Heart: BWWM Secret Baby Romance

by Kara Jones

  “I’m going to the bathroom,” he said, getting up from his seat. He saw the comfort room sign and entered; heading straight for the sink. He splashed some water on his face; the cold jolting him awake, and he braced his hands on the sink.

  “What you doing, Mister?” a voice asked, and Jake jumped. He turned around and, for a moment, he thought he was looking at his little sister. The little girl was sitting on top of the toilet; her pants down, as she looked up at him with the same shade of eyes he had. He swallowed. Her mouth opened in a little ‘O’ as she gasped. “You’re Jake Shepherd from the Dallas Mustangs!” she cried, raising her little fists up in the air.

  “Uh, yeah,” Jake stammered, shaking the surprise off of his face. The little girl finished her business before turning back to Jake with a huge smile.

  “May I have your autograph?”

  “Hey Joel, Marie, sorry I’m late! The line for the accounting office was terrible. Is Jessie here?” Sarah cried, as she entered the diner.

  “In the bathroom, sugar plum. By the way, you got someone waiting for you in booth six,” Marie answered, making Sarah frown. Sarah put her apron on and grabbed her notepad before walking toward the said booth.

  “Welcome to Joel’s Diner. What would you--,” her words cut off, as she realized who was waiting at the booth.

  Mae looked up at Sarah with a soft smile.

  “Hello, Sarah. It’s been a while,” she greeted.

  “What are you doing here?” Sarah asked, making Mae frown at her.

  “Is that any way to talk to your best friend?” Mae countered. “And, what about you? I never saw you in college! We were supposed to go together! What ever happened to that?” Sarah glared.

  “Well excuse me, I wasn’t aware you tried so hard to find me,” she retorted, making Mae wince.

  “Mommy! Look who I found!” Jessie cried, and both of them turned around; Sarah paling, as she saw her daughter holding hands with her father.

  Mae’s eyes widened, as she looked between Sarah’s horrified face, Jake’s shocked one, and the little girl that called Sarah “Mommy.” The little girl that was her spitting image.

  And suddenly, the last six years made sense.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?! I’m your best friend!” Mae yelled as soon as Sarah had sent Jessie over to her room with the instruction to play her music at the loudest volume.

  “Screw that! I’m the father. Why didn’t you tell me!” Jake asked, and Sarah sighed, as she slumped on the couch; already exhausted and they haven’t even started talking yet.

  “I didn’t tell you because you seemed to be happy with your life already with your girlfriend and all… I didn’t want to ruin it,” Sarah mumbled, closing her eyes. Jake shook his head; still in shock to find out that for the last six years, he had a daughter growing up in this world without him knowing it.

  “But, no matter the reason, Jake is Jessie’s father, Sarah. You should’ve told him regardless,” Mae soothed, and Sarah snapped her eyes open to glare at her.

  “And then what, huh? Have him walk away from me again? Call my daughter a mistake, the same way he called me? Or leave me to fend for myself the same way my parents did?” Sarah spat and Jake winced, as he remembered that night; realizing how bad it must’ve affected her.

  “You know I’m different, Sarah!” Mae exclaimed, pointedly ignoring whatever Sarah said about Jake and filing it as something she’ll berate her brother later. “I would’ve helped you, you know that,” Sarah shook her head.

  “But you weren’t there. You were always going off meeting some other people, and then you didn’t even notice I wasn’t okay until I was gone,” she whispered. Mae frowned. She had become so preoccupied with herself during the last weeks of high school that she didn’t realize her best friend needed help, and now she could see that everything that happened to Sarah for the last six years must’ve been rough to toughen her up like this. It also seemed like Sarah was reluctant to trust the both of them now.

  Well, she would have to remedy that starting today.

  “I’m sorry,” Mae started, and Sarah looked up at her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, and you have to know that I regret being such a horrible best friend to you, but I am here because I want to make it up to you now,” she took out an envelope containing the invitation to her wedding, handing it to Sarah.

