Feeling Hot

“Yes. And Carson, though he didn’t say much.”

With a sigh, Holly drifted over to one of the couches and flopped down. She rubbed her eyes, then lowered her hands to her lap and started fidgeting.

Jen sat down next to her. “What’s going on?” she prodded. “Come on, Hol, talk to me. You know I’m a good listener. And if it’s confidentiality you’re worried about, don’t. I won’t breathe a word of what you tell me to Carson.”

Holly worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “It’s not a big deal. Carson and I are just going through a bit of a rough patch.”

“A few more details would help.”

Holly seemed reluctant, but then she opened her mouth and a stream of words gushed out. “We’re not connecting, okay? He was gone for six months, and ever since he got back, it’s like we’re on a different wavelength. It always takes a while to readjust once he comes home, but this time…it’s a little harder, I guess. He comes back and expects everything to be the same, but he doesn’t realize that each time he leaves, it’s like our entire relationship has been put on hold.

“He complains that I work too much, but what else am I supposed to do? When he’s away, I have to do something to occupy myself, and I can’t just drop what I’m doing when he gets back.” Holly let out an anguished breath. “I know this is what I signed up for. I knew being married to a SEAL wouldn’t be easy, but your brother is so…infuriating sometimes. It’s different for him—when he’s out of the country, he’s not thinking about me. He’s focused on the job, the mission, staying alive. But me? All I do is think of him, and worry, and stress, and pray that he’s safe.”

Tears streamed down Holly’s cheeks, which startled the hell out of Jen, who’d never once seen her feisty sister-in-law cry.

She quickly reached out and gripped Holly’s hand. “Hey, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. He doesn’t understand that I get used to being alone when he’s gone. It’s like I have a part-time husband. We didn’t even have a honeymoon, for Pete’s sake! We had to cancel it because he got sent on some mission I’m not even allowed to know about. Don’t get me wrong, I love him. I love him so damn much. But sometimes it feels like I spend our entire marriage waiting for him to come home. And this time, he comes back and tells me he wants to have a baby.”

Jen’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. The big oaf wants a baby, but who’ll be the one raising it? Me. Doing it alone half the time.” Holly huffed. “He suggested that I quit the restaurant and focus on Prestige Events with Annabelle, since that’s only a weekend gig. So he comes home after six months, barely says hello before he carts me off to bed, drops a baby bomb and asks me to quit my job! Am I the only one who sees something wrong with that?”

Holly’s unmistakable pain made Jen’s heart ache. But how was she supposed to comfort her sister-in-law? Everything Holly just said was the reason Jen had vowed not to get involved with a military man. A part-time husband didn’t sound all that appealing to her either.

At a loss for words, she searched her brain for something reassuring to say, but Holly shot to her feet, looking mortified. “Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to unload all that on you.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you told me.”

Holly’s face scrunched up in misery. “I love him. You know I love him, right?”

“Of course you do.” Jen stood up with a sigh. “Everything will work itself out, Hol. But you need to talk to Carson about all this.”

“I have, but the stubborn jackass doesn’t seem to hear me.”

“So keep at it. Make him hear you. Carson can be a pigheaded ass**le, but he loves you.”

Her brother’s conversation with his angel suddenly flashed through her mind, but Jen forced it away.

“Talk to him,” she urged again. “You two can fix this. I know you can.”

Hope shone in Holly’s green eyes. “You really think so?”

“I really think so.”

Swallowing, the brunette wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her long-sleeved shirt. “Fuck. I should get back to work. But thanks for coming by, Jen. I really needed this.”

“You’re not off the hook yet. Annabelle and I are organizing a girls’ night, so you’ll have another chance to rant.” She grinned. “I hear Savannah gives good advice.”

Holly snorted. “Only if it’s about sex. But yeah, I’m totally up for a girls’ night. Text me with the details, okay?”

“Definitely.”

They parted ways in the corridor, and Jen’s heart continued to ache as she walked outside. Cash had been fiddling with his cell phone, but he tossed it into the cup holder when she slid into the SUV.

“Everything okay?” he asked warily.

“No.”

His blue eyes pinned her down with a hard stare. “What’s going on?”

She hesitated, knowing she probably shouldn’t say anything, but the need to confide in someone was too strong. With a heavy breath, she told him everything.

When she finished, Cash firmly shook his head. “No way. Carson would never cheat on Holly.”

Jen envied his conviction. “Then why did he call that woman angel? And what about the Holly doesn’t know part?” Nausea scampered up her throat. “Holly fully admitted they’re having problems. What if Carson got tired of fighting with his wife and found some outside comfort?”