BEST FRIEND'S BABY (Book Three)

by Layla Wilde

  I felt her body press against mine as my hands rested naturally on her hips, my food forgotten on the coffee table. “Fine,” I relented. I would just have to tell her. “They talked to me.”

  “I know that!” Victoria snapped.

  “Well, they said I was really good and that the NFL would love to have someone like me.” I chose my words carefully, watching her as I spoke to gauge her reaction.

  Her mouth hung agape before a wide smile spread across her face. “They did? That’s fantastic!” She giggled, hugging me tight. “I always knew you could do it!”

  “Yeah…” I whispered.

  She looked at me curiously. “You don’t sound as thrilled as I would’ve imagined.”

  I reached into my pocket and pulled out the card they had given me. “They said I have to call within twenty-four hours. If I do decide to go to the Pro Day, then I have to compete for a spot as a draft pick. I don’t know how long that would take… They weren’t very specific, but if I get picked, I’d have to leave the university… and you.” I dreaded her reaction.

  Her smile disappeared almost instantly, and her eyes narrowed in seriousness. “You’d have to drop out?”

  “Or take a leave of absence,” I said quickly. “I don’t want to throw my college career out the window just yet. I don’t know if I’ll compare to any of the other players out there,” I told her, spinning a bit of her hair nervously around my finger. “That’s why I hesitated to tell you. I don’t know what I should do.”

  “I think you should go,” Victoria said, not an ounce of doubt in her voice. I was shocked. I at least expected her to voice her concerns about raising the baby by herself. “And I’ll go with you.”

  “What?” I spat. I definitely had not expected her to say that. “You’ll come with me?”

  She nodded. “Of course.” She smiled, leaned down, and kissed my lips gently, but I pulled away, trying to wrap my mind around what she said.

  “I don’t understand…”

  “Well, you’ve been dreaming of the NFL since you were a little boy. You’re finally within reach of that dream. I would be the worst person in the world if I kept you from that. But I also know you wouldn’t want to leave me alone, especially since I’m pregnant.” She paused. “When I went home, I took a leave of absence. I told them my mother was sick, and I haven’t re-enrolled yet. Technically, I don’t have to go to school this year, which means I can be with you wherever you go. And if you end up making it big, there’s always online university.” She smiled, running her fingers across my cheek. “I don’t want you to give up on your dream because of me. You deserve this, and I want to support you every step of the way.”

  I smiled at her response, pulling her into a tight hug and kissing her passionately. Our lips locked, and my heartbeat quickened. I couldn’t believe I had the best girl in the world in my arms. I finally pulled away, a grin on my face. “I should call them then?” I asked eagerly.

  “Yes! Go on, before they change their minds.” She pushed the card into my chest. I shot off the couch, grabbed my phone, and dialed the number. I paced, the nervous energy building up inside the pit of my stomach as I waited for them to pick up. Finally, I heard the distinctive click on the other end of the line.

  “I’m in.”

  Victoria

  Life changed dramatically after Hunter made that call. One day, we were normal college students, and the next, we were flying all over America for Hunter’s training. Everyone seemed to love him, and no matter what he did, he managed to impress those around him. I went with him to all of the training sessions, sometimes watching him, and other times reading a book or participating in an online class, my laptop perched on my lap, but that became harder as my stomach became more and more bloated. Still, I followed him faithfully, determined to be his number one fan.

  And then came the moment of truth. A contract came in. The Nationals wanted him. He had raced around the house, clutching it in his hands and smiling like an idiot. It had been the happiest moment of his life. He was ready to call and confirm his spot on the team when my water broke. He rushed me to the hospital. It was a long night, but we brought a beautiful baby girl into the world and named her Lila.

  Hunter was an amazing father. He would play with Lila for hours on end, making her laugh until she fell over in fits. He would wake up in the middle of the night to soothe her when she cried. He would feed her. I was surprised. I had known he was going to be a good father, but I had no idea he would be this good. Lila quickly became the apple of his eye. He called her his good luck charm, and from the moment she was a month old, I would swaddle her in blankets and take her to the games with me, always adorned in bright pink Nationals paraphernalia to support her father.

  Before I knew it, she was six months old. She was getting so big so quickly and was attempting to utter words like “mommy” or “daddy” whenever she saw us, but they always came out as cute, jumbled messes. The moment she learned to crawl, our house became a playground.

  She would race down the halls, aim for the stairs, or go around the coffee table four or five times as if competing in the Indie 500. I chuckled, watching her wear herself out, playing with some of her toys before crawling another lap around the coffee table. I eased into the leather couch and looked up at the large, flat-screen TV.

  I couldn’t believe how big our new home was. It wasn’t even a home, really; it was more of a mansion. It had three floors, five bedrooms, three full baths, and a kitchen I could get lost in. Some days, I didn’t even think I lived there. It felt like I was a visitor in my own home. I had no idea how I had transitioned from my mother’s shanty of a house to a place fit for royalty.

