Chapter 303 Hope, Let's Have a Child
I suddenly had a lightbulb moment. "Hey, how's that wound of yours healing up? I've been hanging with Claire these past few days and totally spaced on checking in with you."
Feeling a bit sheepish, I thought about how Cecil got hurt 'cause of me, and I hadn't even swung by to see him.
"Ah, it's just a scratch, no biggie." Cecil, probably worried I'd beat myself up over it, brushed it off. "It should be good as new soon. Claire's the one we gotta worry about. How's she holding up?"
My face got a bit serious. "We've managed to slow down the poison for now, but who knows if we can keep it at bay until we whip up an antidote."
"Whip up an antidote?" Cecil looked kinda surprised. "Wasn't the antidote with Desmond? Jerry should be able to handle him, right?"
"Cecil, are you here to change your bandages or to check on Hope?" Elissa butted in with a playful grin. "By the way, Hope's one lucky gal. She's got a great fiancé like Jerry and two awesome friends like us. I'm kinda jealous!"
I caught the hint in her words. Cecil, being the sensitive guy he is, probably did too. I wanted to lighten the mood, but Elissa gently tugged my arm.
I knew she was looking out for both me and Cecil, so I kept my mouth shut.
Cecil chuckled and said, "Both. Doctor's orders to change the bandages, and checking on Hope is just what friends do."
I said, "Thanks, Cecil."
Just as I was about to remind him to take care of his injury, his phone rang. I quickly said with a smile, "Go ahead. We're heading to the office. When you get some free time, I'll treat you to a meal to thank you for saving my life."
Cecil smiled warmly. "Sounds good."
Once we were in the elevator, Elissa sighed. "If it weren't for Jerry, Cecil would make a great boyfriend."
I replied, a bit helpless, "Then why'd you make it awkward for him just now?"
"I'm doing it for his own good." Elissa sighed, looking a bit worried. "It's fine to have a crush, but if it gets too deep, it might hurt him and others."
Hearing this, I chuckled, "Cecil's not the stubborn type."
Whether it was when I told Cecil I had a boyfriend, or when he saw Jerry a few days ago, or just now when Elissa reminded him, he always seemed super chill.
Elissa raised an eyebrow. "That's the best outcome. At least we can still be friends."
"By the way, how's your stomach?" she asked with concern.
"It still hurts a bit." I glanced at the date. "If I'm not on my period in a few days, I'll head to the hospital."
With no one else in the elevator, Elissa suddenly asked, "Did you and Jerry use any protection?"
I was momentarily stunned, and then my mind went blank.
I had planned to buy birth control pills, but with Claire's urgent situation, I had completely forgotten about it.
Elissa, knowing me well, understood just by looking at my expression. "No protection?"
"I was too busy and forgot." Suddenly remembering this, along with my delayed period, I couldn't help but panic a bit.
The Harris family and the Hammer family were both a mess. Getting pregnant at this critical moment wouldn't be good for us or the baby.
But soon enough, I calmed down. "I'll grab a pregnancy test in a few days. No way it’s that coincidental."
I mean, getting pregnant from just one time? Nah, not likely.
At the office, after the meeting, it was almost evening. I had hitched a ride with Elissa and was planning to take a cab back to the hospital.
Elissa offered to drive me, but I shot her a sideways glance and teased, "I saw you texting Francis during the meeting. Don’t let me mess up your game."
Elissa laughed brightly, "Oh, so now you're spying on me?"
"Just a coincidence." I smiled awkwardly.
At the meeting table, she was sitting to my lower left, leaning on the table to text. I couldn't help but see it.
Just then, my phone rang. It was Jerry.
"Meeting over?" Jerry's lazy, casual voice came through the phone, making me smile. "Yeah, just wrapped up. I'm heading to the hospital to check on Claire, then I'll head home."
After several treatments from Declan, Claire's condition was temporarily stable. If I stayed at the hospital all the time, she'd get suspicious. She had already asked me several times if she had some incurable disease.
Jerry said, "Come down. I'm waiting for you in the garage."
"You came?"
His voice was cheerful. "Picking up my fiancée after work is my duty."
"I'm coming down now." My mood lightened, and I looked at Elissa, who waved me off. "Go on, go on. Look at you, all giddy 'cause Jerry's here."
I touched my nose. "I wish you luck with Francis!"
I grabbed my bag and headed out. The garage outside still held the late summer and early fall warmth. I immediately spotted Jerry, tall and lanky, leaning against the car.
He was casually toying with his phone, his eyes exuding a cool indifference. His rebellious, nonchalant vibe gave off an air of not caring about anything.
I approached quietly, intending to surprise him, but before I could say anything, he reached out and pulled me into his arms without even looking up, chuckling, "What, trying to scare me?"
I failed to scare him and instead got startled myself. "You didn't even glance. Weren't you worried about mistaking someone else?"
"Nope." Jerry's lips quirked up, his hand lightly caressing my waist. "You're one of a kind. I couldn't mix you up."
I retorted, "Isn't everyone one of a kind?"
He seemed amused, pinching my face and looking into my eyes. "To me, only you are one of a kind."
My face blushed, and I broke free from his arms to get into the passenger seat. I had to admit Jerry was very good at sweet-talking.
Jerry walked around the front of the car and got in. As he started the car, I suddenly thought of something and looked at him hesitantly.
"I might have done something foolish."
He raised an eyebrow, "What?"
I felt a bit embarrassed. "After that night, I forgot to take the pill."
He teased, "Which night?"
I glared at him. "Stop joking. Aren't you worried?"
"Worried about what?" Jerry grasped my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, his eyes holding a persuasive glint, "Hey, how about we have a baby, huh? A girl just as special as you."
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