Chapter 13
“You don’t need to help her move,” Aaron told Hudson Friday morning as they strode into base. “She hired movers. Plus, her personal effects are being shipped over. They won’t even arrive for a couple of weeks. She’ll have suitcases with clothes and smaller stuff but no real furniture yet. I think Em bought her an air mattress to use.”
“An air mattress? But she’s pregnant!”
Aaron eyed him curiously. “Well, yeah. She has been for the past month. Or past two months. Whatever,” he added. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
Hudson swore, knowing his buddy was purposefully egging him on. “Look, I was mad that she was already six-weeks pregnant when she told me, but apparently Layton had just found out. I didn’t know exactly how the timing worked. I was shocked.”
“You might’ve been shocked, but she’s scared,” Aaron said in a low voice. “Even though her ex-husband turned out to be a prick, he was there with her the first time, according to Emersyn. Doctor appointments, all that stuff.”
Hudson shook his head, muddling through his conflicting thoughts. She might not be far along yet, but Aaron was right. She was only going to get more and more pregnant as time went on. That was the wrong terminology, no doubt, but hell. Things would progress. He swallowed. Pregnancy always seemed like such a mystery to him. It was something he’d never planned to contend with. He’d never wanted children of his own. And now? It had smacked him right in the face.
“I texted to check up on her,” Hudson said, feeling defensive. “It’s not like I totally ghosted Layton. I live in Oahu, man. She’s a ten-hour plane ride away. Even if I’d gotten my head out of my ass sooner, I couldn’t have physically been there.”
Aaron lifted a shoulder. “Either way, you knocked her up and basically disappeared. You’re my teammate, so of course I’m on your side, but Layton is Em’s sister. I’d be pissed if a guy treated my own sister that way, so I get where Em is coming from.”
“Great. So both women are mad at me.”
“Disappointed, I guess,” Aaron said.
“What’s up, fellas?” Sawyer asked with a grin as he walked up behind them. He was wearing sunglasses, but his shit-eating smile told Hudson he was up to something.
“Just headed into base,” Hudson muttered. “Same as you.”
“Lovely morning, isn’t it?” Sawyer asked, slipping his sunglasses off.
“Spill it,” Hudson said.
Sawyer chuckled. “I just like knowing when I’m right.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Hudson asked, swinging his gaze toward him.
“You. Manning up. Being a baby daddy. Our boy’s all grown up now,” Sawyer quipped.
“Jesus,” Hudson muttered. “Of course, I wasn’t going to abandon my kid. I just had to get my head on straight. Get over my shock.”
“Atta boy,” Sawyer said, before calling out to Austin and hurrying off down the hall to walk with him.
“What was that about?” Aaron asked as they strode into the locker room, slinging his bag to the ground.
“Dunno. Maybe someone hit him over the head. Probably a chick who was pissed at him,” Hudson said with a chuckle.
Aaron snorted. “Sounds about right. But listen, I was going to say that Em is thrilled her sister is moving here. Despite my charming presence and the fact that she loves her new job, I think she was a touch homesick. It’s different leaving all your friends and family behind.”
“Wouldn’t know anything about that,” Hudson ground out.
Aaron eyed him, shaking his head. “Maybe not, but Layton does. Ever wonder why she’s leaving her entire life behind?”
“She’s trying to forget about her loser of an ex. She’d mentioned a career in real estate here on the island but said she couldn’t leave her life back home.”
“Well, he abandoned his kid. Maybe Layton won’t admit it out loud, but I’m guessing she wants you involved in the baby’s life.”
“And I will be. I’ve got no idea how exactly that would work since we’re not together. We’re not a couple,” he pointed out. “And she’s still not thrilled with how I handled things.”
“Do you want to date her?” Aaron asked, curious.
“I don’t want her dating anyone else,” Hudson admitted.
Aaron smirked, his smile all too knowing. “It’ll work out. Maybe I’ll have Em put in a good word for you,” he joked.
“Yeah, yeah. I figure I’ll have to do some groveling on my own.” Hudson frowned, knowing just how much there was to contend with. Would Layton want to date other men? They hadn’t discussed their situation at all. Maybe she just wanted to be friendly co-parents with him. The idea of another man in her life made him feel slightly nauseous, but he didn’t want the traditional family with a wife and two kids, did he? Hudson had always been better off alone.
Nothing made sense anymore, and he didn’t like feeling so uncertain.
The locker room door slammed against the wall as Wyatt rushed in, his face tense and fists clenched. “The CO just called an urgent briefing. We’re meeting in ten in the bullpen. There’s a large, hijacked cruise ship off the coast of California. The hijackers are threatening to blow up the ship, killing everyone on board. We’re moving in with the Alpha SEALs Coronado Team ASAP.”
Hudson slammed his locker shut, suddenly all business. “God damn. Let’s roll.”
