Was that a whine I detected in her voice? It definitely sounded like one.
"What would you like me to stop saying?"
"My child. My, my, my. I get it, all right. You knocked me the hell up, but the baby is also my damn child, and from where I'm sitting, I'm doing all the damn work."
Yup, that was certainly a whine she had going on. But she did have a point.
I walked over to the bed and sat next to her. I had to stop myself from smirking when she scowled at me. She was so darn cute when she was mad.
"I know this has to be tough for you. Bee mentioned you had the flu, so I'm assuming you've been sick for a few days. I just want to help."
"You spoke to my grandmother about me? How could you?"
I sighed at the tone in her voice. "Not like that. I went in for dinner and casually questioned why she was serving tables. That's when she mentioned you being sick. Don't worry, your secret about me continues to be safe."
"Not for much longer," she mumbled under her breath.
I smiled at that. "No, at some point, you're going to have to confess I knocked you up as you so eloquently put it."
"You don't have to gloat."
I sure as hell did. I wanted to beat on my chest like a caveman. If I didn't think she would kick me in the nuts, I would do exactly that.
"I would say I'm sorry, but I'm really not. I'm kinda excited."
Jo pushed up so her back was against my headboard. "Why aren't you freaking out, because I know I am?"
I didn't know what else to do, so I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm not sure really. This has taken me by surprise, but I'm not upset like I would've thought. It never occurred to me that I would get anyone pregnant, so I didn't have a reaction planned."
"Well, you being calm is freaking me the hell out."
Jo swung her legs over the side of the bed and scooted over.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Home. I feel good enough to make the less-than-five-minute drive."
"Why don't you just stay here?"
I knew the answer even before Jo said anything. "No, thanks. I need some time alone, and I can't get that if I'm here."
"At least let me follow you home."
"Fine." Jo waved me off. "Whatever. Just don't make it obvious. I don't need people in town figuring things out until I've had time to think."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jo didn't find me the least bit funny. That was too bad because I thought I was hilarious.
I did as she asked though, and I didn't follow close behind. A stupid rule if you asked me, considering it was a small town, and there was hardly any traffic, so it wasn't like there were any cars between us. I did however wait a few houses down to make sure she made it inside before I went back home. I was barely in the front door before I called Wes.
"This is becoming a habit," Wes joked when he answered the call.
"I know, but that maybe is now a definite."
"What changed?"
Jo wasn't going to be happy with me, but right now, I didn't care. The only thing that mattered was keeping her and the baby safe.