  “I’m going to be married soon, Sarah, and if it’s okay with you, I’d really like my best friend back and be my Maid of Honor,” Mae said.

  Sarah’s eyes pooled with tears and she stood up to hug her best friend, which triggered Mae’s tear ducts so the both of them were sobbing against each other.

  Jake watched all of this with a sad smile. Sure, he was glad that they had finally mended their friendship, but he hoped that he’d have the same luck with Sarah, the same way his sister did. He turned his head toward his daughter’s room; wondering if she’d still like him once he told her he was her father.

  Chapter Nine

  Jake spent his vacation proving to Sarah and Jessie and that he was capable of becoming a father. He opted to stay at a nearby hotel and went to Sarah’s every day; getting to know his daughter and asking about everything she did and learned from the last six years.

  When Mae called Sarah to hang out or do things for her wedding, he volunteered to take care of Jessie until she comes back. She was reluctant to leave at first, but agreed after much cajoling from him. He then started to ask questions about Sarah and his heart melted, as his daughter told him how Sarah had been working hard to support her, and that she was happy her mother was finally having some fun and making friends.

  Everything he heard about Sarah made him admire her strength and resilience greatly, and he found himself wanting to spend more time with her or at least, the three of them together. He wanted to be part of Sarah’s life too and whenever he saw her talking to another guy, he’d clench his fist in an effort not to come over, plant a fist through his face, and pull Sarah away from him.

  It was then that he realized that he was falling fast for the mother of his child too.

  But, Sarah was avoiding him like the plague. He needed to do something huge to get back in her good graces, and maybe into her heart.

  He turned and caught sight of his poster taped at her daughter’s wall, wearing his jersey and about to throw the ball to someone.

  And just like that, he had an idea.

  Mae took Sarah to meet her fiancé, Grey, and asked Sarah to play one of her compositions for the wedding. Grey was intrigued and asked her to play it then and there, so when she obliged and blew his socks off, Grey immediately asked her to send some more of her work, telling her that if he liked a couple more, then he was going to hire Sarah to write the music for his movie.

  Sarah was thrilled that finally, she was going to be able to follow her dreams in composing music, not just playing the piano like her parents wanted. She had finally broken out of her chains. It took a long time, but she did.

  “Thank you,” Sarah said, hugging Mae suddenly and startling her. Mae smiled and hugged her just as tight.

  “You don’t have to,” Mae replied, and they smiled at each other. Mae checked her phone and when she finished reading the message, she looked up at Sarah and smiled.

  “Hey, I need to make one more stop. Is it okay if you come with me?” Mae said.

  Sarah was perplexed, as she followed Mae inside of the football stadium, wondering what in the world Mae had forgotten here that was so important. She lost Mae again and she had no choice but to wander to the audience stands. As soon as she emerged, the lights lit up and Sarah’s eyes widened, as she saw Jake and Jessie standing in the middle of the football field, gaze locked on her. Jake took a deep breath before he spoke.

  “Sarah, I’m sorry Mae duped you, but I asked her to do this for me,” Jake said, and Sarah blinked, waiting for him to continue. “I know I messed up by you, and I’m really sorry, but I have never been able to get you out of my head since th
en and I want you to know that if I could do that night all over again,” Jake paused, making Sarah’s brows furrow, as she waited for his answer.

  “I wouldn’t have left you. I would’ve stayed and asked how you were. I would’ve told you how beautiful you are, and that I really do remember what happened between us,” he said, making Sarah gasp at his admission. “But, I’m here now and I want to be able to do all of those things that I didn’t get to do, and then some. I want to be with you every single day, Sarah; you and Jessie and me. I will make up for every moment I wasn’t there and keep proving myself to you for as long as it takes because I love you, Sarah. I love you and our kid, and I’m never going to let you guys go again,” he said.

