Taking Chances
Page 69

Me - 'You already gave me my lilies a few months ago, remember?'
Chase - 'I couldn't forget that day even if I tried.'
Me - 'Well you could have given these to me yourself you know. I would have liked to see you.'
Chase - 'It was worth it to see that smile on your face'
Me - ':) Thank you for my flowers. I love them'
Chase - 'What are you doing for your Birthday?'
Me - 'Dinner with your fam tonight, movies at the house after. You're invited.'
Chase - 'I'll see what I can do.'
Once again, it wasn't exactly a no, but it wasn't a yes either and I tried to not let that disappoint me. Cryptic words were kind of his specialty.
“Gah, look at you Harper.” Bree whispered.
“What?”
“You already totally have that preggo glow, and now your face is lit up like the freaking sun after texting my brother.”
I looked at her confused, “How did you know I was talking to him?”
She narrowed her eyes at me, then raised her eyebrows. “Like I said, your face is lit up like the sun.” Nudging my knee, she turned to listen to the Professor.
I smiled at my flowers one more time, and tried to follow her lead. Class flew by and we went to lunch to meet up with everyone, Chase wasn't there, but a very shocked looking Brandon was. All the guys had given me big bear hugs, and after an uneasy hug from Brandon he froze and backed up slowly, his eyes trained to my stomach. It had finally been real for me at the first ultrasound, but I don't think it'd been real for Brandon until he saw the bump pushing out from my hips. My stomach churned and my heart ached thinking of the love I'd lost, but I knew I had to get over it. I was the one who had messed up, I needed to get over it so I could get on with my life too. None of the girls got to the table until we were already seated, and even with Brandon's wide eyes staring at where my stomach was hidden from the table, no one else saw the evidence. Since the restaurant was just down the street from campus, after lunch Bree and I went to a boba shop close to the school and did most of our homework before we had to leave for dinner.
We met Claire and Robert at the restaurant at six, and tried to have a great time sans Chase. Claire shared funny stories about her two pregnancies and hilarious things Breanna and Chase had done when they were little. We were all cracking up and wiping tears from our eyes by the time the waiter came with the bill. I checked my phone again and my shoulders dropped when there still wasn't anything from Chase. Claire talked to him today to invite him to dinner, and he'd flat out refused to come. I didn't understand. I thought after our few words yesterday that things were going to turn around, and then after the flowers today, I'd been positive they were. My heart sunk but I tried to keep a happy face for the people that loved me. Apparently I wasn't doing a good job, Claire reached over the table and grabbed my hand, her face sad.
“Sweetie don't worry about it, please. This will all work out, I'm sure of it.” But for once, no one looked like they believed it.
I nodded and flashed a smile, “Movie time?”
We looked at each other awkwardly, but left and headed for home. Bree had an arm slung over my shoulders talking about how much of an ass Chase is when we opened the front doors and all sucked in gasps. There were orange and white lilies covering every table and counter. Chase. A smile broke across my face as I looked around the entryway, dining room and living room for him, Robert let out a low whistle of appreciation and shut the door. My smile died as soon as I heard him in the other room.
“Are you f**king kidding me?! How could you guys keep this from me?” Chase's voice boomed from the kitchen as he rounded the bar and stalked towards us through the living room. “Where the hell is he? I swear to God I'm going to kill him!” With his tall muscular build, tattooed arms and outraged face, he definitely looked like he could kill someone. I grabbed Bree's arm and shrank back into Mom, pulling her with me. Until now, I'd never been scared of Chase, even that night he'd given me bruises.
“Chase!” Robert barked and stepped in front of us, “Calm down, what is going on?”
“I saw the books, I saw the effing ultrasound pictures!”
I flinched. Aw hell, it wasn't supposed to happen this way. Since he hadn't come back to the house in months, we'd left everything on the kitchen table ever since that first appointment.
Robert crossed his arms over his chest, “And?”
“And!? DAD! Bree's knocked up and all you can say is 'and'?!”
Bree snorted and took a step away from me, crossing her arms over her chest, “Please. I'm not as stupid as you, I'm not pregnant.”
“Breanna!” Claire hissed through her teeth. She gave me an apologetic look for her daughter but it was true and I know Bree hadn’t meant it as an insult toward me.
Chase shoved one of the ultrasound pictures in Bree's face, “Then what the hell is this?”
I stepped up next to her, took the photo out of his hand and spoke softly, trying to hide my shaking. “It's mine Chase.”
You could have heard a pin drop. Chase's face had softened as soon as he'd seen me, but turned into one of shock when he registered what I'd said. After a few minutes, a grin that reached his eyes spread across his face as he searched mine.
His eyes slowly trailed down to my stomach and grew wide, “You're pregnant Princess?”