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The others agreed, quickly changing the subject. Even though I could tell Cason and Bennett really didn't want to.
“Quinn and I are opening tomorrow,” Bennett said. “But I think someone should stay here with Hailey, so she's not here alone just in case Leo figures out where she is.”
“I'll be free,” Cason said. “I close, remember?”
“You okay with that, Hailey?”
“Of course,” I said, smiling at Cason. “Why wouldn't I be?”
“We don't have any frogs to dissect,” he teased, winking at me, “but I'm sure we'll find something to keep us busy.”
“Ah, biology class,” I laughed.
“You were the only girl not squirming,” he said. “I'll never forget that. You handled it way better than I did.”
We shared a smile, and I had to admit – of all the McCormick men, I always imagined that Cason and I would have been the best m
atch. Even now, I couldn't deny that I was attracted to the youngest McCormick, the one who geeked out with me in bio class all those years ago.
***
“Jenn, when did you realize you were – uhhh,” I closed the bathroom door behind me and made sure to whisper the last bit into the phone, “pregnant.”
“WHAT?!?” my best friend wailed. “No freaking way. Hailey, I'm on my way over there right now--”
“I'm not at home,” I said, feeling incredibly sheepish and insecure.
“Where are you?”
“The McCormick’s house,” I said, biting my lip as I sat down on the toilet.
“What in heaven's name are you doing there?” she asked. “Please tell me that one of those handsome studs is the father.”
“I'm not even sure I'm pregnant, Jenn. It was just a question,” I said. “And it's a long story, sis. I'm going to be staying here for a bit.”
“I'm already heading out to my car,” she said. I heard her talking to someone in the background – probably her mother – about watching the kids. “I'll be there in five minutes.”
She hung up and I stared at the phone for an eternity, totally not believing she had hung up on me. I wanted her input though, because I'd already Googled all the symptoms of pregnancy, and went down the checklist. I could mark almost all of them off.
But I knew there was a big difference between being a Google doctor and talking to somebody who'd actually experienced it firsthand. Which was why I'd called her in the first place – not to give her gossip fodder.
Still, the checklist of symptoms continued rattling around in my head. Morning sickness? Check. Of course, I was sick more than just the morning, so maybe it was a stomach flu. Late period? Check. A week late. I kept assuming it was just stress, but now? I wasn't so sure. Each day I checked, and each day I came back with nothing left to show.
A knock at the door pulled me from my mental checklist and sent a bolt of adrenaline through my veins.
I opened the bathroom door and called out, “Yes?” to Cason in the hallway.
“Would you like some breakfast? Made some biscuits and gravy,” he said.
My stomach turned. “Not right now, thanks,” I said. “I'm not feeling all that well right now.”
“If you need anything, Hailey, just let me know,” Cason said through the door.
I was wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt and panties, or else I'd have opened the door and talked to him. Still, I felt bad for at least not saying good morning. I opened the door just a sliver and peeked out, giving him a smile.
“Thank you, Cason. You and your brothers are so generous and amazing. I'm thankful to you guys.”
He smiled, a deep smile that went all the way to his honey brown eyes, and showed off the dimple in his cheek. He ran a hand through his short, brown hair and looked like he might blush. His chin had a hint of stubble, which I had to admit, looked incredibly sexy. I mentally scolded myself for having such a thought. After all, I'd slept with his brothers, and I was dealing with a possible pregnancy scare at the moment. The last thing I needed was to put one more McCormick notch in my belt.
