Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2)

by Santo, JC

  “What’s going on, babe?”

  “I... I just miss my sister.”

  “Hey, it’ll be okay. Tessa is a smart girl, and a damn good sailor; she’s fine out there. And she’ll be home before you know it.”

  She doesn’t say anything else but tucks herself into my body even more. There aren’t any other words said between us; I simply hold her until her breathing evens out and she falls asleep.

  I gently scoot her over to the middle of the bed and untangle myself from her. I stand at the foot of the bed and watch her for a few moments, silently saying goodbye, before going into the living room and cleaning up the mess left behind. After everything is back to normal, I grab the spare key she leaves sitting by the front door and lock up as I leave.

  The entire way home I convince myself that I was just being a friend in that moment—my intention when I went to her house tonight was to check on her, not because I was jealous or worried she could have met someone.

  I cannot give her any more than friendship and that is the root of all of these crazy emotions running through my mind. She deserves more than me, and on top of that well-known factor, I am incapable of giving her what she deserves.

  I was being a good friend tonight, nothing else. Nothing else.

  With that in mind, I make my peace with the idea that I need to end this fling Tegan and I have going. Too many emotions are getting involved. Whatever this is, it’s officially over the next time I see her.

  Tegan

  3 Months Later

  Tessa’s Wedding

  So far, dealing with all of the last minute preparations and handling a very hormonal, five-month-pregnant bridezilla, I haven’t given too much thought to the fact that in a matter of hours, I’ll come face to face with the man that broke my heart a couple months ago.

  Charlie-fucking-Reed.

  Luckily, being in the bridal party will keep me preoccupied for most of the night, and the rest of my time will be engrossed with my date, Matthew.

  Wanting to keep the wedding small, Tessa and Hunter chose to only have one person each standing with them. That’d be yours truly and Hunter’s twin brother, Marshall. I can’t lie and say I’m not excited to walk down the aisle with Marshall; I seriously think it’s every woman’s—and man’s—dream.

  Jo has been helping Tessa and me getting ready as well as taking charge of the final details. She and I had formed a great friendship while my sister was deployed and during all of this wedding prepping.

  Our impromptu American Idol night was the beginning of what’s become a great friendship between Jo and me. It was also the cause of Marshall’s and my already strong bond to grow even stronger. Between the two of them, I’ve barely been alone the past three months. A few days after our night out Reed came over and ended things with me.

  We’re sitting in Tessa’s room at the house she shares with Hunter, our makeup looks amazing and our hairstylist is putting the final touches on my sister’s updo, when Jo comes strolling in from her self-titled wedding planner duties.

  “Wow, you girls look amazing! Hey, Bug.” She now refuses to call me anything but that. “Your date is here, very cute.” She winks.

  Part of the reason Jo and I are so close now is because Marsh and she were the only ones who knew about my heartbreak from Reed. Thankfully, Tessa was deployed and they helped get me out of my rut before she returned.

  Tessa is chatting with the hairstylist, so Jo takes it as an opportunity to have a private conversation with me. She guides me over to the door, claiming to steal me away to see my date for a moment before he’s seated. As soon as we cross into the hallway, she starts in on me.

  “Okay, are you ready for tonight? You know he’ll be here, and he may possibly have a date.”

  I sigh and nod my head. The thought of seeing Reed with a date has crossed my mind only about a thousand times in the past three months. I wish I could honestly tell her that it doesn’t bother me, but she knows me well enough to know just how big of a lie that is.

  Seeing Reed will already be hard, but seeing him with a woman, too? I’m not sure my fragile heart will be able to stand the sight. The thought alone is enough to cause my anxiety to spike and nervousness to pump through my entire body.

  Jo begins leading the way to the living room, all the while talking over her shoulder.

  “Just don’t forget, I’m here if you need to talk or anything. And where exactly do you stand with the whole Reed situation now?” She stops and turns back to look at me.

  When I don’t respond, she elaborates, “I mean, do you want me to block him from even being able to talk to you? Do I make a scene if he approaches you? Or what?”

