“I know it is.”
“You still owe me.”
Jenny gulped. “I—”
Griffin shoved her face. “And don’t you forget it.”
“Jenny, you decent?” It was Danny.
“Yes. Come in!” The zipper couldn’t make it around quick enough.
A sense of relief washed over her as she snatched the lantern and shot from the bed toward the front room. Griffin casually followed her, playing off any hostility.
“Damn zipper,” Danny cursed.
“Need some help?” Jenny begged, inching her way to the side opposite Griffin, making it so when Danny entered, he’d be in between the two of them, unknowingly protecting her.
Griffin mouthed to her, “Not a word.”
She creaked a timid up and down with her chin, cowering in the corner, keeping watch of him. Why can’t you leave me alone? The hate plastered across his face was unnerving. Everything about him was unnerving.
“Griff, what you doing here?”
Finally!
“Heard our little deer hunter wasn’t feeling well, so I figured I’d come and check on her. Make sure she’s alright.” His eyes never left her. “Isn’t that right?”
Jenny nodded.
“Seems like you’re feeling better.” Danny took hold of her shoulders and squared himself to her, giving her a once-over. “You’re gonna—” He paused as if he knew she was in distress. Jenny had never been good at hiding her emotion, especially from Danny. His gaze narrowed into hers. She felt that her eyes bled with the anger Griffin bore into them just moments ago. Couldn’t Danny see the redness along her jaw from where Griffin had nearly ripped it off? “Are you okay?” He took the lantern from her and hung it on its hook.
“Yes…” Jenny felt it sounded unconvincing enough to warrant a follow-up question, but none arrived.
“Good.” He offered a stern nod. “Now, I thought long and hard on it, and I know you’re gonna be pissed, but you’re gonna have to take a little break from training. Can’t have you running around fainting on us again. House mouse duty it is for a little while.”
“Nice,” Griffin said. “It’ll be good having Jenny around here on a more frequent basis. Things always run a little better with her around.”
Fuck you! She nearly broke down at the thought, but slammed her eyes shut, keeping her tears inside. “Can’t I—” But she stopped herself, knowing a complaint would only piss Danny off, knowing it wouldn’t change his mind, especially if she questioned his decision in front of Griffin. “Let me guess.” She stifled a sob. “I’ll be doing the daily checks?”
“Just a time out. It’s not the end of the world.”
But it felt like it was. You can’t do this to me. It’ll kill me to keep me bottled up in here with him. Without the outside world. I need that! I can’t be here alone.
“Nothing to say?” Danny gave her a moment. “What if I try and assign you with Grant? Would that be better? Maybe learn someth—”
“I think I’d rather she be on the daily checks,” Griffin interrupted. “Grant has Lars to help him out. He doesn’t need anyone else. If she’s working the dailies with the other folks, they’ll get done faster, and she’ll have more downtime to get her rest, right Jenny?”
She said nothing. Her lack of response caused Griffin’s jaw to bulge.
“It hasn’t been that long,” Danny said. “You remember what you’re doing, or do you need a walk-through refresher?”
“Actually, you know what”—Jenny shifted her attention back to Griffin—“it feels like it’s been awhile. Probably wouldn’t hurt to have a quick run-through.”
“Alright, after breakfast tomorrow, we’ll handle it.”
Griffin smirked. She noticed his clenched fists down at his side, the knuckles flaring—a quick temper rose inside of him. Scowling, he made his way toward the door. “Just make sure she’s ready to go by tomorrow afternoon. No mistakes!” His outburst seemed to shake the tent, but Jenny realized it was simply Griffin unzipping the door to leave. The thumping of his boots trailed off.
Once convinced he wasn’t coming back, Jenny exhaled—her breathing, her pulse, everything began to normalize. Danny watched her unwind in front of him. “I still don’t get why you like him so much.” Her words punched with hostility.
Danny cast a strange look across his face. “Old habits never die, I guess.”
“Who cares if he was your partner! You guys aren’t the police anymore!”
“You done yet? You look done. Might want to take it easy before you pass out again.”
“Low blow, Danny.” Ass. “You want to know the truth, even though it’s none of your business?”
He waited.
“I’m—”
“Pregnant.”
The word stunned her. To hear someone else say it made it much more real. She rested her hands lightly against her stomach and looked at him. He unhooked the lantern and gestured for her to follow him to the back. She followed him while her mind wandered. How does he know? Is it that obvious? Does Matt know? Danny seated himself on the lounger and patted the cushion next to him. Jenny took the spot, immediately bracing herself against his shoulder.
Silently, Danny stared at the floor.
“How’d you know?” Jenny begged. “How?”
“You don’t have four kids yourself and not know when a woman’s pregnant.” Wrapping his arm around her, he let out a quick laugh. “Oh, and there’s this.” He set the pregnancy test into her lap.
“How’d you—?” She manipulated it in her hand. “How’d you find it.”
“Went to piss in the backyard. Must’ve still been warm ‘cause the snow around it was gone.”
“You’re lying.”
“I know, I accidentally peed on it too.”
“Eww.” She dropped it.
“I’m kidding,” he laughed. “But seriously, with four kids, it wasn’t a secret. The test just confirmed it.”
“You never mentioned you had—”
“No one shares everything with everyone.” He licked his lips. “Right?”
“I was going to—”
“It’s your business, not mine. You don’t have to tell anyone, but eventually people are gonna know. You can only hide it for so long. Dressing for the winter weather will hide it for now, but once it’s spring and you get bigger, you’re not gonna want to wear all that shit.”
“I wanted to say something…” Tears began to well inside her eyes. “I’m scared.”
“We’re here for you.” He squeezed her tightly against him. “You know we got you.”
“We? Did you tell Matt?”
“Not my place to tell him.”
“Thanks.” She nuzzled deeper into the crook of his shoulder, crying. “I still don’t know how the hell to do this.”
“We’ll get both of you through it.”
“Matt’s gonna be—”
“Not talking about Matt. Talking about you and the baby.”
Jenny tried to smile but couldn’t. “I know…” She drew back from him, tying her hair up, trying to distract herself enough to suppress the flow of tears. “Don’t make me do checks.” A sniffle and she wiped her sleeve across her eyes and nose.
“We have to…”
“But what about my training? I’ve worked too hard.” Her crying deepened. “I can still do it. Don’t—”
“I can’t have you getting hurt, especially now that you’re…”
Jenny scowled—angry this had become an excuse, a reason to exclude her. She bit hard into her lip, trying her damnedest not to snap. A deep breath then she eased into her argument. “I’m not feeble. Yeah, I know I passed out today, but I’ve been overdoing it, not eating. I won’t do that again. If I’m with you, you can watch over me and make sure I take care of myself. Don’t leave me here.” The thought of Griffin and seeing him every day caused her breathing to elevate. “Don’t do that to me.”