  He bent one knee and pulled out the velvet box he had in his pocket before looking back up in the stands; his eyes widening as he saw Sarah was gone. He stood up and turned around slowly in his spot; trying to find her until he felt someone tackle him. He looked down in surprise, finding Sarah sobbing in his arms, as she clutched his shirt.

  “I thought you’d never say that,” Sarah whispered, and Jake tilted her chin up to look at her tear-stained eyes.

  “No worries, baby. I’m going to be telling you that every single day until you believe it, but only if you say so,” Jake said.

  Sarah smiled; calling her daughter over to hug them, as she kissed Jake softly in his mouth.

  “Okay,” Sarah murmured against his lips. Jake smiled and kissed her deeply, and once again, Sarah’s head was filled with vibrant colors that were similar to the sights whenever she played, only this time, the music that produced them came from her heart, beating erratically and in concert with his.

  Finally, her feelings had reached him.

  The End

  Bonus – Big Hit - Sports Romance

  Chapter One

  Chloe’s head is hurting like hell.

  She stayed up all night working on her English essay and when she finally went to bed, she started hearing noises coming from her roommate’s room – the sound akin to cats having sex on the roof. It kept her awake until a couple of hours ago when it quieted down, and her system shut down by itself. Then, her stupid alarm decided to be prompt and wake her up for her first class of the day.

  She was pretty sure that Mondays were snuck in by Satan when God was making the days of the week. It was just that horrible.

  She sluggishly got up from her bed, scratching her arm as she walked toward the bathroom. She knew her roommate wouldn’t be waking for a couple of hours, as was her usual routine when she came from a party, and Chloe was going to take advantage of that. Her roommate was a bathroom hog, taking so long doing God knows what that by the time she comes out, Chloe’s early for her second class.

  Now, Chloe wouldn’t have been as annoyed by this if she and her roommate actually got along, but they couldn’t have been more different than night and day.

  Vanessa Delavigne was considered the queen in the social hierarchy in college – the prettiest and most popular girl in school who had a bunch of credits she’s bound to list on her yearbook: Head cheerleader, Student Body President, and President of Kappa Phi Delta, a sorority made up of the daughters of the rich, the famous, and the influential.

  She’s also as dumb as a post, and could only access the hidden well of knowledge buried within her body when her wicked personality comes out to play, one that would have Maleficent running for the hills. At least, that was Chloe’s opinion.

  Chloe, on the other hand, had a certain reputation that did not align with Vanessa’s. Chloe was known as ‘the ghost that roamed the halls,’ because she was always alone and silent. She minded her own business and didn’t socialize; not because she didn’t want to, but because nobody wanted to hang out with a geek. She spent her days at home or at the library reading or studying so she could maintain her stellar grades and academic scholarship.

  She didn’t have time to date or fool around with the men at their college either, as her parents told her they would only prove to be a distraction to becoming number one. So, even if a tiny part of her was envious of Vanessa for being able to choose from a litter of suitors gunning for her, Chloe steeled herself to focus on graduating and getting her parents off her back.

  Chloe put her hand on the knob of the bathroom door, but it opened so suddenly that her eyes widened as she fell forward, two arms shooting out from inside to catch her. Shocked as she bit her lip to keep herself from screaming, Chloe slowly raised her head, her violet eyes staring right into the chocolate brown orbs of Vanessa’s counterpart, Evan Cross, star quarterback and captain of the football team. Evan Cross, who was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

  Chloe blinked. Evan blinked back, equally surprised, but not making any move to let go of her.

  “What are you doing here?” Chloe whispered swiftly, and Evan raised his eyebrows.

  “I used your shower,” he replied.

  “Don’t you have a shower in your room?”

  “It’s in the other building,” he said casually.

  “Which you should’ve been in!” she shrieked. Her eyes went down to the towel wrapped around his waist and her cheeks flamed red, as she realized who it belonged to.

  “That is MY towel!” she shouted.

