My Secret Alpha Step SEAL
ADAM
I stretched, enjoying the feeling of waking up in a decent home, away from combat and military tents. Despite being absolutely ridiculous, I even loved the calendar girls I had plastered all over my walls in my teenage years. Mom hadn’t changed a thing.
Although the warm sheets begged me to stay a bit longer, I rolled out of bed and stretched again.
It was second nature to me to exercise in the morning, but it was far too cold outside for my usual routine, so I dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups right next to my bed.
“Nope, I need to open the window, at least,” I decided and got up.
The cold winter air hit me like a wall of ice, but I resisted the urge to jump back in bed. I was a Navy SEAL, for goodness’ sake, I could take a little cold.
More amused than disappointed acclimatization after a long deployment in the Middle East, I clenched my teeth and completed my exercises. By the time I was done, I was sweating.
“Good boy,” I praised myself and went to take a shower.
Once all cleaned up, I changed into a tracksuit and followed the smell of coffee to the kitchen.
“Look, Mike, I know what I saw. You can’t deny you had dinner with ... that woman!” I heard my mother say.
I squinted, displeased with the prospect of her getting hurt.
“Morning, Mom.”
I managed to startle her so I mouthed an apology and went to pour myself some coffee.
“We can talk another time; my son is up. Yeah, I know. Bye, Mike.”
“Your boyfriend?” I asked casually.
She nodded. “How are you, baby? Did you sleep well?”
“What did he do?”
“Nothing, honey.”
“Mom.”
She crossed the room and came to me with an almost apologetic look on her face.
“Adam, it’s nothing. Don’t concern yourself. Let’s talk about us. I haven’t gotten to see my boy as much as I would’ve liked it,” she said, cupping my face.
“I know, Mom. I arrived late last night. Sorry to call you on such short notice.”
“Don’t stress it. You were living with your girlfriend before your deployment and now she... I’m sorry about that, baby.”
“It’s alright. She wanted to leave, I can’t force her to be with me. And this job can be hard. Army wives don’t have the easiest lives; you know?”
She smiled with her usual kindness.
“Sure. You were gone for long. I could see her not being ready to sign up for this.”
“You and your good opinion on everybody, Mom. At some time, that’s gonna get you in trouble.”
She blushed as I pointed an accusatory finger at her. I was used to her countering my silliness with a joke, but she chose to turn around and pour herself some coffee instead.
“Speaking of trouble. What happened with your boyfriend?”
“I told you, baby. Nothing.”
“Mom, you were talking about him having dinner with another woman. That certainly isn’t nothing.”
I could see her pursing her lips. I didn’t like this. She was upset.
“I might very well be overreacting. The relationship is pretty young, and you know me, I attach easily.”
“Mom, this is not your fault. Let me have a man to man conversation with this Mike.”
“Son.”
She turned to face me again, her eyes scolding.
“Stop being so protective of me. I’m an adult, I can take care of myself.”
“I know, Mom. I just don’t want you to be hurt again, that’s all.”
Her smile warmed me as she came and hugged me. She needed to lift herself on her toes to reach my cheek. I met her halfway.
“Are you sure you can handle this?” I asked, with no intention of offending her.
She raised her eyebrows. “Give me some credit, son. I raised you since you were nine, remember?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...”
“I know what you meant. And no, son, what happened with your father won’t happen again. I am not that stupid.”
“Nobody said you were.”
She smirked. “You didn’t hear your father’s sisters, then.”
“They don’t count, Mom. Listen, I’ve got to go for a run. I’ll be back soon, OK?”
“Take care of yourself, Adam. And, son?”
“Hmmm?”
“I do want you to meet Mike. But amicably.”
“Sure thing,” I said before running out the door.
“You cheeky child!”