by Santo, JC
Copyright © 2016 JC Santo
Love Unexpected (Book 2 in the Navy Love Series)
Cover Design: Anhalt Photography and Designs
Cover photo: Licensed through Dollar Photo Club
Editing: Wendi Temporado (Ready, Set, Edit)
Formatting: Angela Shockley (That Formatting Lady)
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Epilogue
Sneak Peek of Resilient Love (Book 3 in the Navy Love Series)
Acknowledgments
Playlist
Tegan
My sister has been gone for three weeks, and while I miss her dearly, I’ve had other things and people occupying my time. Although she’s been on multiple deployments, this is the first I’m experiencing first-hand since moving closer to her.
Tonight is one of those nights; this tradition is something Tessa and I started right around the time she got her license, and is one we still hold dear to our hearts.
It’s something we’ve now brought Jo into as well; it’s kind of like an induction in a sense. Either people think we’re crazy or they get a kick out of it just as much as we do. When we were teenagers, our mom even joined in with us a few times.
I swing by Jo’s apartment and pick her up. I pull up and honk, and within seconds her door opens. She emerges and makes quick work of locking up. I see that she dressed appropriately in a tank top and her Navy-issued sweats pulled up to look like capris. Her hair is piled up on top of her head in a messy bun. If it weren’t for the difference in their builds, she could pass for my sister as she makes her way to my car. Where Tessa is curvy, Jo is a little leaner. Jo also has an olive skin tone where Tessa’s creamy.
She hops into the passenger seat. “This is going to be so much fun, Bug. We both need to relieve a little stress.”
I smile and laugh. She, along with everyone else, has attached my childhood nickname to me. I'm no longer referred to as Tegan in most cases, but Bug instead.
She’s right, tonight is going to be really entertaining.
Jo sends a text to Marsh letting him know we’re on our way.
This is the first time I’ll have ever included a man in our ritual, but it’s Marshall. He’s entertaining as hell in a normal situation—I can’t wait to see how he does with our car version of American Idol.
I’ve heard many fun stories of my sister and these two doing this exact same thing over the past three years.
We pull up outside Marshall’s house. The ever-demanding Jo doesn’t stop when we make it to the front door, she just pushes it open with the heel of her palm. I’ve learned that this group is very open with each other; there doesn’t seem to be a lot of boundaries. They have created their own unique family.
Marsh is expecting us, so he continues with his phone conversation, although now it’s in a hushed tone as he slips into his room.
“Did you tell him what we’re doing?” I ask Jo.
She opens the pantry and starts rummaging for something to snack on.
“Nope.”
Marshall emerges from his room, off the phone and looking at Jo oddly.
“Is there something I can help you with, Ms. Fuentes?”
I let out a small chuckle. I love that he calls Jo Ms. Fuentes; it sounds sexy rolling off his tongue.
That’s one man who brings all the girls to tears when they find out that they have an ice cream cone’s chance in hell at landing him.
“What are you two troublemakers up to tonight? And to what do I owe this wonderful visit?” He looks between the two of us when neither of us jump to answer him.
“Marsh, it’s an Idol kinda night,” I say as an explanation. His eyes light up with excitement.
“Seriously?”
“Yep. I’m not understanding how we haven’t had one together yet.”
Marshall bounces up and down. “Holy shit! It’s been awhile since I’ve had an Idol night.” He stops promptly and looks to Jo. “Oh my God, are you bitches ready to get your asses handed to you? Jo already knows I kill it at American Idol.”
Jo’s head pops up in down in excitement.
“It’s true, his inner-queen emerges and he rocks the hell out.”
We all tease Marshall. He’s the manliest gay guy I’ve ever met. Had my sister not told me his preference to men over women, I would have never guessed.
“Yes,” Jo hollers. Marsh’s enthusiasm has obviously rubbed off onto her. “I need a night out anyway, and when Bug invited me to this, there was no way I could pass up the opportunity to sing out my frustrations.” I don’t know all of the details, but she’s been going through some stuff since I moved here. I hope that while Tessa is gone she knows I’ll be here for her if she ever needs someone to talk to. “Plus, I’m interested to hear you—” she points at me “—sing your ass off.” Her teasing is used to cover up her admission.
Idol nights are a silly thing Tess and I started doing when we were younger, and it’s just stuck with us. We simply get in the car and drive around with the music blaring, singing as loud as we can, until we’re exhausted. It’s an entertaining alternative to the partying lifestyle that was always available in our home town.
It’s a great way for me to learn area better, so I volunteer to drive. My main reasoning for doing this tonight is to one, form a better, stronger bond with Jo and Marshall, and two, to relieve some of my build up stress.
We sing all of the best “belt your heart out” songs, and after an hour or so, Marsh turns the radio down a bit to chat.
“Thanks for inviting me, Cupcake,” he says with a wink.
I secretly love the pet-name Marshall dubbed me with. It’s a nice change of pace from Bug.
