“Don’t encourage him,” I grumbled.
She laughed again, and this time I couldn’t resist a small smile.
I stared at the mischievous kitten and then carefully removed him from my shoulder. He put up a fight, his needle-fine claws gripping onto my shirt, but I pried him off and set him back on the ground.
“I need to start getting ready.”
I frowned at the baby monitor that had been silent the entire time. Hailey should be getting up around now, getting ready for school.
“I’m going to stretch and then I’ll head back up to the house,” Palmer said.
I nodded and left the gym, giving her one last glance before I shut the door. Phantom didn’t follow me—thank God.
The house was still when I entered.
Even as I climbed the stairs, I heard nothing. Usually by now there were show tunes blasting as Hailey got ready, her voice drifting down the hallway as she sang along while brushing her hair.
I headed straight for her room and pushed the door open.
There was no movement inside, just a lump beneath the blankets.
My furrow deepened as I called her name, but she didn’t reply. I crossed the room and touched the bundle of blankets. She still didn’t move, and I dug through the pile to reach her dark curls.
Only then did Hailey let out a small sound that resembled a groan.
“Hey, baby girl,” I said softly.
She groaned again and rolled onto her back. I pressed a hand to her cheek.
She was hot.
I stifled a curse and let out a long breath. “Don’t feel too good, huh?”
She didn’t even open her eyes as she shook her head.
I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll go get you some medicine.”
“Do I have to go to school?”
“No. Not when you’re sick.”
Her bottom lip pushed out into a pout. “Is Palmer gonna take care of me?”
I hesitated long enough that she cracked one eye.
“I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll stay home from work today.”
Hailey frowned. “But Palmer likes to take care of me.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m not sure Palmer will want to get sick, though, sweetheart.”
She thought about that, her nose scrunching. “But I don’t want to get you sick either, Daddy.”
I ran a hand over her curls, a soft smile touching my lips. “I don’t mind getting sick for you.”
“What if you puke?”
I kissed her cheek. “Worth it.”
