“I’m not just a big guy, Zach. I’m an ex-SEAL. I can take care of myself. And I can take care of you.”
“You’re what?”
“A SEAL,” I repeated.
Zach’s eyes creased and he flapped his hands to his sides.
“Like a baby seal?” he asked, and the joke was so unexpected, as was his reaction, that I burst into laughter before I could stop myself.
Zach stared at me, his smile turning soft and slightly amused for the first time today.
“No. Not a seal like a baby seal. A Navy SEAL,” I managed to stammer in between chuckles that made my belly ache.
His eyes went wide, and his mouth turned into a perfect o-shape.
“Oh,” he squealed.
“I assumed you knew.”
“How would I?” he said, frowning.
“Well, you’re neighbors with Teddy.”
“Teddy was a SEAL?”
I laughed again.
“You didn’t know? What the hell did you think he was, given the way he went in to save Wesley last week?”
Zach grimaced.
“I’m still not a hundred percent sure what happened with Wesley, but I assumed he was in the military or something. I didn’t know either of you were Navy SEALs.”
“Well, now you do. So you know I can handle a pest like your ex. Will you let me?”
Zach blinked and after a moment he shook his head.
“It’s fine. I don’t want to implicate you?—”
“But I want to be implicated,” I said, making him glare at me again. “I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”
“Oh,” he said.
“So?” I asked.
“I…uhm…I don’t know.” I raised an eyebrow. “Okay, I guess,” he said. “What do I need to do?”
I smiled and without thinking, reached for him and gave his knee a reassuring squeeze.
“For starters, you need to go pack.”
“Pa—I thought you wanted me to stay.”
“I do,” I chuckled. “But you’re not staying here. It’s not safe, even with Teddy next door.”
“Then where am I going to stay? I have nowhere to go?—”
“You’re coming with me,” I said.
