Page 8 of Married to a SEAL

“I have tea at my place,” he said.

“You don’t exactly look like the tea drinking sort. I can’t imagine that’s how SEALs spend their free time. Sitting down with a cozy blanket and hot mug of Earl Grey?”

Patrick chuckled. “That’s for when my sister is over. And Earl Grey has caffeine. I have to buy that tasteless green stuff for her.”

“Makes sense,” Rebecca said with a grin. Sarah was a vegetarian who insisted on eating organic, free-range, nitrate-free, zero caffeine, healthy everything. It was funny that she and Patrick couldn’t be more opposite from one another.

Rebecca pulled her mug of hot water from the microwave and dunked her tea bag in.

“Here you go,” Patrick said, handing her a plate full of pancakes and bacon.

“It smells great,” she said appreciatively as she set the mug on the counter to wait for her tea to steep and picked up a slice of the crispy bacon. She took a bite, and as soon as the flavor burst across her tongue, her stomach roiled. “Oh God,” she said, “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Patrick’s eyes narrowed in concern as he grabbed the plate back from her and maneuvered her toward the trash can.

Rebecca bent over and promptly threw up, clutching her hair back with one hand.

“Mommy!” Abby shouted, clearly upset at seeing her mother ill.

“It’s all right,” Patrick said, his deep voice cool and collected. “Finish your breakfast, kids. I’m going to help Abby’s mom.”

Patrick held back her hair as she threw up once more and rested his hand on her back, rubbing in small circles as she wiped her mouth with a paper towel.

“I’m okay. That was just—weird,” she said shaking her head.

“Are you sure that you’re all right?”

“Fine. I think I just need to lie down a minute,” she said, walking back out of the kitchen. “I’ll be right back, kids!”

Walking into the bathroom, she rinsed her mouth with mouthwash and then returned to her bedroom. Sinking down onto the edge of the bed, she counted out the weeks on her fingers. She was due for her period any day now, so she wasn’t even really late yet. Not technically. And when she’d been pregnant with Abby, she hadn’t had any morning sickness until she was eight weeks along. It was way too soon for anything, and besides that, she wasn’t even pregnant. She couldn’t be. They always used protection and weren’t even trying for a baby at this point.

It had to be a virus or something. Food poisoning from dinner last night.

She looked up at Patrick as he appeared in the doorway.

“Want me to get you a glass of water?” he asked, eyeing her with concern.

“Sure—in a minute. I’m just….”

“What is it?”

She closed her eyes. Opened them again to see him watching her. “It’s probably nothing, but I might go to the drugstore. I mean, I’d feel better knowing for sure.”

Patrick cocked his head, his cool blue eyes assessing. She saw the exact moment it clicked. “It’s been a month since your last….”

“Yep. And like I said, it’s probably nothing. Just a stomach bug. I mean, I’m not technically even late yet. Plus, I’m on the pill.”

“And that’s gotta be, like, 99% effective.”

“Yeah,” she said, tears welling in her eyes.

“Hey,” he said quietly, crouching down in front of her. His broad shoulders took up her line of vision, and he took one of her hands between both of his. “Either way, it’s gonna be fine,” he said, searching her eyes with his cool blue gaze. “I mean, if it happened, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. We already have kids. What’s one more?”

She burst into tears.

“Sweetheart,” he said, his voice gruff. “I didn’t mean it like that.” He pushed a strand of hair back from her face and wiped her tears away with his thumbs. “We might not have been planning on this right now, but if it happened—if you’re pregnant—I’d love for us to have a baby together. For you to have my baby,” he said, his voice gruff.

“But we never really talked about having kids together—about having a baby. Things are going pretty great right now.”

---