Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2)

by Santo, JC

  The spectacle is enough to draw the attention of most of the people around us. I’m willing to bet Reed’s as well.

  My attention is pulled away from the mess that covers my shirt and jeans by the cute bartender offering me a hand towel to wipe myself off with. I can already feel the stickiness setting in on my arms and chest from the sugary ingredients, but I try my best to clean it all off. When I turn to hand it back to him, I no longer see Reed and Bimbo Barbie sitting there.

  Maybe he saw me and wanted to avoid an awkward moment. Maybe he took her home to continue her grinding. That thought makes me feel nauseous.

  With all that has happened in the last ten minutes, my buzz has vanished and all I want to do is go home. My mind's made up—it’s time for me to leave.

  Ashley, the poor drunk girl, tries to argue with me to stay, but when that same good looking bartender distracts her by complimenting her, I know it's my golden opportunity to sneak away.

  I turn and run into a wall of hard, sculpted chest. Without looking up, I know who this chest belongs to. I've seen this chest naked, I've raked my nails down it in the heat of the moment, and I've laid my cheek on it after an intense round of sex. This chest, belongs to The Charlie Reed.

  Looking up is the absolute last thing I want to do, but judging by the grip on my arms that hasn't let go, I know I have to face him.

  I expect anger or ridicule, or something along those lines when I look at his face. What I don't expect to see is compassion.

  Standing there staring at each other, the sexual tension, the unresolved issues, the intense desire we have for one another, they all swirl through the air. We're stuck in a trance, mesmerized, silently taking this moment to apologize for all the hell we've put each other through these past few months. I feel like at any moment he could lean down and kiss me like I've been wanting.

  “Tegan, I—” His sultry voice stops and both of our eyes move down to his chest where a set of manicured nails is now staking her claim.

  Reed’s hands fall from my arms. He places one on his hip and the other begins running through his hair, a sign of stress he’s picked up from my brother-in-law. All the while, skankalicious still has her hand on him, oblivious to the fact that she’s interrupting something.

  She finally realizes her prize for the night is caught up with another girl, and the claws quickly come out.

  “Reed, baby, I thought we were gettin’ outta here?” She eyes me up and down.

  While I'm no ten, I won't be intimidated by this bimbo. I watch as she assesses me, knowing damn good and well that she’s silently judging every aspect of me right now.

  Jokes on her, though, because I know my jeans, ballerina flats, and bohemian-style tank top may not be the sexiest thing to wear to a club, and I'm aware that the chances of me taking home a guy like this aren't the highest. That never was my intention for the night. A man is the reason I’m out drinking tonight; the last thing I need to do is find another one. Most men come here looking for her type—skin-tight, short dress, caked on makeup, and, as I've already witnessed firsthand, dry humping anything that will allow her to straddle it. I’ll gladly pass on all of that.

  Hell, I'm sure she thought even the mechanical bull showed her special interest.

  Reed takes a step back from me, and I'm thankful the loud music covers up the sigh that I can't hold in at the loss of his closeness.

  “I should go,” he says, never actually looking at me. “Come on, Mel, let's pay our tab and get out of here.”

  Bimbo links her arm in his, once again claiming her man for the night. She actually has the audacity to knock her shoulder into mine as they pass me to get to the bar.

  Fuck this.

  Before I'm able to rationalize what I'm doing or saying, I turn and call both of them out.

  “Are you shitting me, Charlie?” He turns back, breaking the physical contact he has with Bimbo. “You’re seriously going to take that home tonight?” I throw my hand up in a disgusting manner toward her.

  “Charlie?” Bimbo looks confused at Reed.

  “Yeah, apparently you weren’t even important enough to get his first name.” I rake my eyes over her. “Or you just were more concerned with bagging a sailor tonight that you didn’t give a damn what his name was.”

  I know there are plenty of girls like that around here; they latch onto any and every military man they can find. Always trying to find their way into a service member’s bed. The thought of all those nice medical benefits are enough to try seducing them into a one-night stand and eventually a marriage.

