Page 30 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
I force a weak smile, squeezing his hand. “Of course, sweetie. Let's see what they have.”
My chest tightens with dread as we walk into the gas station’s cramped food area. It’s nothing fancy, just a small fast-food counter with a brightly lit menu overhead. The sharp scent of frying oil mixes with stale coffee and the faint chemical odor of cleaning products. My gaze moves over the prices, silently calculating the cheapest options.
The guys are standing near the counter, debating orders. Liam looks as stoic as ever, eyes scanning the menu with his usual intensity. Cole stands silently beside him, arms folded, while Jax points enthusiastically at items, clearly debating whether to go big or enormous. Eli bounces impatiently beside them, rattling off the options he wants.
“Mommy, can I have nuggets and fries and maybe some ice cream?” Eli asks, turning his wide, pleading eyes back toward me.
“Sure, baby, whatever you want,” I reply, my heart sinking as I mentally deduct the cost of his meal from our dwindling cash. I'll just claim I’m not hungry, even though my stomach growls in fierce protest.
While they’re occupied with the menu, I step away, moving one aisle over, partly hidden by shelves stocked with candy bars and beef jerky. My hand shakes as I pull out my wallet, my throat tightening as I thumb through the remaining cash. Two hundred dollars. That’s it. My chest tightens further, panic curling dark and cold inside me. It won’t last, not with how far we still have to go.
I close my eyes, taking a shaky breath. It’s fine, I tell myself firmly. I can go without eating. Eli is all that matters. A few missed meals won’t kill me.
“Ava?”
I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound of Jax’s voice so close behind me. Whirling around, I clutch my wallet to my chest instinctively, trying to hide the panic still etched across my face.
Jax freezes when he sees my expression. His teasing drops away instantly, replaced by something quieter—concern, maybe even protectiveness. He frowns immediately, his eyes narrowing with concern. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I respond, my voice betraying me by shaking just a bit too much. I force a weak smile that I’m sure looks as pathetic as it feels. “I’m fine.”
Jax studies me, his gaze gentle but insistent. “You’re a terrible liar, Ava. Come on, talk to me.”
My heart squeezes painfully, embarrassment flooding my cheeks with heat. I swallow hard, looking away, unable to meet his eyes.
“It’s nothing, Jax, really. Just tired.” I duck my head down to avoid his gaze, my curls falling in front of my face.
He steps closer, his presence somehow both comforting and intimidating. He reaches his hand up and slowly tucks a curl behind my ear. His voice softens further, persistent but gentle.
“Ava, I know tired. This isn’t just exhaustion. What’s going on?”
My throat aches with the effort to keep back the truth, but something in Jax’s steady, concerned gaze breaks through my defenses.
“It’s money,” I finally admit, my voice barely above a whisper. A single traitorous tear slips down my cheek before I swipe it away, embarrassment choking me. “Witness Protection isn’t involved, so we are depending on what I had, and I was supposed to get a new commission this week, but we had to run before that. So now, we’re running low, Jax. Really low. I’m trying to budget until we get to wherever Morales wants us, so I can get a job and do what I need to do for my kid.”
Jax exhales, understanding softening his expression. “The fact that you believe that we would ever let you guys suffer while you’re under our protection is crazy. The only reason you’ve been paying for stuff as it is was because you kept beating all of us to the register. You weren’t going to pay for this anyway.”
I shake my head firmly, clutching my wallet tighter. “I won’t just take your money, Jax. You’re already doing so much, and I don’t want to be a greater boundary.”
He chuckles, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his wallet. Without hesitation, he produces a sleek black Amex card, holding it out to me casually.
“Ava, trust me, you’re not a burden and you’re not going to put a dent in our finances,” he says, eyes twinkling warmly. “If you don’t use this, it’s just going to sit there.”
My eyes widen in shock, staring at the card as if he’s holding out a live grenade. “Jax, no. I can’t?—”
He sighs dramatically, grabbing my hand but insistently. “Come on. You’re taking this card and ordering yourself a decent meal.” His fingers brush mine as he presses the card into my hand, firm but gentle. The warmth of his touch lingers, startling me more than I care to admit. No one’s looked out for me like this in a long time—not without strings, not without control. I’m not sure what to do with it.
Before I can protest further, he’s pulling me back toward the counter where Liam, Cole, and Eli wait patiently. Eli’s already bouncing, his order apparently placed. Cole stands to the side, arms folded, clearly finished. Liam raises an eyebrow as Jax pushes me forward, confusion flickering briefly across his usually controlled expression.
“Order,” Jax instructs firmly, nudging me toward the cashier. My cheeks burn fiercely with embarrassment, my heart hammering anxiously in my chest. Under Jax’s persistent stare, I reluctantly order a simple chicken sandwich, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Just the sandwich, please,” I mumble, avoiding everyone’s gaze.
“Nope,” Jax interrupts decisively, leaning around me toward the cashier. “She’ll take the meal—make it large.”
My face flames hotter, embarrassment battling fiercely with gratitude. Jax hands over the black Amex without hesitation, flashing the cashier an easy grin. Eli squeals happily, dancing impatiently in place as Cole and Liam lead him toward the soda fountain with cups that the cashier passes over. I glance up hesitantly, meeting Jax’s warm, reassuring gaze.
“Thank you,” I whisper, the words thick with emotion.
