Page 35 of SEAL's Doorstep Baby

I stop short when I see Allison’s face.

It’s been three months since the day Allison came back into my life. In that time, much of it has been a haze of grief, but not all of it. Some parts have been nice. At times, I’ve almost felt like I’ve gotten to know her—like maybe we’re friends now, too.

And there’s also the other stuff—the sex, the feelings—I’ve felt like that was something important, too.

But throughout all of that, and in the years we’ve known each other before then, I haven’t seen Allison make this face.

She’s gone so pale, her eyes wide and unfocused. Her lips are parted.

It’s—it’s almost worse than when she first came over, when the news of Emily was still fresh.

Fear shoots through me as anger finds its way to her face.

I quickly put Maddie in the playpen, thanking my lucky stars that the TV is on and she’s distracted, my earlier concerns forgotten. I cross the apartment in three quick steps, grabbing Allison by the shoulders. She jerks, but doesn’t shake from my grip.

“Allison?” I whisper.

Her eyes find mine. I have never seen them so furious. She shakes her head, just a little, twisting so her attention is fully on the phone.

“Listen to me, you rat,” she snaps, and my brows leap up to the top of my forehead. “Don’t you dare call her that ever again.”

Every part of me wants to grab the phone from Allison’s hands. It’s not just my desire to be in control or even my curiosity—it’s seeing that look on Allie’s face. I want to protect her. My hands tighten around her shoulders, but I know withouteven trying that if I say anything right now, she’ll turn that fury on me.

“No, no,” she interrupts whoever is on the line. “Yeah? Then we’ll see you in court.Asshole.”

Allison slams down the phone. It reverberates.

She turns to me, and all at once, that fury drains from her. She sags against me, and I hold her to my chest as best as I can. I run my hands down her back and hair, soothing her.

“What happened?” I whisper. “Please tell me.”

Allison sniffles. I feel a wave of rage rush through me, knowing that whoever was on the other end of that phone call made Allie cry.

“It was Jeff,” she whispers.

I freeze.

Allie pulls away, just enough to wipe her cheeks. She looks over at Maddie, her expression heartbroken. “I guess he called his parents.”

I feel lost. “Parents?”

Allison scoffs. “Assholes. You know, Jeff and Emily dated in college. They called her a harlot. A harlot!”

My jaw drops. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”

I push away from the wall, pacing the small kitchen.

Allison folds her arms across her chest. “Why should I have told you?”

My temper flares. “I asked about him—”

“Telling you every shitty thing he did to your dead sister didn’t seem particularly relevant!” She snaps, then her eyes widen and she covers her mouth with her hand. Tears well in her eyes.

Immediately, my anger bleeds out. I go to her quickly, reaching for her. “Hey, hey.”

“I’m sorry,” she cries.

I hold her. Allison clings to me.

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