  I may not have been in a military town long, but I’ve already seen and heard about those types of women. They’re everywhere.

  Apparently, Reed doesn’t care for my choice words to Mel. He stalks back to where he's standing directly in front of me. I have to look up to see his face at this point.

  “And who do you think you are to judge who I take home and fuck, Tegan? I was a mistake, remember?”

  Ouch. I didn't expect him to throw my own words back in my face.

  “I, uhh, I…”

  “Exactly. You are the one who condemned us from the start, not me. So don't sit here and try to cast your fucked up judgment on me and who I'm fucking tonight.”

  I assume he thinks the conversation is over. He turns back to collect his trash for the night, but I'm far from finished.

  “Condemned us? Who was the one who wanted to sneak around like we were a fucking dirty little secret, Charlie?” He faces me again. “Because that wasn't me. Who was the one who wouldn't tell me a fucking thing about their past? Because that damn sure wasn't me. You were the one who was too afraid to give us a chance, not me. Don't sit here and act like you're the victim in this situation.”

  Tears start to well up in my eyes, but now that I've started this, I have to finish. I doubt I'll ever have another opportunity to say it to him.

  “You're the one who condemned us from the start, and you're the one who broke my heart when Tessa’s deployment ended earlier.” With that, the tears spill over.

  Within seconds, Ashley is by my side pulling me into a hug. I don't know if she's been standing there the whole time and witnessed the entire argument or was just fortunate enough to show up as my water works started.

  I feel strong arms on my shoulders. Knowing it’s Marsh, I continue to silently cry onto Ashley's shoulder. He must have shown up at some point while all of this commotion with Reed was happening. I’m just glad he’s here and I hope he’s taking note of me standing up for myself for once.

  I'm shocked when it's Reed’s voice in my ear whispering.

  “Come on, Tegan, I'm taking you home.”

  Emotionally drained, I feel as if the last twenty minutes have been the emotional rollercoaster ride from hell. I'm too wore out and upset to argue with him, I just want home and my bed.

  Maybe I didn't need a night to get sloppy drunk, maybe I just need to cry it all out. Again.

  I thought I had done that three months ago, but if tonight is any indication, I'm apparently not as over it as I thought. Perhaps another weekend of wallowing is necessary.

  Guess I’m glad Marshall isn’t here, I thought I was doing good, giving Reed a piece of my mind, but it doesn’t add up to much when I break down in tears. That kinda takes away the whole strong stance I was going for.

  Reed wraps an arm around my waist and my head immediately rests against that same glorious chest I mentioned earlier. Ashley kisses my cheek before whispering something about a death wish into Reed’s ear and backing away.

  Almost as if it’s an afterthought, Reed looks back to his bimbo who, I'm sure, is confused and probably mad as hell over this quick change of events, and tosses her a lame excuse.

  “Melanie, it's not happening tonight. I've got other shit to take care of.” She walks up and places her arm on his, trying desperately to wiggle her way into our exit and Reed’s bed for the night.

  “I don't mind riding along while you take crybaby here
home.” She thrusts her breast out even more than they already are. “Then we can actually do all those dirty things we were talking about earlier.”

  It's not my business, but I can't help but somehow be a part of this trainwreck or a dismissal. I look up at Reed to try and gauge his reaction; a look of disgust crosses his face when he watches her runs her nails along his forearm.

  “Take a hike, Mel, it's not happening.”

  “Ugh, what the fuck, Charlie? You're not taking me home now because this bitch needs a babysitter?”

  “First of all,” his voice is menacing, “do not call me Charlie. And secondly, no, I'm not taking you home because I wasn't planning on taking your ass home to begin with. You were only being used to hurt Tegan. I had no intentions of fucking you tonight. And don't you ever let me hear you talk badly about her again. She's ten times the woman you’ll ever be.”

  It's now Melanie's turn to cry, however there's no one there to show her any compassion. Reed simply leads me away from her without a backward glance and out of the bar to his truck.