  As I reminisced, Lila crawled up to me, tugging on my pants. I looked down at her, pulling her into my lap. She giggled at my computer screen. She tried to touch it, but I shook my head. “Do you want to help mommy make her new video?” I asked. She sucked her thumb, a cute look on her face. I chuckled as I ran my fingers gently through her soft hair. “I’m just going to take that as a yes.”

  I got up, grabbed her pillow, and sat her comfortably inside of the U-shaped cushion so she wouldn’t topple over. I grabbed my violin after setting up my computer so the webcam was in a perfect position. In order to keep myself entertained while Hunter spent countless hours with his team, I had begun making YouTube videos, teaching people how to play the violin.

  I started this week’s video after turning on the camera. I spouted my usual intro, thanking everyone for tuning in, when Lila started to scream. I stopped, letting the camera roll as I looked at her. She gave me a fierce look before making grabby hands at me. I furrowed my brow, wondering what she wanted. I had just fed her. I picked her up and balanced her on my lap.

  She saw her image on the screen and giggled. I laughed. “Oh, you wanted to be in the video, didn’t you? Just six months old and you already have the hunger for fame.” I tickled her, and her giggles sounded almost like an alarm. Finally, I put her back down, but she started to scream again. “Hold on, Miss Diva,” I told her, moving the webcam so she could be in the shot, which seemed to pacify her.

  “Sorry about that, folks.” I laughed into the camera. I lifted my violin and placed it under my chin. I played a few simple chords, explaining as I went. Every once in a while, Lila would chime in with her own chord until she finally got sleepy and started to doze off. When my virtual lesson was complete, I waved at my audience and stopped rolling, knowing I would have a lot to edit later on. I put my violin away and pulled my laptop closer, looking through the comments of my last video.

  @ViolinVic – I love all of your videos. I think they’re super helpful, and your baby is so cute. I hope she continues being a part of our lessons because I can’t get enough of her.

  @Supercutebaby – Never stop being adorable and helping your mom with all of her videos!

  Your videos have really helped me during a rough time. I had been very depressed, so I turned to music to help me. My mother used t
o be a very good violin player, but I never bothered to learn while she was still alive. Then I found your videos, and I’ve been getting better every day. Your sunny personality and your happy baby make my day, and I hope there are many more videos to come!

  I smiled at all the comments. Of course, just like any other YouTube video, there was a fair share of nasty comments, but I had quickly learned to ignore them. I was too happy to let them get me down. I closed my laptop and looked at Lila, who was fast asleep. I chuckled at the bit of drool sliding down her chin. She was knocked out, alright.

  I picked her up gently, trying not to wake her. She was a sturdy, well-packed baby who was growing very fast for her age. Still, I carried her up to her bedroom with ease.

  Hunter had spared no expense when we decorated her nursery. The walls were a soft lilac color and decorated with parading elephants and other circus animals. Her crib was white with a comfortable mattress I envied at times. Baby essentials lined shelves. Diapers, pacifiers, talcum powder, wet wipes, formula, bottles… anything I could ever want was there.

  I turned on the light and walked over to the crib to lay her down. I grabbed her favorite stuffed elephant and placed it near her. Almost instantly, she grabbed for it, cuddling it affectionately, rubbing her cheek against its warm fur. I smiled at the angelic look on her face as I pulled up the blankets, gently placing them on her small body.

  I watched her for a moment. I couldn’t fathom that she was already six months old. It felt like just yesterday when I held the plus-sign test in my hand, worrying about Hunter’s reaction to my pregnancy. I reached out to run my fingers over her smooth skin. Even though she was already asleep, I started to sing a soft lullaby, filling the room with the melody. I stopped after a minute or so and turned on the baby monitor. I turned off the lights, making sure the nightlight was on for her. I closed the door, hoping she would sleep through the night.

  Alone, I made my way downstairs and into the kitchen. It was already quite late. The clock on the oven said 10:07 p.m. I wondered where Hunter was. He hadn’t said anything about being late. I grabbed my phone, but there were no notifications. I was a little disappointed, but I knew wherever he was, he was safe and having fun with his team. The thought of him cheating on me had never even crossed my mind since we had Lila. He loved her too much to hurt her.

  I smiled as I snatched an apple from our fruit dish. I sliced it, put it on a plate before I grabbed my step stool, which I used to reach the peanut butter off one of the pantry shelves. I still didn’t understand why Hunter constantly teased me by putting things where I couldn’t reach them. I rolled my eyes, struggling to reach. I sighed and stepped up on a chair instead, finally reaching the jar.

  In retaliation, I took his favorite cereal box and hid it in the freezer, knowing he would never think to look in there. I grinned. It was always like this between us. Constantly toying with each other in playful antics. I smiled to myself, knowing I had the best boyfriend in the world.

  As I scooped some peanut butter onto my plate, I heard a car pull up outside. I dipped a slice of apple in the peanut butter and ate it nonchalantly, leaning against the counter and waiting for Hunter. A few minutes later, he came in through the door.

