SEAL's Pregnant One-Night Stand (Bronte Security Services)

“He’s a dealer. I’m right, aren’t I?” Ian remembered what the kid had said at the party—that Gavin had been with “S-Man” going from party to party. And the only reason to party hop like that was to make deliveries. Couldn’t have been booze—the messenger bags were the wrong shape for that. No, it had to be drugs. “Did he supply the drugs people were smoking at that party? Do you know anything about your ‘friend’ or any of the people that were there?” It was his worst nightmare, the scenario he’d sketched for Sofia, that Gavin would have a seizure in a place like that and that he’d just be left there on the floor, untreated, until he died like that other boy.

“What? Are you seriously interrogating me?” Gavin crossed his arms. “Gonna give me the third degree?”

“After what you pulled, you deserve it,” Ian roared, then softened his tone. “It’s because I care about you.”

“Really? Because I don’t think you do. I think you just feel obligated to care for me,” Gavin snapped.

“I…” Ian didn’t trust himself to speak. “Think we’d better continue this in the morning.”

“Fine!” Gavin stomped up the stairs, and a moment later, his bedroom door slammed.

Ian sank down onto the bottom stair, Gavin’s assertation twisting like a knife in his gut. His son had to know he cared about him, loved him, didn’t he? Just like Sofia does? asked a little voice inside him. Sofia, who he’d pushed away…just like he was pushing Gavin away. Two people who doubted that he truly cared for them.

Why?he raged at himself. Why am I so bad at expressing my feelings?

Because…I’m afraid of being vulnerable, he answered, dragging the answer, the truth, from the depths of his soul. Even if it means I’m alone, instead. His thoughts on Sofia, Ian dug out his phone and called Eric. It was late, but tough.

“Hey,” he said, when Eric answered. “Sofia make it to her mother’s okay?”

“Duh,” Eric replied. “And can you tell me now why I’m on babysitting duty?”

Ian exhaled and told Eric everything. About the breakup, and about the fight with Gavin.

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, then, “Idiot!” Eric exclaimed. “I don’t get it—it’s easy for you to talk to me or Charlie, but not your own son or the woman who’s going to have your kid? Jeez, man, pull your head out of your ass and apologize to both of them.”

“Like it’s that easy,” Ian scorned. “Aside from ‘I’m sorry,’ what the hell would I even say? Every time I try to talk, I just make it worse.”

“Are you sorry?” Eric asked.

“Yes! But beyond that, I’m not sure what I’m feeling, so I’m not sure how to express it in a way that won’t make them even angrier.”

“I’m sure you’re an idiot,” Eric told him.

“Yeah, thanks. Hey, promise you’ll keep Sofia absolutely safe. That’s your number-one priority.”

“I promise. I’ll keep an eye on her every single second.”

Eric was being totally sarcastic, but Ian thanked him. “Oh, and you’ll taking her to and from work during the week, like I was doing.”

Eric cursed a blue streak and hung up.

That was the only remotely amusing thing about the whole clusterfuck of an evening, Ian thought, as he trudged wearily upstairs to bed.