  The entire ride home is silent except for my sniffling. Without meaning to, I'm pulled back to my heartbreak three months ago. Tonight was a swift kick in my ass. I knew I wasn't over Reed, but I didn't realize how much I still cared for him. If only the feelings could be mutual, but he shut down those thoughts the first night we were together. I know Reed isn't capable of caring for someone. Well, capable, yes. Willing to, no.

  I'm so lost in my own thoughts that I don't notice when the truck comes to a stop outside my apartment. Reed tries to talk, but I interrupt him before he can say anything that could cause me to erupt into tears again.

  “Thanks for the ride, sorry I ruined your night.” I open my door and hop down without waiting for a reply.

  “Hey,” Reed calls out just before I shut the door. “You didn't ruin anything Tegan.”

  I look down to the ground, embarrassed by my behavior tonight. Regardless of what he says, I know I ruined both of our nights. I'm sure what he did tonight was some sort of an apology for his behavior at the shower earlier.

  With a small nod of my head, I close the door on the truck and, thankfully, on this shitty night.

  Reed

  I could go back to the bar. I could give Melanie some bullshit excuse to why I said what I said. Well, let's be honest, I know I wouldn't have to come up with an excuse.

  Melanie is the type of slut that acts like every dick she sees is a fucking lollipop. She’s literally like a kid in a damn candy store when one is put in her face.

  But no, going to the bar and taking Melanie or any random bed warmer home doesn't sound appealing to me.

  Instead, I send J.C. a text, letting him know that I've left for the night, alone, and that I'll catch up with him tomorrow. I'm sure he's found someone to entertain him.

  For the second time today, I’m glad I didn’t drink more than one beer. I take my time heading back to my apartment, driving aimlessly for a few extra minutes, trying to make sense of everything that just took place in the bar.

  Whether I want to admit it or not, I care about Tegan. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have ditched Melanie and took her home.

  I can’t say I’m terribly surprised when I pull into my apartment parking space and notice Marshall leaning against my doorframe. He must have either been called by Tegan after I dropped her off at her apartment or he showed up at the bar and her friend told him I left with Tegan.

  Either way, I don’t want the hassle of yet another lecture. With no words spoken between us, I lead the way inside the small apartment and head straight for the fridge and a cold beer.

  While I’m not in the mood for a lecture, if that’s what Marsh intends to do, then by God I will listen to what he has to say.

  I pop two beers open and slide one across the counter to where he stands observing me.

  “So, let’s hear it, Marsh.” Better to just get this shit over with so I can go to bed.

  He takes a long gulp of his beer. “Hear what?” He shrugs his shoulder at my astonished look.

  We stare each other down, both waiting to see who will crack first. Unfortunately, it’s me. I don’t have the patience to stand here in silence.

  “All I did was give her a ride home after she chewed my ass out in the middle of the bar.” I should be pissed off. However, seeing Marsh’s eyes widen at my confession, and the shitty smirk that shows his approval of my berating, has me realizing that although it was at my expense, I’m proud of Tegan. She stood up for what she believed in tonight. And don’t even get me started on how I feel about my being what she believed in.

  Marsh must sense the shift in me, because his smirk becomes a full-blown smile and he lets out a bark of a laugh.

  “Sorry, man,” he says once he finally is able to compose himself. “You gotta admit, though. Tegan, my little cupcake, went off on you? Big handsome Reed who she’s head over heels for?”

  I nod my head with raised eyebrows, as if to say, “Yeah, dumbass.”

  I won’t comment on him calling her his cupcake, but I feel a twinge of jealousy at his harmless claiming of her. And the head over heels remark? I think I probably ruined that tonight when I pretty much told her I was fucking other women. When honestly, the last person in my bed was her.

  “This shit is rich, fucking rich.” My face must show my confusion. “The little hopeless romantic girl just went off on her very own Prince Charming.”

