Page 8 of Unexpected Christmas with the SEAL

“You don’t have to do this, you know.”

“Do what?” He scrunched his brows, which also caused his slightly crooked nose to crinkle upward. She’d never been super-attracted to men with freckles, but Cal really pulled them off. Which was a good thing, because his face and hands were covered in them. She assumed his arms were, too.

“Take pity on me. Babysit me. I know you’re only doing it because Asher and Nate asked you to. Or because you feel bad that I’m alone. But you don’t have to. I’m completely capable andfinehere by myself. I haven’t let anyone starve, or burned the place down. Iaman adult. Just because I live in an apartment in the city doesn’t mean I’m not capable on a ranch in the country.”

“Never said any of those things.”

“You don’t have to. I can see it in your eyes. Just like I could see it in my uncles’ eyes. Nobody thinks I can do this. Just like nobody wants me around for Christmas. So why don’t you just take your pity and your weird nostalgic television show choices and leave?”

Then, before she cried in front of a complete stranger, she stomped off toward the farmhouse. Bruno had abandoned them after she’d mucked the third stall and was just snoozing on the front porch. But when he saw her, and her state of unravelling, he got to his feet and whimpered, then rose onto his hind legs and put his front paws on her lap.

“I’m fine,” she said to him with a sniff, opening the screen door to the house, then pushing open the wooden one.

She didn’t bother to look behind her before the door closed.

But as she was wiping her eyes with her thumbs, having put the eggs into the fridge, she heard the telltale rumble of Cal’s truck, followed by the crunch of gravel beneath the tires.

She knew he wouldn’t be any different from everyone else.

Nobody wanted to be with her.

It was why she couldn’t hang onto a boyfriend and why her parents and siblings had nothing to do with her. She wastoomuch.

She knew she could be a tough pill to swallow sometimes. She’d always been someone who spoke her mind, paid little attention to filtering herself, and dealt with problems head-on. She didn’t shy away from confrontation. But because she didn’t shy away from it, her family thought shelikedit.

That wasn’t the case at all.

She simply knew when it was necessary and how to handle herself.

Maybe she was a tad aggressive sometimes with her approach, but she’d always been a blunt person.

But a person who got shit done.

In her opinion, anybody wholikedconfrontation was weird and wrong and needed medical help.

There was a significant difference between knowing when confrontation was needed so you could use it to move forward, but still dislike it. Opposed to avoiding it all together so nothing was ever accomplished and everyone just remained silently seething and miserable.

That was how her parents had been. They hated each since as far back as Hannah could remember.

A big part of her thought it was because Hannah had been an oopsie third child and neither parent wanted her. She believed—and still did—that she was the reason for her parents’ unhappiness. For her family’s unhappiness. They only wanted two children, had a third, essentially ruining their lives.

Her parents’ constant bickering, back-biting and passive aggressive behavior made Hannah and her brothers’ lives just abysmal.

Instead of dealing with their issues and either going to counseling or getting a divorce, they remained miserable and non-confrontational.

It wasn’t until one day, Hannah, at age fourteen, stood up at the dinner table and told them to get a divorce because their misery was making everyone else miserable.

She was sent to her room for the night because of that outburst, but it was worth it for the discussion it elicited between her parents. Within a month of her speaking up, her parents filed for divorce and her father moved out. Both her parents were much happier now, even if Hannah wasn’t particularly fond of her step-parents.

Neither of her parents ever thanked her for speaking up. Her brothers, either. Though, both of her brothers ended up marrying strong-willed women who were a lot like Hannah. And her step-mother was also very opinionated and didn’t shy away from confrontation.

Funny how that happened.

Her phone in her back pocket warbled, and she reached for it, sniffling again and grabbing a piece of paper towel off the roll to dab at her eyes. It was a text message from Triss.How goes ranch life? Hopefully, it’s not too boring. Don’t forget that Macklin is a GREAT listener and secret keeper if you need to pour out your heart. Or you can always call me.

Hannah smiled at her friend’s message. She didn’t want to burden Triss with her problems. Triss’s life was full and busy. She was expecting a baby soon, was currently at her sister’s wedding, and navigating her own terrible parents.

So she just sent back a message that wouldn’t prompt an emergency phone call from Triss.All quiet on the Western Front. Hard to be bored when there is so much to do. Bruno is keeping me company and is also a skilled listener and secret keeper. How’s my cousin?

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