Page 22 of SEAL's Secret

“Where are you?” he asked as several horns honked in the background, suddenly sounding concerned.

“Just walking into my office for the last time. I’ve got a ton to do before I move, and there are a few items I need to close out before I can go.”

“But you answered my call,” he insisted.

“Well, yeah. I thought something was wrong. You never call me.”

She heard his whoosh of his breath. “Well, shit, Layton. I feel like a dick.”

“You should.”

“Ouch. I deserve that,” he admitted, his voice low and sincere. “I didn’t treat you the way I should’ve. Exchanging a few brief texts isn’t the same as having a conversation, discussing our situation, and I know that. I realize that now, so I called to apologize.”

“What time is it there in Hawaii?”

“Oh-six-hundred. The guys and I just finished an early run on the beach. I need to shower and head into base soon, but I wanted to call you to say I’m sorry.”

She crinkled her nose in confusion. “You finished your workout and then immediately called me?” She could almost picture him in sneakers and running shorts. Shirtless, because despite her annoyance at Hudson, the man was hot as sin. That was sort of what had gotten her into this predicament in the first place.

“Well, yeah. When I realized I’d reached out via text to ask if you were okay but never actually apologized, I felt like shit. I called you as soon as we finished up. Left the guys on the beach wondering where the hell I was going.”

“Hudson.”

“I’m trying to do the right thing here, princess. Emersyn told me you were moving to Hawaii next week. I should’ve been the one telling everyone that. I should’ve known when you were arriving, how you were doing. I should be helping you.”

“We’re not a couple,” she said softly. “I thought you weren’t interested in being a father.” Something twisted inside her, a stabbing pain that had nothing to do with her pregnancy and everything to do with her heart. Her own husband hadrelinquished parental rights for Caroline. Why would a guy she barely knew want to help raise his baby with her? Men left. Moved on to the next pretty woman that caught their eye.

Layton should’ve learned by now not to ever get her hopes up. Hudson had been the vacation fling she wanted. Of course, that little fling had an ending she never saw coming.

“I want to be involved, Layton,” he said, surprising her. “I know I didn’t handle this right, and I know nothing about little kids or babies, but I’m not going to abandon my child. I might’ve had a shit upbringing, but I’m not going to let my own kid be raised without a father in his life.”

She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, shocked to her very core. “You sure?” she challenged. “Because it sure the hell felt like that in Waikiki.”

There was a pregnant pause—pun intended, she thought with a smirk. She’d have to tell that one to Emersyn later. Her sister would appreciate it.

“I deserve that,” he said diplomatically. “I was a jerk to leave you there, especially since you were visibly upset. It was a dick move, and I own up to that. It won’t happen again. I want to be involved in our baby’s life, Layton. I want to be there for you, too. I won’t fight you about things like your ex-husband, but I don’t want to be shut out. I can support you.”

“I have a job,” she said, suddenly annoyed again. “I don’t need your support.”

“Well, I’ll help with the baby. I’m not exactly sure how that would work given my deployments, but I want to see him or her. I want to be a father.”

Now she was the one sighing, feeling sad all over again. Sure, Hudson might seem eager now, but what if he realized how hardcaring for a child was? Life was never the same after a baby was born. She already was a mother, but Hudson? He literally was a clueless male when it came to having children. And what if he met someone further down the line? Her own husband had deserted her. Found someone more exciting that he’d rather sleep with. It wouldn’t be long before Hudson got bored of playing unconventional family. Even if they raised this child together, they weren’t dating. He’d made her no promises about a future for them—about seeing what happened. His concern was simply for their baby.

“We’ll talk when I’m there, Hudson. I have to get going. I’ve got a few meetings lined up this afternoon.” Without waiting for an answer, she ended the call. Her heart felt like it was being shredded. It was impossible to deny him if he wanted to be involved in their child’s life, but could her heart handle it? Could she send her baby off with Hudson and whatever woman he ended up with? Even the thought of it killed her.

Steeling herself, she marched into her office. It was time to wrap things up in Virginia and then face her new life head on.

Chapter 13

“You don’t need to help her move,” Aaron told Hudson Friday morning as they strode into base. “She hired movers. Plus, her personal effects are being shipped over. They won’t even arrive for a couple of weeks. She’ll have suitcases with clothes and smaller stuff but no real furniture yet. I think Em bought her an air mattress to use.”

“An air mattress? But she’s pregnant!”

Aaron eyed him curiously. “Well, yeah. She has been for the past month. Or past two months. Whatever,” he added. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

Hudson swore, knowing his buddy was purposefully egging him on. “Look, I was mad that she was already six-weeks pregnant when she told me, but apparently Layton had just found out. I didn’t know exactly how the timing worked. I was shocked.”

“You might’ve been shocked, but she’s scared,” Aaron said in a low voice. “Even though her ex-husband turned out to be a prick, he was there with her the first time, according to Emersyn. Doctor appointments, all that stuff.”

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