  “Excuse me? I’m nobody’s Prince Charming, Marsh. You know I don’t do relationships. What Tegan and I had was just for fun and now it’s ran its course.”

  He slowly nods his head as I speak, like he’s soaking in everything coming from my mouth. He holds his hands up in a surrender gesture; I can only hope he’s going to drop this ridiculous conversation.

  “So, why didn’t you go back to the bar?”

  Not exactly dropping it, but at least he’s moving away from the direct subject of Tegan and me.

  Marshall follows me into the living room where we both sit down on opposite ends of my black leather sofa.

  “I don’t know. I couldn’t just leave her there, man. She went off and then started crying into her friend’s shoulder. I’m already in enough deep water with Tessa, could you imagine what she’d do to my nuts if she found out I made her sister cry again and then left her in the middle of a fucking bar like that?” I pay close attention to peeling the label off my bottle.

  “Good to know, but you didn’t answer my question. I asked why you didn’t go back?”

  I think over the question.

  “Just didn’t feel like it after she put me in my place like that. Kind of a major buzz kill.”

  He nods his head in understanding. After a second of thinking I realize I don’t know how he ended up at my place.

  “Hey, what made you come over here?”

  “I showed up at the bar right after you guys left. Tegan had texted me earlier, telling me to come hang out. When I got there, Ashley gave me a rundown of what happened between you two. I figured you probably needed a friend tonight.”

  “You weren’t worried about Tegan?” I ask, a little irritated. Why would he choose to come here and sit with me instead of comforting the girl who he’s taken to like a protective big brother? “Someone should be there with her, she’s fucking upset.”

  I immediately regret saying anything about Tegan. The smirk on his face tells me that he’s not going to let that slide without addressing it.

  “Calm down, I called her when I got here and noticed your truck wasn’t here. She’s fine, said she would fill me in on everything tomorrow and was going to bed. I figured I’d stay here and see if you needed to talk through all of this shit.”

  “Talk through what shit? There’s nothing to talk about. Tegan and I were finished before we ever started. She has an innocence I would wreak havoc on with all of my fucked up problems.”

  I dread Marshall’s next response as much as I’m longing to hear it.

&nbs
p; “Well.” He clears his throat. “What do you want here, Reed? Tell you the truth or you want me to be your bro and make you feel okay about the situation?”

  “I want both.”

  “Alright, here’s my opinion. You fucking care about her, that’s why you couldn’t leave her in the middle of the bar crying. And she cares about your stubborn ass, that’s why she finally stepped up and spoke up for something she believes in.” He takes his now empty bottle and sets it on the counter before coming back and standing in front of me. “You don’t give her enough credit. Yeah she’s young and still has some innocence about her, but she isn’t some clueless little virgin like you’re making her out to be. She’s strong as hell, and if any woman could handle you and all of your baggage, it’s that girl.” He waits until I make eye contact before he decides to knock me completely on my ass.

  “Whether you want to admit it or not, you are her Prince Charming—” I start to argue again, but am silenced with his hand in the air. “Don’t even, I don’t want to hear the excuses. Reed may not be the Prince Charming she wants, but Charlie is. And like it or not, both of those men are a part of you, Reed. You just need to find out how to balance the two, and become the man you’re capable of being for her.”

  He walks over and pulls me up off the couch by my hand. “Now, I’m exhausted, and I’m not driving home. So take your ass to bed, I’m crashing on your couch.”

  I stand there dumbfounded for a couple seconds before I finally go to bed, Marshall just put me in my fucking place.

  The night is spent tossing and turning, thinking over what Marsh said.

  Is he right? Is Charlie her Prince Charming?

  I wake up feeling as though I have a horrible hangover. I know it’s not due to the amount of alcohol I consumed but rather the long night of restless sleep I got.

  Walking into the kitchen, I glance around and notice no signs of Marshall. Checking the clock, I see that it’s after 10:00 AM; he’s already dipped out. I know he hits the gym before work every morning. I stand by the bar slowly waking up as I sip my black coffee.