“She’s keeping the baby,” he said. God, he didn’t need to tell her that part either.
Jessica blinked again before her expression softened slightly. “And how are you handling that?” Jonnas leaned back heavily in his chair. He should have been honest with his boss. He was handling this situation poorly and obsessively, like a man losing his damn mind.
Instead, he muttered, “I’m trying to do the right thing.”
Jessica studied him carefully. “You care about her.”
That seemed to be everyone’s favorite observation lately. Jonnas exhaled slowly. “I barely know her.”
“That’s not what I said,” she pointed out. No, it wasn’t, and that was the problem, because somehow this had become frighteningly personal.
“She looks at me like she expects me to disappear,” he admitted quietly.
Jessica’s expression softened further. “And does that bother you?”
“Yes,” he admitted. The answer came instantly, with no hesitation.
Jessica nodded like she understood something important. “Then don’t disappear.” Before he could respond, another knock sounded at the door, and Dani stepped into the office holding a paper bag and immediately froze when she saw Jessica.
“Oh,” Dani said awkwardly. “I can come back.”
Jessica’s eyes flicked between them once before a knowing smile appeared on her face. “No need,” she said smoothly. “I was just leaving.” Jonnas narrowed his eyes immediately.
Jessica ignored him completely as she walked past Dani. “Good to see you. Take care of yourself, Dani.”
Dani blinked in surprise. “Um, okay.” The second the door shut behind Jessica, silence settled heavily between them, and then Jonnas noticed the bag in Dani’s hands.
“What’s that?” he asked, nodding to the bag.
Her cheeks turned pink instantly. “It’s nothing.”
“Dani,” he said, her name alone sounding like a warning.
She sighed dramatically before holding out the bag toward him. “You yelled at me for not eating.”
“I did,” he agreed.
“So—” She looked adorably embarrassed. “I brought you lunch, too.” Something inside his chest tightened painfully. Thewoman was carrying his child, dealing with morning sickness, hormonal exhaustion, and emotional whiplash—and she still thought to bring him food. That level of sweetness was genuinely dangerous.
Jonnas stood slowly and took the bag from her, peeking inside it. “You bought me soup.”
“You said I needed real food,” she muttered defensively. “Soup counts.”
His mouth twitched. “You know my order?”
“I heard you complain about cafeteria soup to Elias like three times,” she said. That honestly made him absurdly happy. Jonnas looked down into the bag before noticing a second container.
“What’s this?” he asked.
Her expression turned guilty immediately. “Crackers.”
“Dani,” he warned.
“And fries,” she grumbled.
“Baby girl,” he breathed. “Fries aren’t real food.”
“I’m pregnant!” she defended instantly. “The baby wanted fries.” Jonnas laughed before he could stop himself. A real laugh, and the way Dani stared at him afterward made his chest tighten all over again.
