talk to her then, but he fully intended on making it up to her now.

Hey, is this your lunch period?

Yup, Mya answered after looking up briefly to see who was talking to her.

So why no food? And please don’t say your dieting – I hate when girls say that.

Not dieting, just don’t have an appetite. Was there something you wanted?

Nah, just thought I'd introduce myself. You know, since we’re lab partners now.

Actually, I’m glad you mentioned that. There's something you should know: If you don’t give one hundred percent on this project, I will have no problem snatching your name off the coursework and telling Professor Shelton that I did the whole thing on my own.

"And just what would make you think that I wouldn’t give one hundred percent?" Brent asked amused by Mya’s spunk.

Mya smacked her lips. Please, I saw the way the girls in class acted when you came in. It was like you were the second coming of something. I, however, am nothing like them, so don't expect me to let you slack off just because you’re charming.

Well it's definitely nice to know you think I’m charming, but you really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. You can't just assume that because a bunch of silly girls think I’m cute that I’m some sort of slacker. And just so you know, I have never gotten anything less than a 90 on anything in my life, so….

Well I’ve never gotten anything less than a 95 on anything, so you’ll have to step your game up, Mya said as she returned to her studying.

You’re on. So why don’t you come to the caf and show me what’s good?

"I’ll pass. I have a deadline this afternoon and the smell of that place would hit me before I even made it