Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2) (18 page)

“Alright, but if she starts talking about setting you up or fishing for your personal life again, or any of them do for that matter, I’m speaking up. And God help J.C.’s ass if he touches you again.”

A week ago we all met up for dinner and J.C. kept jokingly throwing his arm around my waist. He swore he could see the steam shooting from of Charlie’s ears. I, however, was too focused on Jo’s hard stare at J.C.’s hand to notice Charlie’s reaction.

J.C., the bastard, knew what he was doing. I could tell Jo was upset by something, and he used me as a way to get under her skin.

After everyone arrived, my sister tried to set me up with some guy from her old squadron and she refused to accept a “No, thanks, not interested” from me. I eventually took his number just to stop her constant nagging. And Charlie promptly deleted it when we met up at my apartment afterward.

Although I hope nobody ruffles Charlie’s feathers tomorrow, again, that damn romantic side of me is swooning at the thought of him confessing our relationship to everyone.

Charlie left me standing in the kitchen and when I go in search of him, I find that he’s already made himself comfortable in my bed. He’s lying on his back with one hand stretched out below my pillow, the other spread across his chest, wearing nothing but his briefs. It’s a mouthwatering sight.

He crooks a finger at me, motioning me to come to him and glances to my side of the bed where he’s sat out an old t-shirt of his that I love sleeping in.

It’s one of the few things I have from when we were just sleeping together. I wore the damn thing so many nights after he broke it off with me; there were many nights I spent with my face buried in the baggy sleeves, crying my eyes out.

I sit on the edge of the bed and remove my shoes and socks, followed by switching my form-fitting shirt for the baggy one. Standing up, I pull my jeans down and climb out of them and into the bed where I curl up against Charlie’s waiting side and quickly fall asleep from exhaustion.

My alarm going off at 5:00 AM is not how I wanted to start my day. However, I know Tess will do everything on her own, despite mine and Hunter’s warnings of her health, if I’m not there to get it done.

Climbing out of bed and Charlie’s death grip, I hop into a quick, steamy shower. Within twenty minutes, I’m dressed and ready to leave. I wake Charlie and give him a kiss before I head out. Normally, I don’t wake him up if I leave when he’s still sleeping, but knowing we won’t be able to show affection all day today, I almost feel like we both need one last kiss.

With my change of clothes for after the cooking is done and my purse in hand, I make the short drive to Tessa’s.

By 11:00 AM, the house is packed, the television is blaring the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and I’m fighting off men who are trying to “sample” the food left and right. Charlie is the worst culprit. I can’t decide if he’s interested in the food or putting his hands on my hips every time he reaches around me to grab a bite of whatever I happen to be standing in front of.

J.C. has managed to keep his playful hands to himself so far; his usual upbeat and joking personality seems oddly quiet today. No one knows why, but I suspect Jo’s unapproachable attitude toward him has something to do with it.

She did end up staying in town, although no one was terribly surprised by that, I think everyone had a slight hesitation to believe we’d see her here this morning. She looks like she’s been ill or recently went on a huge drinking binge. There are very evident bags under her puffy eyes, and she’s acting quiet and reserved toward everyone—not the typical Jo I’ve come to know.

Hunter has only had to fuss at my sister once so far. Luckily, Sawyer is a great distraction as she's kept Tess occupied watching the parade with her all morning. Jo has jumped between helping me all morning and cocooning herself in a chair in the living room, away from everyone. Hunter and Charlie have spent most of the morning talking with Marshall and J.C. about the upcoming football games today.

When the time to eat comes, I'm pleasantly surprised when we all sit at the large dining room table and Charlie sits right beside me.

The entire way through our grand lunch, every so often a hand is placed on my thigh.

We shouldn’t do anything that could out us, but who am I to refuse him? These are exactly the small, intimate gestures I craved when we were sleeping together.

It started off with his hand on my knee, but when I didn’t swat him away, Charlie took it as a green light to travel farther up toward my thigh. His hand toyed with me the entire dinner. At first I didn’t want him messing with me at all, but that changed quickly when he brushed up against my high inner thigh.

I don’t know if it’s the new relationship Charlie I’m seeing or if it’s the fact that he’s forbidden from touching me today, but he seems extra touchy-feely. And I secretly love it.

The sweet grazes as he passes by me, the longing glances from across the room, the hidden touch at every possibility; it’s actually a turn on for me. I know it shouldn’t be since I’m in my sister’s house on Thanksgiving.

I should be focused on my sister catching us, not how Charlie’s hand is slowly moving higher up my thigh. Tessa’s father-in-law is sitting across from me talking to me about my courses right now, and it’s impossible to concentrate.

The longer we sit at the dinner table with Charlie secretly touching me, the more I question why we’re hiding us from everyone.

Thankful doesn’t begin to describe how I feel when dinner is over and everyone disperses around the house.

Needing a moment to myself to calm my teenage hormones down, I escape to the bathroom down the hall. The door barely has time to click shut before the handle begins to jingle from the outside.

With a deep sigh, and a quick, silent pep-talk, I turn the handle. I’m surprised when the door is pushed, causing me to scoot farther into the bathroom to keep from getting hit by it.

