Page 54 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
It’s torture, knowing she’s so close yet forcing myself to keep my distance. Ever since Jax and Cole openly admitted their intentions, my resistance has grown stronger. It’s not that I don’t want her. God, I do. More than I want to admit, more than Iever anticipated. But the idea of staying here, of relinquishing control, terrifies me.
“You gonna play or just stare at your cards all night?” Jax asks, breaking into my thoughts.
I glance up, irritation flashing through me as I make a play without really paying attention to what I'm doing. My mind is not in this game at all, but I can’t let on how badly I’m fucked up over this. But how could I not be when one woman is shaking the core defenses I’d erected over four decades of life?
My defenses have been unshakable, impenetrable, except when it comes to Cole and Jax. They’re my family. They’re my brothers in every sense except blood. More than all of that, they're the only people I’ve ever willingly allowed into my heart. But recently, things have shifted in ways I never expected, and I feel the careful control I've always maintained slipping through my fingers.
Eli was the first to break through. That little boy slipped right past all my erected walls without even trying. His charm is disarming, and his laughter is contagious. I tried to keep my distance, but Eli made it impossible. He’s so innocent, so open with his affection, that pushing him away would’ve felt like kicking a puppy.
Ava, however, is something else entirely. She’s unpredictable, and that makes her capable of destroying the careful balance I’ve worked fucking years to create. Letting her in would mean risking everything I’ve built with Cole and Jax. She’s the dangerous element, the spark that could ignite and reduce everything to ashes. I’m watching Cole and Jax willingly dive headfirst into the flames. The bastards are willfully oblivious or maybe just uncaring of the destruction this might cause.
You’re all equal to me.
God, what a sweet destruction it could be.
Jax shuffles the cards again, tossing another playful smirk in my direction.
“You’re distracted tonight, Liam,” he observes easily, arching a brow. “Thinking about a certain someone, maybe?”
I scowl, irritation flickering. “Just play your damn cards, Jax.”
Jax grins wider, unfazed by my mood, dealing out the next hand. Cole silently watches the exchange, his expression neutral, but I know he’s observing everything with that sharp awareness of his. It’s what makes him so effective and reliable.
Silence falls over the table briefly as cards are played, each of us lost momentarily in our own thoughts. I glance at my hand, barely seeing the numbers and suits, my mind tangled hopelessly in thoughts of Ava. I shouldn’t care about her, shouldn’t feel anything at all, considering how I’ve deliberately avoided her presence these past weeks. Eventually, there’s a lull in our quiet conversation. Cole clears his throat, breaking the silence.
“I kissed Ava,” he admits, his voice steady and unapologetic.
All three of us freeze, the cards forgotten momentarily. Jax’s eyes widen, clearly surprised despite his earlier teasing. “When?” Jax finally asks, curiosity evident in his tone.
Cole shrugs, holding Jax’s gaze. “A week after you kissed her,” he replies bluntly. “About a week ago.”
I sit rigidly, already knowing. But still, this is another complication. Another step closer to disaster. Jax leans back in his chair, a slow grin spreading across his face.
“Welcome to the club,” he says, amusement flickering in his eyes. “I’m guessing she’s giving you the same treatment she’s giving me—avoiding eye contact, pretending nothing happened?”
Cole nods, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Pretty much. But you were right, Jax. She’s definitely interested. In both of us.”
Jax chuckles, eyes sliding to me knowingly. “You know, Liam, she’s probably interested in you, too. You haven’t exactly made yourself approachable lately, though.”
I grit my teeth, irritation flaring. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve barely spoken two words to her in weeks. I’ve been an asshole. There’s no chance.”
Cole shakes his head, looking directly at me. “You’re wrong, Liam. Ava’s drawn to you as much as she is to us. Even if you’re doing your damnedest to push her away.”
I glare fiercely at both of them, frustration tightening my chest painfully. “You two are playing with fire. What are you going to do? Share her? It’s insane. It’s dangerous. Eventually, Ava will have to choose, and when she does, it’ll tear us apart. You can’t pretend otherwise.”
Silence settles again, heavier this time. Jax and Cole exchange glances, clearly disagreeing, but neither chooses to argue further. Instead, Jax simply shrugs, his voice calm. “Maybe it’s reckless. Maybe it’s dangerous. But maybe it’s worth it.”
Cole nods, voice gentle yet unwavering. “We’ve always been a team, Liam. Maybe we can figure this out together.”
I exhale, running a hand roughly over my face, the frustration and anxiety within me nearly overwhelming. They’ve already made up their minds, and I can’t see any way to stop this trajectory. How can I protect the family I’ve built with Cole and Jax if they’re willingly walking into a situation that could ruin everything?
The realization hits me hard that I’m already in just as deep as they are. Denial won’t change that truth. I’m just too damn stubborn and afraid to admit it out loud. Jax shifts, breaking the tense silence.
“Your move, Liam,” he says, gesturing toward my cards.
Yeah, it certainly is. So why do I feel like I don’t know the right move to make?
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