“I got an email from Tessa today,” Jo says.
Marshall and I glance back at her, waiting for more information.
“She apologized for not being around before she left; she asked me to look after Bug for her too.”
I can’t stop the eye roll that surfaces; I despise being treated like a child by my sister.
“She what? Why does she treat me like a little kid?”
“I don’t know, girl. I told her nobody blamed her for being wrapped up in Hunter and Sawyer. Every one of us would be preoccupied if we had someone like him waiting for us at home too. I told her that she deserves to be happy, and no one is mad at her for finding someone she cares about.”
Leave it to Jo to shut down any self-doubts Tessa may be feeling.
“I've never seen T this happy before, and I love it. Hunter is amazing, all of you guys are.” I smile at Marsh and look in the rearview mirror winking at Jo, letting her know she's included in my statement.
“Is she doing okay out there?” Marsh asks. “Oh, and she gave me the big spiel about looking after you too, Cupcake. I think if you want that to stop, you’re going to have to have a sit-down discussion with your sister.”
Marsha
ll is right, I need to address the issue with Tessa. If, by some crazy miracle, Reed and I decide to take things further than they are, I’ll need her to recognize that I am an adult.
The conversation takes a turn from the serious nature and into relationships. Marshall and I, along with everyone else, have been dying to know what is going on between J.C. and Jo. I don’t expect her to be forthcoming with details; so far they both have been very tightlipped.
“Alright, so, I’ve been seeing this guy I’ve known for a while. We’ve had sex a few times, and it is indescribable.”
Damn. I figured if she told us anything it would be a small, insignificant detail. I’m stunned to silence. Actually, the entire topic of boys and relationships has me nervous. I know my time for confessing is coming. My undeniable blush will appear when asked if I’m seeing anyone, and my new friends have already learned my tell-tale sign of lying.
“What? And why haven’t you told me before now? When did this happen? How many times? Do I know him?”
I love that Marsh is able to play it off like he didn’t have a clue it was happening or with who. Everyone in our group knows Jo and J.C. have been spending a lot of time together and we all know when they have what I can only describe to be a monumental fight, which occurs frequently. That’s the main reason for Jo’s sudden withdrawal from our little clique. I sit in silence still, unsure of where Jo’s and my boundaries are; I’m not sure she’d be okay with me questioning and prying.
Jo breaks out in a laugh before answering Marshall’s barrage of questions.
“First off, don’t play dumb, Marsh, it doesn’t suit you.” She and Marshall share a knowing look before she continues. “We started sleeping together awhile back, and it still occasionally happens. It started that night we met Hunter at Eagle’s Nest—what was supposed to be a one-time thing has continuously happened since then.”
Reed mentioned to me multiple times that it was weird how J.C. wasn’t taking home different girls every night like he used to. We’ve talked about the odd behavior between the two of them a couple of times. Reed claims it’s even gotten awkward at work. I can’t help the question before it escapes my mouth. I’m surprised Jo is giving this much info away, although I’m shocked she hasn’t just told us who we’re talking about.
“Does anyone in the group know him? Has he been around all of us before?”
Jo looks at me with a mischievous glint in her eye, and after a second of pause, she arches an eyebrow and starts her own line of questions.
“What about you, Tegan?”
My eyebrows skyrocket on my forehead in surprise.
“Huh?”
“What about you?” There’s an evil smile on her face. I feel like she’s fishing for something, but I don’t know what or why.
“Yeah, Bug. What’s going in your love life? There’s gotta be at least one guy you’re interested in here.” Marshall chimes in.
Greeaaaat.
“Uhh...no, not really.”
“Don’t pretend.” Jo says as she scrolls through her phone. “Who’s this Charlie? You two seem to text a lot. As in all the time.”
I turn back to face her and see that she has my phone in her hand, not hers. That evil smirk is firmly intact. She knows what she’s doing by putting me on display—she’s turned the attention off of her, effectively disregarding my questions about her friend’s identity.
“Uhh. I…uhh…”
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe it You’re holding out on me too? Both of you have these secretive sex lives that I need to hear about. Some of us are less fortunate in the ‘gettin’ laid’ department,” Marshall cries dramatically.
“I’m not holding out on you. There’s nothing going on with me and Re... Charlie.” For some reason, his first name sounds odd coming out of my mouth.
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Jo says nonchalantly as she continues invading my privacy. “There are a lot of suggestive texts in here. And a bunch of you two making sleepover arrangements.”
I’m going to murder her.
“I… It’s-it’s just something casual. He’s a guy I met and we hit it off from the beginning.” I hope it’s enough to stop the two Nosey Rosey’s questioning. I stop at a red light, turn toward Jo in the back seat, and snatch my phone from her hands. Turning back around, I place it in-between my thighs to protect it from her prying hands and eyes.
“Wait, Tess said you don’t do casual sex,” Marsh starts.
