Page 15 of Claiming Becca

“I could have helped,” Bass says for the tenth time above me.

“Will you shut up?! I work out. I can do this,” I reply.

Connor eyes him. “You better do what she says, or she’ll kick your ass again,” he teases. I shake my head at their antics.

“That was one time, and I practically let her win,” Bass replies.

I sigh. This argument will never die. “I flipped you on your back. All six foot two of you with my five-foot self,” I brag.

Bass groans. “I was focused on the cheesecake.” Connor and I laugh.

They both were determined to teach me self-defense after what happened. I don’t think they expected me to pick it up so quickly and do it so well. Although Connor’s first lesson was all I needed to learn. He said I wouldn’t have to defend myself as much if I stopped stealing. He was right. Go figure. In my defense, the last time I stole, I was taking back what belonged to me. Just as Caroline gets home, we get the chair in the nursery and put it exactly where Bass tells us.

“Hello?” she calls out.

“Up here, Care Bear,” Bass replies. We wait in the nursery as she ascends the stairs.

Connor looks at me and cocks an eyebrow. “How much do you want to bet we’ll have to move the chair?” he asks.

I chuckle, extending my hand. “Ten bucks?” I ask. He nods, taking my hand in his and shaking it. I ignore the butterflies in my stomach at the touch. “So, who will win? If we’re both agreeing that, we’ll have to move the chair,” I ask. He glances at Bass, who is scowling at us both. I shrug. “I’m telling you she will want it near the window.” Before he can respond, Caroline is waddling into the room with her cute belly.

“Oh! Connor, Bec. What are you two doing here?” she asks as she walks to Bass and kisses him.

“They were helping me,” Bass tells her.

She smiles at him. “Helping you do what?” she asks. Then her eyes fall on the chair. Her hands come up to her mouth in surprise. “Oh my goodness! I love it!” she exclaims. Her eyes fill with tears.

I lean over to Connor. “We should have bet on how quickly she’d cry.” He winks at me, chuckling. I suck in a breath, looking away quickly.

Caroline fans her face with her hand. “I’m sorry. I’ve been so emotional this last trimester.”

Bass pulls her into his arms. I smile at the two of them; happy Bass found someone who appreciates him and how great he is. His ex sure didn’t do that.

Caroline looks around the room, and her smile grows wider. “The curtains are beautiful. And I love the rug. Did you do this, Bec?” she asks me.

I shrug, my ears heating at her question. I hate when people make a big deal about my decorating skills. “I want the kid to have the best,” I tell her nonchalantly. Caroline’s hand comes up to her mouth, and she takes a shaky breath.

“I love you guys so much.” She walks over, hugs me, and then Connor.

“We love you,” I tell her. She inhales deeply, blinking rapidly. She bites her lip, her nose scrunching as she looks from the chair to the spot in front of the window. I pull my lips between my teeth, knowing what’s coming next, sharing a look with Connor as he smirks.

“Is there any way the chair could be moved by the window, though?” she asks. My face breaks out into a huge smile. Bass’ mouth drops, and Connor lets out a bark of laughter. Before he can say anything though, his phone rings.

“Hey, man!” Connor answers. Bass and I walk over to the chair.

I smirk at him. “You owe us ten dollars,” I tell him. He scowls at me as we get into position to move it.

“Be there in fifteen,” Connor declares, catching our attention.

He hangs up and looks at the three of us with a worried look on his face. “We have to get to Bailey’s house. That guy that’s been stalking her is at her house. She called Julian, and he said the guy knocked her out.” My heart drops to my stomach so fast it makes me almost throw up.

“Oh my god!” Caroline exclaims and bursts into tears. Connor takes off, and I’m hot on his heels. “If anything happens to my little sister, I will kill that guy,” Caroline declares through her tears.

“If Julian gets there first, you won’t have to worry about that,” Connor replies.

“Care, be careful. You don’t need to run down the stairs!” Bass exclaims. Connor and I turn to watch as she waddles as quickly as possible. It’s something I’d tease her about in any other circumstance. Instead, I raise my hand to her and help her down the last few stairs as Bass follows closely behind her.

My mind begins to fill with what-ifs. Bailey is my best friend. She’s the first girl best friend I’ve ever had. If anything happens to her… I shake my head, trying to dislodge the what-ifs from my head. Emotions rise in my chest and lodge in my throat. We climb into Connor’s truck, and he takes off. I’m in the front seat while Bass and Caroline are in the backseat. Bass consoles Caroline, and I wish I had someone to console me. Tapping my foot, I look out the window as the trees fly by.

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