"I know I'm probably not supposed to ask this," Sierra said. "But have you told the father?"
I shook my head, keeping my eyes on J.J. "It's okay. I wanted to wait until after the first twelve weeks in case I miscarried. A lot of women lose their first pregnancies."
I was answering Sierra's question, but really, I wanted to tell J.J. why I hadn't mentioned it to him yet. I didn't understand why it was so important to me, but I didn't want him to be angry with me. I wanted him to understand.
"He knows now," J.J. said, shocking the heck out of me.
Sierra and Cam both yelped and whirled around. Then, his words sunk in and they looked back and forth between the two of us until it clicked.
Cam was the first to respond. "Dammit, J.J.! I cannot believe you!"
He glanced at her, but I jumped in before they could start arguing.
"Cam, I'm pretty sure it took both of us for this to happen," I said.
She turned back to me. "He's old enough to know better!"
I had to laugh at the outraged expression on her face. I didn't want to be responsible for dissension between them, but it warmed my belly to know that she cared enough about me to be upset on my behalf. "It's not like either of us did this on purpose. We're both adults. I'm the one who invited him home. If you're going to be upset with anyone, be upset with me. If it's going to be a problem, I can turn in a resig—"
"Do not finish that sentence," Cam said. "You are not quitting while you're pregnant with my niece or nephew. And, dammit, stop being so sensible. It's one of the few times I had the high ground over my brother and you just ruined it."
I laughed again, shaking my head. But I sobered quickly. "I don't want to be responsible for causing problems in your family. That would make me feel horrible."
"Shit," Cam spat, making me smile. "Fine, I won't yell at him right now. Maybe later."
"How about you let the him in question talk to Lee alone?" J.J. said, speaking for the first time since this entire drama started.
Cam opened her mouth to argue, but Sierra just grabbed her by the arm and hauled her toward the front of the store.
"Sierra, I don't think—"
"That's right, you're not thinking. She needs to talk to him without you spreading your two cents all over the room. This is between them."
"But—"
Sierra ignored her and called back. "J.J., I'm counting on you to not be a dick because you're usually not. Don't start now."
I closed my eyes again and shook my head, tears rising in my throat. In the short time I'd been working for those two, somehow we'd actually become more than employer and employee, we'd become friends. It made my chest hurt, but in a good way.
My eyelids sprang open when the bathroom door shut and J.J. engaged the lock with a quiet click.
He remained by the door, leaning back against it, and I briefly wondered if it was so I couldn't escape the conversation that was coming.
He crossed his arms over his chest, which made me wilt inside. His body language was closed off, as was his face.
"How far along are you?" he finally asked.
"I'm estimating ten or eleven weeks based on my last period, which I'm not one hundred percent sure on the dates since it was so long ago."
"What does your doctor say?" he asked. "Usually they can tell you, right?"
I shrugged. "Probably, but I haven't seen a doctor yet."
He straightened. "Why not?" Then, his eyes focused on me, laser-bright, and I couldn't control my flinch. "Cam said you were asking about insurance. You don't have any, do you?"
I shook my head. "I'll get something figured out before I need to go to the doctor in the next few weeks."
This time it was J.J. that shook his head. "No. Even if Cam could get you insurance through the shop, it would take thirty to ninety days for it to be active."
