paper to clean myself up a bit before I flushed the toilet.
Without looking at the two figures in the door, I went to the sink, rinsed my face and mouth, and then grabbed another tissue to blow my nose.
After I felt more like myself, I faced Cam and Sierra. They were both looking at me with wide-eyed expressions.
I heard the bell on the front door and J.J. call out, "Cam!"
Neither Cam nor Sierra heard him, they were both fixated on me.
Finally, Cam spoke. Really, it was more of a yell. "You're pregnant!"
I closed my eyes because J.J.'s face appeared behind them just as she spoke the words. And judging by his expression, he'd definitely heard them.
Great. Just great. This was a time I really wished I cussed because a few obscenities would truly express my dismay.
"That's why you were asking about insurance, isn't it?" Sierra asked.
I nodded, my eyes still closed. I didn't want to look at them and see disappointment or anger on their faces. I didn't want to see the expression on J.J.'s face either now that the news had time to settle into his brain.
"Well, we'll figure something out," Cam said. "We can put off opening the new store if we have to."
My eyes flew open. I forced myself not to look at J.J. even though I really wanted to. "No! You can't do that. It's important that you maximize your growth now. If you lose momentum—"
"Okay, okay," Cam said, lifting her hands as if she were surrendering. "Please calm down."
I took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to yell."
"Look, we'll talk about it some more later. First of all, is there anything we can do to help you?" Cam asked.
My shoulders slumped a little. "Not really. I'm just trying to make it through the first trimester right now without throwing up on anyone."
They both smiled and I chanced a look at J.J. He was staring at me, but I couldn't figure out what on Earth he might be thinking. His expression was as closed as I'd ever seen it in all my years of knowing him.
"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.