“Yeah, she's had a rough day,” Jenn said, stroking her best friend's hair.
My heart raced. “Did Leo –”
“Oh no,” Jenn said, trying to keep her voice low.
She didn't elaborate, however, and I had a feeling she wouldn't talk no matter how many questions I'd asked. Jenn had always been a good friend to her and a stalwart guardian for Hailey, so I knew better than to press.
“Do you need anything?”
“I have to head home soon, my kids need me,” Jenn said, but she didn't move from the bed. “I just don't know what to do.”
“I'm here,” I said. “I'll keep an eye on her.”
“I don't know about –” her phone buzzed, and she muttered under her breath. “Dammit. My son needs my boob, they're out of milk. Do you think you could keep an eye on her? I can be right back?”
“Sure thing, Jenn,” I said.
She pulled herself off the bed as if it was a struggle to leave her best friend's side. I had no idea what had happened, and as much as I wanted to find Cason, I wasn't sure I should leave her alone. I sat down on the bed beside her and stared down at her. Her face was mostly covered by her long hair, but her perfectly upturned nose peeked out from it and I fought the urge to kiss it.
“I'll be right back,” Jenn said.
“No rush,” I said, pushing the hair from Hailey's face. “I'm here for her.”
Jenn's face softened, and she looked like she might melt into the carpet. I had to urge her, again, to go.
“Your baby needs the boob, remember?”
She laughed. “Yeah, I'm going,” she said.
Her footsteps echoed down the hall, and I heard the front door open and close. I looked down at the beautiful woman beside me and wondered what might be going through her mind. Why her day had been so difficult. I curled up beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist, suddenly feeling very protective of her. I heard more footsteps, this time it was Cason.
“You're home early,” he said, standing in the open doorway.
“Yeah, it was slow, Nate had it covered,” I said. I looked up at Cason and asked, “So what's going on with her?”
He shrugged. “Jenn and Hailey have been shut in here all day,” he said. “I didn't want to bother them.”
Hailey jerked in her sleep, pulling away from me and muttering something I couldn't make out. Her eyes flew open and she stared up at me, eyes wide and full of fear.
“Quinn?” she said.
“Yes, it's me,” I said, trying to keep my voice low and calm. “Cason is here too. You're okay. You're safe.”
She relaxed into me a bit more, and my brother came over and sat down on the bed beside us. He watched from a distance as I held her tightly.
“Are you okay, Hailey?” Cason asked.
“Not really,” she muttered.
He moved closer, stroking her back. Cason laid down behind her, propping himself up on the pillows on the bed.
“What's going on?” I asked her. “It's okay, you know. You can tell us what's going on. You're safe here. You'll always be safe her.”
She sighed before answering me, “I'm pregnant,” she said softly.
“Are you – serious?” I asked, trying to pull myself together. I propped myself up and looked over at Cason who had the same look on his face. “How do you know?”
In my head, I tried to remember what I'd heard about knocking girls up. Could she know this soon? Could I be a father? Could any one of us be the father? My heart raced and for a moment, I couldn't help the smile on my face from growing wider. The idea that somehow, I might be a dad filled me with greater joy that I thought it would.