Frustration and shock run through me, but both are long forgotten when Charlie enters and shuts the door behind him.

He clicks the lock, the sound echoing through the small room.

It’s a long, narrow bathroom, but his presence makes it seem like we’re crammed in a small closet. And his silence and intense stare are daunting.

Reed

I’ve fought myself all fucking day. The only thing I’ve wanted to do since the moment I walked into Hunter’s house is wrap my arm around her waist and claim her as my woman to everyone here.

Granted, yes, I know she’s mine, but I want everyone else to know too.

I wanted to sit beside her during lunch, however, I quickly realized that was an awful idea when I couldn’t keep my hands to myself. It took everything in me to not run my hand all the way up her thigh.

She let out a couple slight moans when my hand would get near her panties; I thought for sure she would have either stopped me or we would have gotten caught.

After that, I knew I needed to get her alone for a few minutes. When she disappeared to the bathroom, I asked Marshall to cover for us both and snuck off to follow her.

Now that I’m in here with her, I’m stunned by how beautiful she truly is. Reality just slapped me in the face. Me, the eternal bachelor, is falling in love with this woman.

I never thought love was a possibility for me, it wasn’t something I ever wanted, but with Tegan, I do. I want it all, and I’m slowly working on getting it.

With that realization, I close the space between us and plant my lips to hers in a harsh kiss. Her arms grip the front of my shirt as I grab the back of her thighs and lift her up to the counter, placing myself firmly between her legs.

Our kiss seems to last forever and it has a whole different feeling, at least for me. What I really want to do is take her back to one of our apartments, or anywhere more private than a fucking guest bathroom.

The rap of knuckles on the door causes us to break apart.

“Come on, lovebirds, Tegan is being looked for,” Marshall’s hushed voice carries through the wood.

We both stare for a moment longer, lost in each other gazes while we catch our breaths.

“What the hell was that for?” Tegan finally asks.

A small chuckle escapes my lips. “Babe, I’ve been dying to kiss you all day.” I place another small kiss to her lips. “And I know we talked about this, but I really want to talk to your sister and Hunter today.”

“What about Tessa’s stress, though?” Her immediate concern goes to her sister and not to her own happiness.

“Tessa is a big girl. You can’t keep living your life trying to do right by her. You have to do right by yourself first.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“I know.” I wink at her. “Guess we better get back out there, huh?”

With a small smile and slight nod, I help guide her off the counter and open the door, allowing her to lead the way.

While Tegan starts on the enormous pile of dirty dishes with her right-hand man, Marshall, I go in search of Hunter.

I know Tegan suggested we wait on telling everyone, but I don’t want to. I’m sick of hiding us.

Tessa is sitting on the deck on a patio loveseat, watching Sawyer, Hunter, and J.C. play in the backyard. Things between Tess and me have been strained since she first caught me kissing Tegan and confronted us. I’m not surprised when Hunter leaves Sawyer and J.C. to join us on the deck.

“Hey, you guys, I wanna talk to you for a minute.”

Tessa looks apprehensively at Hunter who shrugs his shoulders and sits down beside his pregnant wife, wrapping one hand around her back and the other immediately going to rest on her stomach. I sit across from them and prepare myself for this conversation that could go many different ways.

“So, I’m just going to come right out and say this, because fuck if I know how to beat around the bush with it. I think I’m falling in love with Tegan.”

“What?”
they both simultaneously shout.

“Shhh. I haven’t told her yet, so I’d appreciate it if you two would keep it to yourselves for now.”

With an exaggerated exhale, Tessa gets up and walks inside the house without another word said to me.

“Holy shit, dude.” Hunter is shocked by my confession.

“Reed, what the hell did we miss?”

Before I’m able to answer, Tessa comes back outside with Tegan and Marshall trailing behind.

“We obviously need a family talk,” she says as an explanation.

Tegan says nothing but looks timid and scared by this whole situation.

“Tegan and I are together. We’ve been seeing each other for about a month now,” I rise from my seat and pull her to my side, wrapping my arm around her waist like I’ve been dying to do all day. “I fucked up before by keeping everything between us a secret before, and I don’t want to do that again,” I say the last part more to Tegan than anyone else.

“It’s about fucking time,” I hear Marshall yell behind me, followed by a “Wooohooo” from J.C. in the yard.

“So everyone knew about this except us?” Hunter asks.

“I think so,” Tegan quietly responds.

“Bug, why wouldn’t you tell me?”

“You were so upset before. I didn’t want us to have another falling out.” Tegan’s eyes begin to water.

“Tegan, I’m so sorry. I was just worried about you, I only had your best intentions at heart when I disapproved of y’all. I want you happy, and if Reed makes you happy, then I’m supportive.”

“He does,” Tegan says as she hugs Tessa.

The sisters part and I pull Tegan into a kiss. Right in front of everyone.

We pull apart to the sound of Tegan’s niece, Sawyer’s voice.

“Why is Weed kissin’ Teevan?”

Everyone breaks out in laughter, releasing any leftover tension.