Page 37 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
I glance around for him as well. Things between Liam and me have been…strange. Not unpleasant exactly, but there’s definitely a tension since the morning at the motel, when I woke him up far too intimately. Liam hasn’t said anything about it, but I can feel the careful distance he’s created. We barely exchange words unless it’s strictly necessary, and I haven’t sat in the front passenger seat with him again since. Honestly, I get it. He probably thinks I’m weird after practically dry-humping him awake. Still, knowing that makes it hard to feel completely comfortable around him.
“He stepped outside,” Jax tells Eli easily, his voice casual as he glances up from the TV. “Taking a call.”
Eli accepts the answer, and his attention shifts to the television. “What’re you doing?”
“Trying to get this ancient thing working,” Jax says, grinning as he sits up and pats the sofa cushion next to him. “Wanna help?”
“Yeah!” Eli exclaims eagerly, darting forward and climbing onto the sofa. He curls up beside Jax, eyes locked onto the remote as they begin whispering conspiratorially about buttons and antennas.
A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I watch them. He definitely deserves these normal interactions like these, even if it’s only temporary, I decide.
I turn away from the living room and head toward the kitchen, sliding onto the middle of the three wooden stools at the island. Cole is still standing with the refrigerator door open, silentlystaring into the interior. He frowns, clearly displeased by what he sees.
I lean my elbows on the countertop, curiosity pulling at me when I notice a few stray groceries. “When did you guys go grocery shopping?”
Cole glances back at me, shaking his head. “We didn’t. The closest town is forty-five minutes away. Morales left some stuff, but he barely left enough to sustain one person, let alone five of us, for any length of time past tonight.”
His voice trails off, something dark flickering behind his steady gaze. He shuts the refrigerator door a bit harder than necessary, frustration clear in his tight movements. He’s clearly upset by the lack of food Morales left us. I’m honestly surprised he had anything here for us.
“What’re you cooking for dinner tonight?” I ask, trying to break the brief, uncomfortable silence.
Cole’s lips quirk in a faint smirk, his voice gruff and dry. “Well, I don’t cook, so nothing—unless you count the frozen pizza I’m about to shove in the oven.”
The bark of laughter that escapes me catches me off guard, and I clamp a hand over my mouth to smother it. Thankfully, Cole had turned his back to set the oven temperature, sparing me embarrassment over my own reaction. It’s been years since anyone besides Eli managed to draw a genuine laugh from me, and the sound feels foreign, almost startling.
When Cole turns back with a pizza box in hand, already opening the cardboard pizza box, my expression is schooled into polite neutrality.
“Pizza sounds good,” I say, hoping he doesn’t notice the faint flush still warming my cheeks.
Cole slides the pizza onto a battered metal tray that he pulls from a lower cabinet, his gaze flicking toward mine. “It’s edible, at least.”
His forearm brushes mine as he sets it down, the accidental contact sending a ripple of awareness up my spine. I freeze, eyes flicking to his, but Cole doesn’t react—just keeps working with the same quiet, capable ease that somehow makes it worse. Or better. I’m not sure.
A brief silence settles comfortably between us before I speak again, curiosity tugging at me. “Is Liam talking to Morales?”
Cole nods once, reaching up to scratch at his jaw thoughtfully. “Yeah, Morales called back after Liam texted that we arrived safely.”
As if summoned, Liam walks in through the front door, shutting it behind himself. Liam’s gaze finds Eli and Jax, now both crouched behind the television, whispering fiercely about wires and ports. He pauses for a second, watching them closely with an expression that’s impossible to read, before finally turning his attention toward Cole and me.
For a brief moment, our eyes meet, a sharp, swift glance that sends something uncomfortable squirming in my chest., Liam breaks our gaze, moving to lean casually against the counter, his body angled toward Cole in a way that feels intentional—open enough to include me, yet distant enough that he doesn't have to look directly at me. I try not to let the awkwardness of that observation bother me, but it’s easier said than done.
“Morales said we’re good here for now,” Liam announces, his voice steady and measured. “He wants us to stay put until he reaches back out.”
Stay put. So, that means this place is going to be our new home for a while. I assume “we” means Eli and me. My thoughts jump ahead immediately, the familiar anxiety about my next move crowding into my mind.
“When do you guys plan on leaving?” I ask abruptly, forcing a casualness into my voice that I don’t entirely feel. “If it’s alright, I’d appreciate it if you could take me into town first. I need to get a few things.”
A familiar wave of discomfort washes through me as soon as the words are out. Even thinking about it makes my skin crawl, knowing I’ll have no choice but to accept Jax’s offer to use his card. It feels wrong, relying on someone else’s money, but I don’t have any other option. I mentally cringe at the thought, already planning how I’ll keep track of every dollar spent and pay him back eventually.
Liam’s brows pull together in confusion, the silence stretching between us just long enough to make me regret asking. He opens his mouth to respond, but Cole speaks first, his voice low but edged with something like irritation.
“You can’t possibly think we’d leave you and Eli here without making sure you’re set up, do you?”
Heat rises in my cheeks, embarrassment swirling in my stomach.
“Sorry,” I mutter, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “I was just trying to think ahead.”
Cole frowns deeply, eyes narrowing as though he’s genuinely annoyed at the thought that I’d even consider them leaving me stranded. Before I can react, Liam’s voice cuts in, tone serious and steady, pulling my attention back to him.
