It took him and Derek both a few seconds to catch what the other man was trying to tell them. Coop’s brows shot up. “Brynnon’s pregnant?”
In rare form, the former SEAL grinned from ear to ear. “Due in about seven months.”
Holy shit.Grant Fucking Hill was going to be a father. Even the guy they’d all called an emotionless robot had managed to figure his shit out.
Why the hell can’t I?
“Congratulations, man.” Coop held out his hand. “That’s great news.”
“Thanks. Appreciate it.”
While Derek wrapped the big guy in a giant bear hug purposely meant to make Grant squirm, Coop’s thoughts turned back to Mac.
They’d spent nearly every waking hour together this past week. Talking, laughing, making love in all sorts of creative ways while sneaking around behind his parents’ backs.
It had been damn near perfect.
Even so, the longer he stood there, the more he started to wonder if any of it had been real. Not that he thought Mac was faking her laughter—or anything else, for that matter. But maybe they’d both simply gotten caught up in the easy-going life on the farm.
Away from the stresses that came with their job. The dangers that had been following them for the past few weeks. Maybe they’d allowed themselves to forget what their reality really was.
Maybe Mac was right.
This wasn’t going to work. Not with each other, anyway. Question was what did that mean for their future?
He sure as shit couldn’t go back to being just friends, which meant their partnership would suffer a fatal blow, as well. The thought tore him to shreds, but Coop knew the only way he was ever going to get over her would be if one of them left the team.
Losing both Mac and the team would be crushing. But he also couldn’t work beside her every fucking day knowing, eventually, she’d be falling asleep in someone else’s arms.
“It’s almost time to start pushing!”
Lexi’s excited voice made its way to them as she half-walked, half-jogged back to them. Mac followed behind the other woman, her movements much slower. Her eyes looking everywhere but at his.
Things between them were so awkward, now. And it was all his fucking fault.
Lexi took a moment to catch her breath when she reached them. “The doctor said it’s going much faster than normal for a first child, but that everything looks good. Olivia’s a total champ and Jake’s coaching her like she’s one of the team. They think the baby will be here within the hour!”
“That’s great.” Coop smiled down at the beaming woman before asking about her husband. “Hey, is Trev here? I haven’t seen him.”
“He had to stop for something work related. I’m not sure what, but I called him. He said he was on his way.”
Coop wondered if it had anything to do with Mac’s case.
While continuing to await the news, the room they were in looked like a junior-high dance. Guys on one side of the room talking shop and general male bullshit. Women gathered on the other in a group of chairs, smiling and laughing about who knows what.
Every once in a while, he’d catch Mac glancing up at him, but the second their eyes would meet, she’d look away. The more time that passed, the more confused he got.
Was he wrong to want it all? To want to work with the best partner he’d ever hadandmake a life with her? Put down roots of their own and start a family, like Jake and Olivia, and all the others?
It was an impossible decision to make in a room full of people. Especially with Mac sitting less than ten feet away.
He needed some space. To go away and figure out where the hell they went from here.
The thought had barely passed through Coop’s mind when Trevor entered the waiting room. After getting a quick kiss and a hug from his wife, he got an update on the whole baby situation and walked straight over to him.
“You got a second?”
“Sure.”