***
Hudson zipped up his duffle bag, moving quickly around his rental home to make sure everything was secure. Time was of the essence. The team was readying to go wheels up in a matter of hours, and he had a million things on his mind. He swiped a hand over his face, feeling unusually rattled. Hudson left without fanfare every single time they deployed. He’d left on ops since he’d met Layton as well. Hell, he dropped her off at Emersyn’s that night with Layton’s panties still in his fucking pocket, then jumped on a C-17 in the early morning hours.
Everything felt different now. More important. Every decision significant. Things he’d never even considered before rolled through his mind. He tried to shrug it off, but damn. His life had changed in a heartbeat. He’d have a kid to support. Layton might be pregnant with their baby now, but soon it would be an entirely new person. And while Hudson intended to be there, not pull a disappearing act like his own so-called parents, the reality was, he had a dangerous career.
His child would be his dependent. And Layton? He half wondered if he should propose to her. People got married for lesser reasons, but then at least things would be settled as far as his kid went.
But the baby wasn’t the only child involved, either. Layton had a daughter. If he did propose, which was a crazy thought, would he become a stepfather as well?
Rattled, Hudson moved into his bedroom. His gaze swept the room, making sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. He pocketed his keys and grabbed his cell. His eyes landed on the big, king-sized bed he’d teased Layton about. He’d never even brought her back to his home, he thought with regret. She deserved everything, and he’d been practically in denial for the past month.
Who knew life would get so damn complicated just from a failed condom?
Grabbing his phone, he texted Aaron.
Hudson: Hey. What day is Layton flying in?
Aaron: Supposed to be next Tuesday. Em is picking them up from the airport.
Hudson frowned. The least he could do was to meet her at the airport, but in all likelihood, he wouldn’t be here. His first priority would always be the Navy, his duty to God and country. And didn’t that just suck at this precise moment. It had suited him fine until now, but Hudson had other people to be concerned about.
And yes, he absolutely cared about Layton. He’d felt protective toward her months ago, and now that he’d gotten his head on straight, he felt an almost primal need to keep her safe. To take care of her.
To make her his.
Hudson clenched his fist. She had to forgive him before he could attempt anything else. He had to earn her trust. And he’d be gone when she arrived. He thumbed back a response to his buddy.
Hudson: It should’ve been me picking her up.
Aaron: Maybe. Maybe not. The reality is, we can’t always be there.
Hudson: Maybe I wanted to be there.
Aaron: Look, Layton thinks you’re going to bail out on her again.
Aaron: Find another way to show her you care about her.
Aaron: Gotta go, buddy. I need to say a proper goodbye to Em.
Hudson muttered under his breath. Fucking hell. He wanted to kiss the hell out of Layton right now. Promise her he’d take care of them. He needed to get Layton’s address. Maybe arrange to have groceries delivered. It wasn’t much, but shit. He wanted to make her life easier, not harder. He’d already let too much time pass as it was.
A new thought dawned on him. Had Layton found out if it was a boy or a girl yet? He assumed she’d have told him, and it seemed too early for the doctors to know that, but wow. He was relieved as hell that she was coming to Hawaii, because otherwise, he would literally miss out on everything.
Texting Emersyn, he got Layton’s new address. It was a risk to order groceries in advance in case she was delayed for some reason, but what could he do? Hudson might not be back when she arrived, and he wanted her to have some necessities. It’s not like he could order food in the middle of an op.
Her shipping containers of household goods wouldn’t arrive when she did, and it seemed that her plans were to move into her rental right away. A new thought popping into his mind, he decided to order her a single-cup coffee maker, too. It was a silly little thing, but he remembered how relieved she’d been when he’d opened the box of kitchen stuff at Emersyn’s and she’d declared she could die happy knowing she’d have her coffee first thing the next day.
Glancing at the time and knowing he had to hustle, he flipped open his laptop and set up the grocery order. Basics. Coffee. Tea. Soup. Some plain foods like saltines, because Layton had mentioned feeling nauseous. Hesitating, he decided to send her flowers, too. Layton deserved something to make her happy, and he wanted to be the man to put that smile on her face. Wouldn’t she be shocked when she pulled up and found an entire delivery waiting on her doorstep. Selecting the day and time, he clicked the final button.
Hudson needed to roll out. Nearly stumbling on his rush out the door, he realized he hadn’t even told her he was leaving. Shaking his head, he shot off a text. It wasn’t the best he could do, but he was literally out of time.
Hudson: I’m sure you’ll hear this through Emersyn, but the guys and I are headed out. Talk when I’m back. Have a safe trip, princess.
He smirked as he pocketed his phone. She’d probably be annoyed at his calling her that, but damn. She was a fucking princess. Layton was pretty. Sweet. Unattainable. Except he was going to find a way back into her good graces if it took the rest of his life.