Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2)

by Santo, JC

  Plain and simple, though, I’ve got plans for the two of us together, for a good long time.

  “Well, we should get going.” I glance down at my watch—four hours until our flight.

  Mom hugs and kisses us both one last time and we load into the car with my dad and make the short drive to the airport. I’m sad to leave, but ready to get back to the daily grind of life.

  We land in Norfolk at 11:00 PM. Even though Tegan napped most of the ride home, we’re both beyond ready to crash for the night. I’m still not ready to let her go home yet, though.

  It doesn’t take much convincing, with her car being parked right outside my apartment anyway, so I’m able to talk her into staying.

  She and I both have tomorrow off of work. I return on Tuesday while she’s off until Thursday. I know I can convince her to stay with me until then, and Saturday night is when we’re babysitting Parker and Madison.

  Tonight is the night. In a matter of hours, I’ll be with Tegan and two little munchkins. As excited as I am to see those two, I’d really rather have some alone time with my woman tonight.

  Since our trip, I can’t get enough of Tegan. I want to be around her all the time, and when I am around her, I want to be physically touching her. At this point, I don’t understand how I managed to steer clear of her for those three months. Going an hour without talking to her or touching her is pure hell.

  She stayed at my apartment until early Thursday morning when she had to leave for her opening shift at the coffee house. I wasn’t happy not having her there with me Thursday night or last night, but tonight, we’ve already made arrangements to go home together. I picked her up from her apartment straight after work just to ensure a night together happened.

  I haven’t had much time to spend with everyone since we came back from Michigan. Tonight is the first time I’ll see Hunter and Tess; Marshall met me for lunch on Wednesday so he was the first to get all of the details of the trip. Luckily for me, he already heard everything from Tegan when he stopped by and saw her on Tuesday after I left for work.

  I’ve seen Jo in passing, but she hasn’t seemed in the mood for talking. Everyone at work, including J.C., has warned me of her foul mood. And although I’ve seen J.C. and hung out with him while at work, we haven’t discussed much other than safe, easy topics. Until one of them wants to confess that there’s way more going on between the two of them, no one can help them out of the situation they’re currently in.

  All of us are simply stuck on the sidelines, unable to help, clueless as to what the real issues are with them.

  Arriving at Tessa’s, I think I’m more excited than Tegan. She came over on Wednesday and spent some time with her sister and the babies. I, however, haven’t gotten to see them, other than the pictures she sent me that day.

  We walk into the living room where Hunter has both of them in bouncy chairs, holding two bottles up and talking animatedly to them as they suck down the formula. The twins are captivated by their father’s antics.

  Tessa comes in wearing a form-fitting pair of jeans and pea coat.

  “Hey, y’all.” She hugs her sister and gives her a peck to the cheek. I’m somewhat surprised when I get the same treatment. “How was the trip, Reed?”

  “It was a lot of fun.”

  “Good, good. Bug said she had a good time.” The smile on her face tells me that Tegan told her a lot more than just that she had a good time. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tessa also knew that I told Tegan I love her.

  Oh well, they’ll all find out sooner rather than later.

  “Oh, I forgot to mention it earlier; we had planned to drop Sawyer off with my dad,” Hunter says in-between wiping the access formula from each of the twins chins. “He’s not feeling well and asked if you two could handle her too? If you aren’t comfortable I can call Marsh—”

  “No. He’s gotten plenty of time with all three of these cuties while I was away, we’ll be just fine.”

  After we chat a few more minutes, Tegan takes over for Hunter so he and Tess can leave.

  “Sawyer!” Tessa yells down the hall, “We’re about to leave!”

  She comes running down the hall and straight into Hunter’s arms.

  “Bye, Daddy!”

  “You make sure you listen to your aunt and Reed tonight, you hear me, young lady?”

  “I will!” she exaggerates and moves over to hug Tessa. “Lub you, Mommy.”

  “Love you too, princess. Now, go finish your movie, Daddy and I will be back soon.”

  “Okay!”

  Tessa watches her daughter skip back down the hall then gives both twins a kiss on their heads.