  I was surprised to see a bouquet of flowers in his hands. “Hey, baby,” he said. He walked up to me and whisked me off my feet, spinning me around in a sudden display of affection. I giggled and held onto him tight, wondering what had suddenly gotten into him.

  He finally put me down, my heart racing in my chest. “Why did you do that?” I asked, steadying myself.

  He didn’t answer. Instead, he kissed my lips, holding my face in his hands. I felt my heart melt as he kissed me tenderly, his emotions coming to the forefront and making me his prisoner. He pinned me to his body, pulling me even closer as if he never wanted to let me go. I could feel the bouquet against my back, but he continued to kiss me, determined to take my breath away.

  By the time he finally let go, my head was spinning. I stared at him. “Why so romantic all of a sudden?”

  He smiled, holding out the roses. “A man can’t show his girl how much he loves her after missing her all day?” he asked innocently.

  I took the flowers, smelling them. A smile flitted across my face. “Of course you can,” I said, kissing his cheek. “I just wasn’t sure if there was some sort of occasion I didn’t know about,” I admitted. I walked away to put the flowers in a vase, arranging them before placing them on the dining room table.

  “Where’s Lila?” Hunter asked, coming up behind me to wrap his arms around my waist and kiss my neck. I felt a shiver make its way down my spine, and my heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know what had gotten into him, but I liked it. I rested my hands on top of his, squeezing his fingers.

  “I just put her to sleep,” I answered. “She helped me with one of my videos and managed to knock herself out on the couch.”

  He chuckled at my response. “So does that mean I have you all to myself tonight?” His voice had developed a sensual tone. “Because there're a few things I’d like to do to you…”

  Hunter

  Victoria chuckled at my comment. “Please,” she scoffed. “I know you don’t find me attractive anymore.”

  “Why would you say that?” I turned her around, looking into her eyes.

  “Why would you? With this baby body, how could you?” she asked, looking down.

  I shook my head, my hands on her arms. “You’re wrong, baby. I know I haven’t been around much lately so I can show you, but I think you’re just as beautiful as ever. If not even more beautiful,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close. “You’ll always be beautiful in my eyes, baby.” I gently kissed her cheek. “Let me show you…”

  She still looked skeptical. I tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at me. “I don’t know…” she whispered, her eyes wavering.

  “Shh,” I said, placing my finger over her lips to keep her from talking. Seconds later, I picked her up bridal-style, beaming down at her. “No more talking. Just sit back and relax.” I winked at her, carrying her effortlessly into our grand bedroom.

  Victoria had designed it herself. It was the perfect balance of romantic and sensual. The walls were a dark purple color, and our bed was the centerpiece of the room. The walls were lined with pictures of us and our little girl, in exquisitely-crafted frames that made the photographs come to life. Floral curtains hung on the wall, pinned to the side in order to let in some moonlight that fell perfectly on the matching duvet. Beneath our feet was a modern shag carpet in a light purple color.

  Crossing over the soft carpet, I tossed her onto our feather-top mattress and grinned as her body bounced. I didn’t give her a moment to adjust before pouncing on her, my hands pinning hers above her head. “I can’t believe you think you aren’t sexy,” I said, my lips moving to her neck to suck on her flesh. I moved her hand to my pants where my cock was already alive at the mere sight of her. “You feel that? You do that to me. No one else,” I reassured her.

  She blushed, her cheeks a cute shade of pink. I felt her small, soft hand slide slowly into my pants and grab my cock. I moaned, my lips moving to her collarbone so I could nibble her skin before I pulled up the dress she wore. My hand moved up her inner thighs, teasing her as I spread them apart.

  She opened her legs for me, and I could feel the goosebumps forming on her body. She was excited, which only turned me on even more. My cock twitched in her hand, and she squeezed it in response, a naughty grin on her face. She held the tip of my dick between her fingers, rolling it back and forth, making me moan into the hollow of her neck.

  I managed to slide the straps of her dress to the side, pulling it down slightly, leaving a trail of kisses from her neck down to between her lovely breasts. “You’re so beautiful,” I murmured, taking them in my hands. They were much bigger than before, still engorged from pregnancy. Victoria had opted out of breastfeeding, but they were still plump with hormones.

 
I leaned down to take one of her hard nipples into my mouth, rolling it between my teeth for a moment as my hand played with her panties, pulling them to the side so I could tease her clit with my finger. She moaned in response, pushing her hips into the air as her eyes rolled back into her head.

  My lips continued to tease her tits, getting her nipples nice and hard. I flicked them with my tongue before sucking on them, leaving little hickeys behind. Finally, I pulled away, running my hands over them one more time before I knelt between her legs.

  I pulled the dress off her body and tossed it into the corner of the room. I looked down at her body with love and adoration in my eyes. “You’re perfect,” I said, my fingertips running along her side and over her curves. They eventually ran along the deep scar that went down her tummy from her Cesarean section. I knew she hated it because she thought it made her look ugly, but I thought it was a testament to her amazing strength.