Page 29 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
“You always say that,” Cole counters evenly. “Yet somehow, you always end up in the passenger seat.”
“Yeah, because I’m usually the one keeping everyone entertained,” Jax retorts, shooting a pointed look toward Eli and me in the backseat. “Right, Eli? You like it better when I’m the DJ, don’t you?”
Eli giggles, leaning forward. “Yeah! You play the good music, Jax. This is boring.”
Cole shakes his head, the faintest hint of amusement coloring his usually stoic expression. Jax twists in his seat, winking playfully at Eli.
“See? Told you, Cole. Democracy rules.”
Despite my exhaustion, I can’t help but smile faintly at their banter. My eyes drift shut, my body sagging against the door as fatigue washes over me again.
Eli’s small hand tugs insistently at my sleeve, startling me back to alert. “Mommy?”
“Yeah, baby?” My voice comes out rougher than I intend, throat scratchy with exhaustion. I clear my throat and blink away the sleep in my eyes.
“I gotta pee,” Eli whispers loudly, squirming uncomfortably in his booster seat. “And I’m hungry again.”
My heart sinks, anxiety tightening painfully in my chest. We’d stopped earlier at a gas station, but after filling the tank and grabbing snacks, the cash left in my wallet is dangerously low. Two hundred dollars—that’s all I have left for both of us. It’s nowhere near enough to get us safely wherever Morales intends for us to go. My stomach twists, panic swelling within me at the stark realization of our situation.
I swallow, forcing my voice steady. “Okay, sweetie. We’ll stop soon, alright?”
“Can we stop now?” Eli pleads, his blue eyes wide and desperate. “I really gotta go, Mommy.”
I glance anxiously toward the front of the SUV, catching Liam’s gaze briefly in the rearview mirror. “Is there somewhere we can stop nearby?”
Liam's answer is easy: “Yeah. There’s a small rest stop about three miles ahead. We can take a quick break there.”
I nod, relief mingling with my anxiety. Eli’s face breaks into a grateful smile, and he now easily settles, leaning his head back against the seat and staring impatiently out the window.
Jax twists around, expression curious as he watches me. His blue eyes narrow, clearly catching the faint tension radiating from my posture.
“You okay, Ava?”
“I’m fine,” I reply, forcing my voice casual despite the tight knot of panic in my stomach.
How fucking embarrassing is this? God, I knew I should’ve put more money from my last commission aside, but Rocket got hurt a few weeks ago, and Eli was devastated, so I had to take him to the vet.
Jax raises an eyebrow skeptically but thankfully doesn’t press further. He offers a small, reassuring smile instead before turning back around, resuming his easy banter with Cole.
I exhale shakily, discreetly pulling my wallet from my pocket and flipping it open. The remaining bills inside seem pathetically thin, the money barely enough to keep us afloat another day or two at best. My throat tightens painfully, dread curling darkly in my chest. I don’t know what we’re going to do. Morales had said nothing about additional funds, nothing about how we’re expected to survive this endless drive.
The SUV finally slows, pulling smoothly into a small rest stop nestled alongside the highway. Liam parks, scanning the area briefly before nodding once in satisfaction.
“Looks clear. Let’s make this quick.”
Eli’s already fumbling with his seatbelt, bouncing in his seat. “Hurry, Mommy!”
“Coming, baby,” I murmur, forcing myself to sound calm as I help him out of his booster seat and onto the pavement.
Jax is already out of the car, stretching his long limbs as he yawns widely. “God, I needed this break.”
Eli tugs insistently at my hand. “Can we get food too, Mommy? Like real food?”
I glance around and try to ignore the anxiety spiking again. There’s a small counter in the gas station's rest stop area right in front of us. I can't lie, the warm, inviting scent of greasy comfort food drifting enticingly on the breeze.
Eli gazes up at me pleadingly, eyes hopeful and hungry, completely unaware of my internal turmoil.
“Can we, Mommy? Please?” he begs, his small fingers tightening around mine.