  “Alright, we’ll be back in a couple hours. Just going to dinner and a movie. Call us if you need anything.”

  “We will, Tess. Go, have a good time, we’ll see you in a bit,” Tegan says as she watches the twins while they finish their bottles.

  Tegan

  This is what I hope to be the first of many babysitting adventures for myself and Charlie.

  He’s been a huge help so far. I didn’t know how reliable he’d be, but he helped bathe the twins, washed bottles after they finished eating, ordered pizza, and ensured that Sawyer ate and changed Parker’s diaper.

  How many men volunteer to change a baby’s diaper?

  I’ve seen Charlie with Sawyer many times, but watching how attentive he is in this element with not only a five-year-old little girl, but also two six-week-old babies, I have no doubt he will make an excellent father someday.

  He’s mentioned before that he’s not sure he’d want kids, but that would be a shame for him to not experience it.

  The twins are amazing, but I’m biased.

  They’re six weeks old and they’re starting to get their own unique personalities now. Parker is mellow: he’s content to lay on the floor and entertains himself. Madison is the exact opposite: she loves attention already and doesn’t last long when she’s left to entertain herself.

  Unfortunately, they still do sleep quite a bit. So after one jam-packed hour since Tess and Hunter’s departure, they are both ready for bed. Each have been fed, bathed and changed into pajamas.

  Sawyer is sitting on the floor quietly playing on a tablet, while I’m in the rocker with Madison and Charlie is on the ottoman with a sleepy Parker in his arms.

  Picking up one of the many children’s books from the shelf beside me, I read through it and effectively put both of the twins to sleep.

  Charlie and I both continue rocking and cuddling our respective kid a few extra minutes. He’s the first to get up and place Parker in his crib. Instead of sitting back down or even leaving the room, he squats down and picks up the now snoozing Sawyer and exits the room.

  After a couple minutes he reappears in the doorway. Leaning against the frame, he stares at me and the sleeping Madison.

  “What?” I whisper after a minute of his scrutiny.

  He shrugs his shoulder, brushing off my question.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  He slowly shakes his head back and forth.

  “Just realized something.” He pushes off the door and sits back down on the ottoman, only this time he’s facing me where before I saw his back.

  “And what’s that?”

  “That I want this.” He lifts his chin toward me and Madison.

  “What?”

  “You in this element. I want you as my wife and the mother of my kids, Tegan.”

  My eyes bug out.

  “Don’t freak out just yet. I’m not asking for it now, but know that it’s coming. I wasn’t lying when I told my mom I want you around for a long time. What I didn’t say is I want you around for as long as humanly possible.”

  He wants this? With me?

  It’s exactly what I want. I love Charlie, and even though we had a rough road to get to this point, I wouldn’t change anything about it.

  I look down at Madison as I say the words, “I want that too.”

  He lean
s down to see my face. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” I get up and walk over to the crib. Placing one last kiss to my niece’s head, I lay her down and we leave the room.

  I check on Sawyer, who is sound asleep in her bed, then we both make our way to the living room.

  “What brought that on?”

  “Seeing you with the twins, knowing how much I love you, it fits. I never thought I’d want kids, but with you, I do. I want it all. Kids, a minivan, soccer games, whatever—sign me up. As long as I got you by my side, I’m in.”

  I take a seat on the couch beside where he has already sat down and he pulls me into his side.

  “I need to talk to you about something,” he says quietly.

  I nod for him to continue, unsure of where this strange conversation is going.

  “I hate not having you in bed with me every night. So please, can we move in together?”

  Letting out a small laugh, I shake my head, unable to believe how this night has evolved.

  “We can move into your place for the time being until we find something we both like. My lease ended a few months ago so I’m on a month-to-month payment option now.”

  I think it over briefly. This move makes sense, Tessa paid her half of the rent for six months up front when she moved out, and that ends next month. And beyond the finances of it, I hate living alone.

  Plus, nine times out of ten if I’m at home, Charlie is with me. Or I’m at his apartment.

  We’ve pretty much been living together for the last month or so anyway. It’s time to get all of our stuff into one household.

  This is an easy decision. I want it, and he’s offering it to me.

