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“Yeah,” he presses when I don’t continue.
“What happens when they start to feel things? I mean, do women freak out when they catch feelings for the male character?”
Caleb’s brow pinches. “Look, Dad, I don’t think_”
Ready to beg at this point, I do just that. “Tell me. Please.”
After a quick sigh, Caleb says, “I assume you’re looking for negative behaviors. Since you’re the one chasing, I’ll eliminate some on the list. What’s left are the worst. Women like yours might succumb to their anxiety and second-guess their feelings, dismissing the relationship. Worse still, a woman might be so afraid of being rejected that they avoid their potential partner or even sabotages the relationship.”
“A self-fulfilling prophecy,” I comment.
“Basically.”
“I left her,” I confess ruefully. “Chelsea lashed out because she was scared, and I left her. After I told her I wouldn’t, I walked away.”
“Dad. You can’t fix somebody.”
“Chelsea does not need to be fixed.” Caleb pales at how softly I’d spoken, but I’m not done yet. “Too many people in Chelsea’s life have told her that she’s broken. It’s time Chelsea learns she’s perfect the way she is.”
“Dad.” My son’s placating tone has me grinding my teeth. “You’ve been tied up in knots for weeks because of this woman. I don’t think you should_”
“I’m in love with her.”
“But, Dad_”
“Chelsea is mine. I just needed a kick in the ass to remind me. Thank you for your help and insight, but from here on out, I’ve got this.” He starts to speak again, but I stop him once more. “And when you meet her, she gets a clean slate. Got it?”
Caleb nods, and a smirk tilts his lips for the first time since the start of this conversation. “Got it.”
I hug Caleb as usual when we call it a night, and afterward, I shake his hand.
Sack time comes after doing a load of laundry. I go to bed feeling a lot better. Hopeful even. Yeah, I let my pride put me in a tailspin, and yes, I have some groveling to do with Chelsea. I can honestly say I’m looking forward to it. So much so that when I take my dick in hand, it’s to thoughts of what I’m going to do to Chelsea the next time I get my hands on her.
My Chelsea craving has me up and on base early the next morning. I don’t know why. It does me no good to be here before my platoon. I kill time cleaning my service weapon, ready to start as soon as my men arrive. The sooner we get going, the sooner it’s over, and I can find my woman.
I don’t want her to see me coming, so I’ve messaged Bash_several times_to get a rundown on where they’ll be today. He hasn’t answered a single text. I’m worried that means things are moving fast in their mission to bag Harding. Until I hear something, all I can do is focus on my job here and not getting my ass kicked. Today is close quarters combat tactics, and the commander surprises us by coming out to observe.
Halfway through the session, Commander O’Reilly takes the field, causing a curious pause in activity. Somehow, I know he’s headed straight for me. “I’ll take over here, Fischer,” he says, dismissing my current sparring partner.
“He’s all yours, Commander,” Ink drawls in his Aussie accent.
Walking to the nearest man, Ink puts Hawk, one of Fish’s snipers, in a headlock, which the smaller man quickly breaks out of. O’Reilly shakes his head and faces me, quickly settling into a fighting stance. I mirror him and wait for my boss to make the first move.
The leader of SEAL Team Two produces a rubber dagger and strikes for my middle. I dodge, grab his wrist, and spin, disarming him and delivering a strike of my own. I’m at an advantage, having fifteen years on the guy. Maybe I should take it easy.
When I send a strike of my own, Stone reminds me why he’s the base commander. I’m on my knees a second later with the rubber blade at my throat.
“Feeling any better, Pin?” O’Reilly lifts the blade to allow me to answer.
“I may have experienced a shift in conviction.”
I’m released from the hold, and O’Reilly stands. “Good because a meeting with the target is set for eight hours from now, and I think you should be there.”
That explains Bastien’s silence. “I think so, too.”
“Finish up here and head to Knot Corp. Birdie will catch you up, and Knot will get you to DC.”
“Who else is going with me?”