Baz walked into the room, came to stand directly in front of her, his gaze lowering to where her hand was still on her stomach, then meeting her gaze once more. “You okay?”
Not wanting him to worry, she said, “I’m good. Sorry. I was just…”Just what?What was she supposed to tell him? She shook off the weirdness and forced a smile. “I think I’m just hungry.”
Even as she said it, her stomach churned in disagreement.
“Any special requests?”
“Toast,” she blurted. “And coffee.”
Another churn.
Maybe she would skip the coffee.
JJ pushed away from the door, stepping around him.
He flipped the end of her hair, then headed back to the door. “Comin’ right up. It’ll be ready for you when you’re done.”
“Baz, wait,” she called after him.
He looked back over his shoulder.
JJ bolstered her courage, reminding herself that they were in this together, and she was no longer that timid woman who was scared of her future. It wasn’t always easy to remember, but she was making a conscious effort these days.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat, met his gaze. “I … uh … think you might need to go to the drugstore.”
He turned to face her fully. “You need somethin’ for your stomach?”
Realizing her hand was still on her belly, she dropped it. “No, but I do think I need…”
Baz’s dark eyebrows rose, his eyes glittering with the endless reserve of patience he seemed to have.
“I need a pregnancy test,” she blurted.
His eyes went wide, his mouth opening. His gaze dropped to her stomach, back to her face. It would’ve been comical if JJ wasn’t secretly still panicking.
She waited for him to say something, to see what his initial response would be. She probably should’ve gotten a test without him knowing, taken it first before springing something like that on him. She would’ve, she figured, if she’d been smart enough even to notice that she hadn’t had a period in … if her calculations were correct, she’d missed two.
To her shock, Baz moved toward her, his stunned expression morphing into what looked a hell of a lot like hope.
“Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack,” she said in a strangled whisper.
Baz’s hand flattened on her belly, and she instantly soaked up his warmth. “You think…?”
She shook her head no at the same time she said, “Yes?”
His smile blinded her, and JJ felt that giddiness tightening her insides. He leaned down, pressed his lips gently to hers.
“I’m gonna run to the store right quick,” he mumbled against her mouth.
She nodded. “Okay.”
When he left her alone, JJ turned on the shower water, realizing she was … smiling.
*
BAZ DROVE TO THE DRUGSTORE IN Ahaze. He wasn’t sure he could even feel his fingers as they wrapped tightly around the steering wheel. He knew for sure his knees were weak when he climbed out, strolled into the store. He skimmed the aisles, looking for the pregnancy tests. He felt utterly helpless as he stared at the wide variety they offered.