  “Jo, he isn’t going to approach me. You just said yourself, he could possibly have a date with him. Do you really think he’ll try to talk to me while he’s got his weekly skank hanging on his arm?” Being around Jo, I’ve learned she rarely takes the victim route and doesn’t respect other women who rely on using it, so I try my hardest not to show that side of me around her.

  “Look, if he decides to try to talk to me, which I seriously doubt will happen, I’ll handle it. If you see me on the verge of tears, just get me away from him.”

  With a single nod, Jo turns back and continues down the hallway where Matthew is waiting.

  As much as I like Matthew, I don’t foresee us going anywhere—we’re not meant to be anything more than good friends. We know that, we’ve tried dating, but the moment we kissed, both of us were overwhelmed with awkward feelings.

  Matthew and I have a couple of classes together at Norfolk State. We instantly clicked when we were assigned as project partners, and he quickly became one of my closest friends here.

  He stands and gives me a hug then places a small kiss to my cheek when we walk into the living room. We catch up for a few minutes before Jo and he head outside to get seated. Jo was nice enough to volunteer her and her date to keep him company during the ceremony.

  Jo has a very attractive, Hispanic man as her escort for the evening. From what I’ve gathered, he works at the same squadron as her, Tess, Reed, and J.C. I know she’s concerned about how I’ll handle Reed, but I’m worried about her and the J.C. situation, too. Jo may put on a show that things are good, but I don’t believe it anymore. Between the crazy, volatile relationship they have and her mother’s health issues, I know she’s stressed out and on the verge of a meltdown.

  My daddy comes walking in with my mother at his side, so I lead them back to Tessa’s room where she’s waiting. We walk in, and our parents are rendered speechless.

  My sister looks beautiful in the form-fitting, ivory gown that hugs her growing belly perfectly. Her hair is pulled back, and her makeup is flawless. I’ve always idolized my big sister, but today, anyone would be envious of her. Not only is she gorgeous, but she’s lucky enough to have found her other half, and today she gets to marry him.

  I decide to give the three of them a few minutes alone and go in search of Sawyer and Marshall. I can’t get over how beautiful Sawyer looks, just like a little princess. She’s wearing a poofy, lavender dress with small detailed flowers at her waistline. The color accents her basket of ivory rose petals perfectly.

  Mom comes back into the kitchen with a few stray tears on her cheeks,

  “Your dad and Tess will be out shortly; I’m gonna go ahead and get to my seat.”

  “Come on, Mrs. D, I’ll escort you,” Marsh announces.

  He leads my mom out of the house and into the large tent while I fluff Sawyer’s dress a bit more and straighten all of my imaginary wrinkles from mine.

  Marshall clears his throat as he reenters the house holding his arm up indicating it is time to go, which is my cue to summon my sister and father.

  Although I’ve already seen Tess, I still stand awestruck with everyone else in the room. It’s Sawyer’s copious amount of love that snaps everyone back to reality. She compliments the woman she’s come to know as her mom and places a small kiss to Tessa’s p
rotruding belly, all the while Marshall, my Dad, and I stand mesmerized.

  Tessa never wanted children, never wanted to be married. Those were, and still are, dreams of mine. Dreams that seem unreachable at this point. Yes, I’m only twenty-one, but in the mind of a hopeless romantic, that might as well be sixty. Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond happy for my sister, I just wish I was soaking in all of the blessings she’s basking in as well.

  Sawyer begins the walk down the aisle, followed by Marshall and me. I keep my eyes focused on the pastor and Hunter at the end of the aisle; the last thing I need is my wandering eyes catching sight of Reed. I don’t want to know if he has a date, I’d prefer to remain clueless on that matter.

  Seeing our Dad escort Tess is unbelievable. She looks stunning, and he looks as proud as the day we watched her graduate boot camp.