Of course, leave it to my sister to inform everyone of my sex life dos and don’ts. They probably all know my favorite positions too.
I don’t want to keep this uncomfortable conversation going for fear of possibly saying anything that could out my friend, Charlie. With a shrug, I turn up the radio, successfully ending it.
A couple hours later, we drop Marshall off at his house. I breathe a sigh of relief that I made it through tonight without caving—no one knows my secret. At least, not yet anyway.
I anticipate the short ride to Jo’s apartment to be quiet, and it is, until we pull up outside her place.
“Look, Tegan, I know we aren’t that close, but I’m here if you want to talk.”
My face must have an utterly confused expression on it, so she elaborates.
“I know who Charlie is.” I go to deny it, but she holds a hand up to stop me. “Don’t even. I have become the queen of denial recently. And I can see it in your face. You, my friend, are becoming just as acquainted with the feeling as I am.”
I don’t respond. Instead, I’m mentally replaying the conversation and scrolling through my texts, trying to remember if anything could pinpoint Reed.
“I’m not going to say anything, but I really think you need to think about this. Reed isn’t someone who’s ever going to make a commitment like what you want.”
“I don’t know that I want any more of a commitment than what we’ve agreed to. We’re just having fun, Jo,” I lie. I know I’m already feeling deeper emotions than what I should for Reed. I already know when he ends this thing we have I will suffer through a heartbreak.
Jo gives me a knowing look then exits my car. She bends down into the open window to deliver her final thoughts on the subject.
“Just know that I’m here for you whenever you need someone to talk with about this. I’ve been where you are, Tegan. I know the emotional turmoil that being someone’s dirty little secret can cause. You’re young and beautiful, and an overall amazing person. You don’t deserve to be someone’s side piece. You should be with a man who wants to show you off to any and everyone. If you want to keep sneaking around with Reed, I’ll keep your secret safe, but I just want you to know I’m here in the end, regardless how things go with you two or how everyone else reacts to it.”
I nod. “Thanks, Jo.” She taps the window seal and starts to walk away. “Jo!” She stops walking and turns her attention back to me.
“You should know, you deserve a guy like what you described too. You’re not the type of girl that should be kept hidden away. I hope you get that.”
“Bug,” she says with a sad look in her eyes, “I know that isn’t going to happen, not with this guy, anyway. But I’ll enjoy the ride with him until it ends.” She waves and makes her way into her apartment.
I pick up my phone and see that in the past two hours I have multiple missed calls and texts from Reed. As much as I want to go to him tonight, after the warning from Jo, I can’t help but think I need a night to myself.
Reed
Finally, two hours after I’ve blown up her phone with texts, I get a response from Tegan.
Tegan: Hey, sorry I’ve been out with Marsh and Jo.
Me: It’s fine, u on ur way over?
Tegan: I think I’m just gonna go to my place tonight.
Me: OK, be there in 20.
Tegan: No Reed, I’m going home alone tonight.
Me: y?
Tegan: It’s just been a long night, I actually need to get some sleep.
Me: Whatever.
Text when ur over this girl shit.
I know I’m being a dick to her, but I’m pissed. I was worried about her earlier. Tegan always answers my texts, so for her not to made me think something had happened to her.
I ended up calling Hunter, unsure of what the hell I was going to say, and he invited me over for a couple beers after Sawyer went to bed. In passing, he mentioned Tegan, Jo, and Marshall doing some weird singing shit.
To be dead honest, my mind had started wondering and worrying; I’d hoped she wasn’t at a bar. Hunter had no idea the amount of stress he alleviated by telling me where they were. If it hadn’t been for my curiosity eating at me, I probably wouldn’t have accepted his invitation. Things between Hunter and I have been awkward since he caught me sneaking out of Tegan’s apartment awhile back.
I can’t help the jealous feeling that overcomes me when I think of other men hitting on her. I should take these feelings into consideration. I should realize that I’m getting too attached, that this is becoming more than what I anticipated.
I don’t, though. Instead, I roll out of bed and quickly dress. I’m out the door, in my truck, and headed to her house before I have time to think of how deep I’m letting myself get.
Fifteen minutes later, I park next to her little Honda Accord. I can see the blue hue from the television through the window of her second-story apartment. I stand outside the door but can’t bring myself to knock.
I take the chicken shit route and send her a text.
Me: Open the door.
I hear the chime of her phone, and within seconds the latch moving as she opens up for me. Her eyes are red and puffy, an obvious sign that she’s been crying. I pull her into my arms as soon as I step through the threshold of her door, and she instantly begins crying again. I kick it closed behind me, and guide her to the bedroom, leaving the TV on and her small mess sitting in the living room. I’ll come back later and clean everything up.
We lie down in her bed where she immediately finds her spot in the crook of my arm. I run my fingers through her hair and place small kisses on her forehead. After a few minutes of her quiet sobs, I finally speak.
