Page 115 of Cowboy SEAL Homecoming

“Mom,” a little boy’s voice called. “The short lady just said the f-word.”

Becca closed her eyes and tried to bite back the groan of embarrassment. Until she opened her eyes and Alex was trying not to smile. Which was irritating. Not cute at all.

“I’m sorry. Poor word choice on my part,” Becca said to Colin, but he was grinning.

He grabbed a box clearly marked TOYS. “Mom says that sometimes too,” he offered, clearly pleased with himself. He hefted the box and walked out of the truck.

She sighed and looked back at Alex. He was staring at her, and it wasn’t that irritated, baffled staring she was getting used to. It was the staring that broke her heart and made her wish everything were different.

She didn’t want to fight anymore. It leaked right out of her. “Let’s grab that chair, huh?” she said, gesturing toward a recliner.

“Yeah.”

They moved together, accidentally brushing arms, and it was torture, this thing they were doing.

“I miss you, Bec,” he said quietly, under his breath, clearly regretting it the minute he said it.

“I miss you too,” she said, her heart aching in time with each beat. “But you made your choice, Alex.” Because what was the point if he didn’t get it? If he didn’t want to get it? Mom had said all along you can’t make a man do what he doesn’t want to. So here they were.

When his mouth firmed and his face went blank, she knew here was exactly where they’d stay. One of these days, she’d stop hoping for different.

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