  The ceremony is short yet beautiful. A row of sheer curtains separates the ceremony area from the reception area. As soon as the new bride and groom are announced man and wife, they lead us outside where we quickly take a few bridal party pictures while the guests move across the large tented area to the dinner tables.

  By the time we finish up with the photographer, Marshall and I lead the way back into the tent with the new Stevenson family behind us. Sawyer in one of Hunter’s arms and the other draped around Tessa’s waist. Marshall and I make our way over to the family table, followed closely by them. Hunter passes Sawyer to Marsh with a kiss and leads Tess to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife.

  After the first half of the song is through, Marshall leads me out to the dance floor, and his Dad takes Sawyer to join in as well. We’re met out there by Jo and her date, Michael. As I’m twirled around the room, I catch my first glimpse at Reed, sitting at the bar with J.C., another of Tessa’s close friends.

  As the song ends, the D.J. announces that the dinner service is about to begin, so we all take our seats. The food is delicious, the cake cutting humorous, and then begins the dancing and real fun of the evening.

  Reed

  I knew tonight would be hard. Seeing Tegan again, in an intimate setting, for the first time in three months, has proved to be very difficult. Add in the fact that we’re at a fucking wedding on top of that, and the only way to handle myself tonight is drinking—heavily.

  I hate weddings; they always dredge up the past for me. I can’t stop my mind from going back to those days when I was a lonely child. It’s probably ridiculous to most people. Fuck, I myself find it ridiculous. I’m a grown ass man—twenty-eight years old—I should be able to overcome my upbringing at this point. But it is what drives me on a daily basis. Most of the time, if I’m invited to one I manage to skip out somehow. However, Jo and Tessa would make my life hell if I had done that this time.

  J.C. and I have been permanently attached tonight. Neither of us brought dates. I’m not sure of his reasoning, but I didn’t want to bother trying to entertain some random skank when my true intentions are to sit back, get drunk, block out the past, and admire the woman I used to fuck from a distance.

  “So, why are you alone tonight? I figured you of all people would be able to find a date.” It’s probably an asshole move, but I love making digs at J.C.’s manwhoring ways.

  Granted, those were my own ways, to an extent, but I always kept my affairs quiet. There were no dates, no hanging out, and absolutely no introducing them to my friends.

  J.C. shrugs his shoulder as he lifts his beer for another drink. His eyes, as well as my own, keep darting toward the bridal table where Jo, Tessa, and Tegan are laughing with Tessa’s mom. I stare at Tegan, taking in her beauty for the hundredth time tonight. Her deep-purple, form-fitting dress looks like it was made with her slender body and those small, perky tits in mind. The strands of her blonde hair curled and looking like something out of a magazine, and the makeup she’s wearing enhances her already bright-blue eye color. I hate that she looks this good, and I hate it even more than I’m unable to stop my eyes from drifting to her on their own accord.

  A knock into my shoulder snaps me from my Tegan-induced trance. I look to my side and see J.C. looking at me expectantly.

  “What? Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

  He shakes his head before responding, “Yeah, apparently something, or should I say someone, else had your attention.”

  I try to brush his comment off, but my eyes keep trailing back to Tegan. And I’m surrounded by J.C.’s laughter.

  “Holy shit, man. You still got it bad for Tegan?”

  Before I’m able to tell him to fuck off, a hand on my shoulder catches my attention.

  “Now, I know I misheard that, didn’t I?” Marshall asks. Judging by the glare in his eye, I’m certain he heard every word.

  J.C. mumbles something about us joking before he runs off, leaving me with a pissed-off-looking Marsh. No words are spoken while he waits for a beer; I’m too busy trying to focus all of my concentration on not looking across the room where I know Tegan is dancing with some little douche bag she brought as her date.

  After what feels like eternity, Marsh finally gets his beer and turns to make his departure. I breathe out a sigh of relief, but it’s too soon.

  He turns his head back to me and says his piece. “Let me tell you something. I know a lot more than you think I know. You’re a good guy, Reed. Underneath all that dickhead personality you’re rockin’, I know there’s a decent guy hidden. But whatever you did to her fucked her up. Don’t do it again. She deserves someone who’ll care about her, not someone who hides her away like a dirty little secret.” With that, he walks back to the festivities while I continue to sulk.

