Page 52 of Secret Twins for My Ex's SEAL Best Friend

It was from the self-defense class I’d been attending—a reminder about the meal they were hosting this afternoon. Normally, I’d ignore something like this, but today, the idea of staying in the house all day felt unbearable.

“I think I’ll head out for a bit,” I said, grabbing my jacket.

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “Where are you going?”

“There’s a Thanksgiving thing for the self-defense class I’ve been going to.”

“You’re ditching me?” he asked, feigning betrayal.

I rolled my eyes. “You’ll survive. I won’t be gone long.”

“Maybe I’ll call Jeremy. Did you know your ex has been texting me asking to hang out?”

I knew he was planning on it, but it still annoyed me that he’d actually done it. I know he came to my house acting like we were buddies and everything was okay, but it made my skin crawl to think of him infiltrating his way back into my life through Tyler.

Even as I had those thoughts, the familiar guilt gnawed at me that I didn’t have a right to be angry with Jeremy, not after what I’d done with Robert and what had happened because of what we’d done. Even if the memory made my knees weak. Especially remembering that it had happened in a kitchen…

I sighed. “I knew he was thinking of texting you. Are you going to hang out with him?”

“Yeah, I think I will. It’s been a while since I saw him. Is that okay with you?” Tyler asked casually.

“Fine with me,” I replied back, heading toward the door.

Tyler called after me, “Hey, if you see a pie, bring some back!”

The walk to the library, which really doubled as a community center with all the resources it had, was colder than I’d anticipated. I probably should have driven like usual. By the time I stepped inside, the warmth of the hall felt like a relief.

The room was alive with activity—volunteers darting between tables, children decorating cookies, and groups of women chatting over steaming cups of cider. It was bustling, yet cozy in a way I hadn’t expected.

I scanned the room, and my breath caught when I saw him.

Robert.

He was standing by the dessert table, arranging pies on a tray like it was the most important task in the world. His broad shoulders and calm demeanor made him impossible to miss. Beside him, a young girl was carefully placing cookies on a platter, her red braid swishing as she moved.

I hesitated, torn between slipping out unnoticed and walking over. I had just decided to turn around and walk out when Robert caught my eye and started walking over, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. “Delia.”

“What are you doing here?” I blurted, my eyes flicking over to the pies and planning my escape with a slice of one.

“I’m here every year,” he said, his voice calm. “I started sponsoring these events about ten years ago.”

My eyes widened. “Wait, you’re the sponsor?”

He nodded, his gaze steady. “I told you what happened to Quinn. Holidays can be tough for women with dangerous home lives. It’s important to me that they have a place to come.”

Before I could respond, the redheaded girl ran over to him and tugged on his sleeve. “Daddy, can I have a cookie now?”

Robert’s expression softened as he turned to her. “Go ahead, baby girl.” I suddenly felt like I was intruding, being so close to his daughter.

I looked at her closely before she turned and walked away. She was beautiful, and her eyes were bright. She looked like she adored him, and he looked like he adored her right back. I wondered if he’d adore our child like that. Our child that he didn’t know existed.

Robert turned back to me. “Are you staying for dinner?”

I stared at him, all the unsaid things between us. “My brother’s waiting for me back at the house. And so’s my uncooked turkey.”

He nodded, his eyes lingering on mine for a moment. “Well, you came here, so you must have been expecting to stay a little bit.”

“I guess so,” I shrugged. “Was that your daughter?”

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