Of course she had. He drank his beer with quick gulps.
Lizzie, with Bea in a front pack, came over to Seth and looked up. Then she whistled.
“Did you kill his dog?” she asked semiseriously. “Oh, wait—is this about Rose?”
Seth didn’t answer.
He hadn’t seen Rose in days following their night together, only hearing her door open and close when she arrived home. They’d briefly run into each other yesterday, but she’d stuttered something random and hurried away. He’d been this close to pulling her into his apartment and demanding answers.
After their night together, he’d thought—what? That they’d make things official? He didn’t know what their relationship even was. He did know, however, that he would keep her safe no matter what she said or did. His blood boiled at the mere memory of what that asshole Johnny had done to her.
“It’s complicated,” Seth finally replied when Heath turned away to talk to Harrison.
“Hmm, isn’t it always?” Lizzie crooned to Bea, “Your uncle Seth is so mysterious, isn’t he? I bet he’d tell his favorite niece all his secrets.”
Seth smiled. Looking at Bea’s bright blue eyes and toothless smile, he definitely couldn’t deny that assertion. He’d do anything for this little girl. She had everyone wrapped around her tiny pinky.
“Here, can you hold her? I need to go to the bathroom.” Lizzie handed him Bea with a bright smile before he could protest.
Not that he’d say no. In the passing weeks since Bea’s birth—she was three months old now, wasn’t she?—he’d gotten more comfortable around her. She was an easy baby to like, though. Lizzie had been shocked when not only did Bea sleep through the night most nights, but she was only fussy when she was hungry or tired or wet. The usual kinds of reasons to fuss.
Right now, Bea reached up to grab Seth’s nose. Her fingers were wet and she smelled like baby powder, but Seth’s heart did that annoying twist that it always did when he held his niece.
Who knew someone so small could affect your life so profoundly?
“What do you think I should do?” he murmured to Bea as he took her to look out over the stern. The lake was bright and shining, and it was a perfect day for boating. Seagulls flew about, cawing, and he watched as one flew down to catch a fish near the surface of the water. Seth pulled Bea’s sun hat further down so the sun wouldn’t hurt her eyes. Should she wear sunglasses? Did babies wear sunglasses?
Bea didn’t have an answer for him, but just cooed and squealed when another seagull dove into the water.
“I think she’s running from me, but I don’t know why,” he said. “It’s like she tells me one thing and does another.” He sighed, long and low. “Any other woman, I’d assume she was playing games and would move on.”
He said that, yet he knew Rose wasn’t like other women. He knew this wasn’t some game with her, but did he have the patience—and the ability—to overcome whatever was haunting her?
Seth was certain there was more to her story with Johnny than she’d let on. All kinds of horrible things had wandered into his mind, and by the time the sun had risen after he’d returned to his apartment the night they’d been together, he’d been close to wanting to find Johnny and kill him himself.
“Do you think I should keep trying? Not give up on her?”
Bea patted his cheek, gurgling some nonsense, but Seth took that as a yes.
You’re not going to be rid of me that easily, hummingbird. I swear it.
“I’m back. Oh goodness, what a happy baby you are.” Lizzie held out her arms for Bea, and Seth gave her back a little reluctantly. “What were you two talking about?”
“Nothing you need to hear about.”
She rolled her eyes. “Try again. Otherwise I’m going to follow you around throughout this entire party until you spill.”
Seth considered. He wasn’t about to tell Lizzie about Rose, but he hadn’t mentioned Sergeant Loyd calling him and about his offer. In all honesty, he’d barely thought about returning to active duty with everything happening with Rose lately.
“My CO called me,” he said. He watched Lizzie’s face, but his twin sister didn’t betray any agitation at this pronouncement.
“What did he want? Something paperwork-related?”
Seth ran his fingers through his hair. “No, not exactly. He has a job for me.”
“A job. For you.”
“He wants me for a mission that’s coming up, and he said if I agree, he can get me back on active duty by the fall.”
Lizzie’s eyes widened. “Seth, are you serious? When did he call and tell you this?”
“Um, two weeks ago?”
“Seth!”
“I know, I know. I’ve had a lot on my mind.” It was a lame excuse, but there it was.
He winced as he saw the hurt on Lizzie’s face. They’d always told each other everything, and although they’d drifted apart, he knew she’d hoped they could return to how they used to be. She’d told him all about her troubles with Trent and her music career, yet he hadn’t had the courage to reciprocate.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Really. I just don’t know how to answer.”
“Say no!” She touched his arm and said more quietly, “That last mission almost killed you. You lost your best friend. What happens if this tour ends up being your last?”
He had thought the same, but he didn’t want to admit it. Patting her hand, he said, “It won’t be, Lizard. I haven’t given Sergeant Loyd an answer yet, either.”
That didn’t seem to console her. In fact, it made her expression even sadder. “You’re going to take it, aren’t you?”
No. I don’t know. Maybe. What am I if I’m not a soldier? He struggled to explain, but right then, Caleb came up to them with three beers in hand.
“Hey, what are you two doing? Lizzie, you can drink, and Seth, you can definitely drink. It’s my birfday! No, birthday. Hmm, drinking.” He took a slug of beer and wandered off to bug some other people.
That interlude broke the tension, and Lizzie and Seth laughed. Then with a conspiratorial smile, Lizzie whispered, “Did you notice that Sara isn’t drinking?”
“No, why would I?”
“You’re such a guy. Think. You think she’s pregnant?”
The last thing Seth had ever considered was whether or not one of his brothers’ wives was pregnant, but it wouldn’t surprise him. The Thorntons enjoyed their spouses; ergo, babies would inevitably result.
“Harrison does seem extra happy lately,” Lizzie mused.
Seth frowned. “Really?”
“Oh my God! Yes! Come on, Seth, pay attention.”
“I am,” he mumbled before finishing off his beer.
“I’m surprised she hasn’t said anything. Maybe they’re waiting.”
“Lizard, why in God’s name would I know anything about it?”
Both she and Bea gave him disgusted looks, although Bea’s might have just been from gas.
“I’m going to go talk to Megan and see if she knows anything. Go make sure Caleb doesn’t fall overboard.”