  Tegan

  Don’t look around for him. Don’t look around for him.

  That’s been my mantra all night long. I can’t tell if I’m happy or disappointed that he hasn’t tried to speak to me. I know, I know, I shouldn’t care, I need to move on completely. All of Jo’s words of wisdom replay in my head, but unfortunately that stupid romantic side of me can’t commit to moving on.

  Matthew has been a wonderful date, very attentive, engaging, and best of all, he doesn’t expect sex at the end of the night. I wish I could say the same for myself. I’ve been aloof and distant throughout the evening. And the worst part is, I’d kill to have sex tonight. Not with Matthew, obviously, I think just seeing Reed has caused my hormones to ricochet out of whack.

  Before I know it, things are beginning to wind down and Matthew is ready to head home. I walk him through the house as we say our goodbyes. While heading back outside, I mentally berate myself for volunteering to help with cleanup tonight. I need a pint of ice cream and some sappy girl movie, STAT.

  Instead of making my way straight back into the elaborate tent, I stand on the large deck reminiscing over the past few months.

  I've only been in Norfolk a short time; I never anticipated to have such an intense fling. Thinking back, I don't regret it entirely. Do I regret allowing my emotions to get involved? Of course. But do I regret sleeping with Reed? Hell no—that was quite possibly some of the best sex I've had. Not that I was, or am, a sex connoisseur by any means.

  Just as I shake all thoughts of Reed out of my head, my hand is grabbed and I'm being pulled to a darkened side of the yard away from the reception. My immediate reaction is to pull away from the man who caused all of my heartache and inner turmoil. I know it’s him before I ever catch sight of him; his scent engulfs my lungs—ocean and leather.

  “Reed. Leave me alone,” I whisper-yell at him as I try swatting him away. I don't get any sort of response or acknowledgement from him until we're standing face-to-face, chest-to-chest. Stopping my verbal assault, I take a moment to appreciate the man standing before me.

  Charcoal, fitted slacks, a light-grey, long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing off those tattooed, tanned arms and a charcoal vest. He pulls the look off well. Very, very well. Like, well enough that I don’t need him to remove all of his clothes before he throws me against a wall and ha
s his way with my body.

  Yeah, note to self: Get a vibrator... Immediately.

  Three months is a long time to go without sex, especially after my body was just getting used to having as much sex as Reed and I did.

  “You’ve been avoiding me all night.” It’s said as a statement, not phrased like a question. Although now, I question if I was intentionally avoiding him or if he only thought that.

  “Really? And so you thought that was a good enough reason to grab me and force me to converse with you?”

  I’m no Tessa, but I did learn some sass from her. It likes to make appearances occasionally, like when people irritate me. And Reed looking phenomenal after this day of watching my sister marry her soulmate? Yes, that is most definitely enough to irritate me.

  “Will you relax, Tegan? Jesus. I figured I’d say hi when your little boyfriend wasn’t around.”

  Racking my brain, Matthew comes to mind. Oh God, he thinks? He thinks Matthew is my boyfriend?

  “You could have said hello at any point tonight, Reed.”

  I know this is not the temptation I need. I know I should have already walked away from him. Nothing good can come of this. And I know when I see his eyes drop to my lips that I am in serious trouble.

  Reed leans in and barely presses his full lips to mine. The small amount of fight in me flees, knowing damn good and well that for the past three months I’ve craved his lips.

  What starts off sweet, innocent, and romantic, even, quickly escalates as his tongue slowly slides across my bottom lip, seeking entrance. Before I know what I’m getting myself into, my arms are wrapped around his neck as he grips my ass in both hands and jerks me closer to his body.

  I can’t get enough of him. His tongue slowly works its way in and out of my mouth. One hand continues to grip my ass while the other goes to my hair, grasping the back of my neck.