  Evan looked down at his waist and shrugged, untucking the towel from his waist. Chloe felt her cheeks heat up. She could do nothing but stare as Evan removed the towel from his waist and held it out to her, totally unabashed by his apparent nakedness. Chloe could not take her eyes off of his rather enormous package, and gulped.

  Evan leaned his shoulder on the side of the door, crossing his arms and smirking as he looked at how flustered she was.

  “You’re in my biochemistry class, right?” he asked, tilting his head. Chloe looked up at him, her mouth agape at how he seemed to want to engage her in a normal conversation while he stood there in his birthday suit. She opened her mouth to respond when they heard someone coming toward them.

  “What is going on here?” a voice grumbled.

  Evan and Chloe turned to look at Vanessa who was wearing a large t-shirt that Chloe immediately figured out belonged to the guy who was still holding her upright, and put two and two together. Chloe grimaced and pushed herself away from Evan who shrugged off her disgust.

  “Hey, baby,” Vanessa cooed, pushing Chloe out of her way and into the wall before wrapping her arms around Evan’s neck and giving him a sloppy kiss, the noises they emitted making Chloe want to hurl.

  “Can you please continue this foreplay in your room? You’re blocking the way,” Chloe said, annoyed by this semi-pornographic show she was being forced to watch.

  Vanessa unlatched her lips from Evan, raising one eyebrow at Chloe and giving her a cocky stare.

  “You’re just jealous because you know you’d never be able to be me,” Vanessa said.

  “Yeah, if I ever want to have chlamydia or another type of STD, I’ll let you know how that goes,” Chloe retorted. She elbowed Evan out of the way and locked the door, breathing heavily and putting her forehead against it.

  She didn’t have to admit to Vanessa for her to know that her snide comment actually stung her a little. But, that didn’t give her a license to step all over her like that.

  Chloe shook her head. She didn’t have time to think about Vanessa’s comment regarding her lack of a love life right now. She had a class to go to, and she could afford another day of being alone.

  Chapter Two

  Chloe rearranged her materials for their first lab work for what she believed was the fifteenth time that day. She couldn’t help herself; she knew that her output on this subject was going to take the brunt of her scholastic performance for the year and she could not fail. She had been praying every night that the professor wouldn’t set her up with a stupid partner, and she hoped her prayers would be answered.

  The professor came in and announced, as Chloe expected, that they would be working in pairs. She did not anticipate, however,
that her professor would have them work with their seatmates. She looked happily at the empty chair beside her.

  If she didn’t have a seatmate, she could just tell the professor and ask for permission to work alone! She daydreamed about the prospect of working alone as she sat staring at the clock, waiting impatiently for the bell to ring and signaling the start of class.

  She was jolted out of her thoughts when the door banged open and Evan strolled in a few seconds before the bell rang. His eyes searched the room for an empty seat, smirking as he saw most of the girls in the class trying to push away their seatmates to make room for him. He caught sight of the empty seat beside Chloe and made a beeline for it, his smirk turning into a full-blown grin as Chloe shook her head, her eyes wide with horror.

  “Hello, Chloe,” he said, feigning politeness as the bell rang.

  “Okay, class. Look toward your seatmate and say hello to your lab partner for the rest of the year,” their professor said.

  “NO!” Chloe couldn’t help but yell. The room went quiet as they looked at each other strangely, Evan sporting a surprised look on his face at her outburst.

  “Is there something wrong, Ms. Warren?” the professor asked, and Chloe closed her eyes and swallowed her protest.

  “No, sir,” she answered, her teeth clenched.

  Maybe he’s got a good head on his shoulders; being a jock doesn’t necessarily equate to being stupid, after all. I shouldn’t make any snap judgments, Chloe thought, giving herself a mental pep-talk of sorts.

  “Okay, let’s start us off with a simple question,” their professor said, and Chloe sat up straight in rapt attention, much to Evan’s amusement. The professor noticed that Evan was distracted by his seatmate and called, “Mr. Cross, what is the most basic unit in a body of a living organism?”