  “Well? What’d you say? You in?”

  I fight hard against it, but lose the battle to keep the smile hidden.

  “I’m in, Charlie. Always in with you.”

  Tegan

  When Charlie sets his mind to something, he accomplishes his goal in record timing. It’s been a little over a month since I agreed to move in with him, and here were are, unpacking all of our stuff now in our new place.

  He had showings set up the following week after that night we babysat Tessa’s kids. Within three weeks we found our perfect place.

  My spare bedroom has been used for storage for the past month; Charlie wasted no time in boxing up his apartment and moving into mine.

  I tried convincing him that we could just stay in this apartment, but he argued that we needed a third bedroom; one to be used as a guest room and set up especially for Sawyer and the twins.

  The new apartment is very spacious and centrally located to all of our important places. Tessa’s house and the base are a short fifteen-minute drive and my work and school are only twenty minutes away.

  Honestly, I would have been intent on staying in Tessa’s old apartment longer; t’s bittersweet to walk away from it, so many memories were made there. Tessa’s memories like it being her first place outside of the barracks, her friendships growing with this group of people, and the start of her and Hunter. And then there are mine: me moving here, sneaking around with Reed, and the beginning of us.

  We’ve spent the whole weekend getting things unpacked and organized. I, unfortunately, am in class this morning and Charlie is working the night check, so we won’t see each other until well after midnight tonight.

  When I arrive home that afternoon to an empty house, I’m shocked by the amount of work Charlie was able to complete. The living room looks livable now. My kitchen is completely unpacked and cabinets are filled with clean dishes.

  I walk into our master bedroom with the intention of changing clothes and continuing the unpacking process, but to my surprise, even the bedroom looks put together. Our bed is not only put together—this morning we woke up on the mattress on the floor—but the sheets and comforter are on it as well. Peeking in the closet, I see all of our clothes are hung. The bathroom cabinets are stocked with all of our toiletries too.

  Charlie has out done himself today.

  Making my way back down the hall, I stop in each of the two spare rooms. The guestroom and office now has the small desk set up along one wall and a futon assembled on along another.

  The biggest surprise comes when I open the door to what we decided will be designated for my nieces and nephew. I’m blown away yet again by everything Charlie has done.

  There is a daybed along one wall, and a toy box that’s already halfway full. A small table sits in one corner with all of Sawyer’s crayons and coloring books stacked nicely on top. Sitting inside the closet are two brand new pack n’ plays.

  He’s done all of this to ensure my sister would be comfortable with the kids staying over and that they would have a good time while they’re here.

  We’ve already made arrangements for Sawyer to spend a night with us next weekend. I tried telling her we needed time to get everything situated here, but she won Charlie over with her persistence.

  “I neeeed to stay wif y’all. Parker and Maddie gib me a headache now, and they cwry alllll the time. I need a baycation.”

  One sad look in Charlie’s direction, and he caved—if that girl has one of these men wrapped around her finger, she’s got them all. With all the work he’s accomplished today, our home should be more than ready to have my niece over this weekend.

  With that thought, I head back into the living room to finish those few boxes left boxed up.

  Three hours later, with music blaring and a couple glasses of wine in me, the last box is finally emptied.

  We’re officially moved in.

  Having Sawyer over just reaffirmed how wonderful of a father I think Charlie will be. He’s kept her entertained the entire time.

  And here I thought Marshall was my only competition with these kids, now I’ve gotta worry about my boyfriend too! Charlie not only did the typical things with her, like coloring and watching movies, he also went above and beyond by cooking a homemade pizza with her and baked and decorated cupcakes.

  I think in a twenty-four-hour period, he may have jeopardized both Marshall’s and my high-ranking positions in Sawyer’s eyes.

  “Well,” Charlie says sitting down on the couch next to me after he locked the door behind my sister and Sawyer. “I don’t know about you, but I’m wore out. That girl has way too much energy.”

  I chuckle. “Just wait until the twins are her age. Then we’ll have two rambunctious five year olds and a ten-year-old drama queen coming over for visits.”

  “Maybe we’ll have our own then too,” he says as he lightly rubs his hand along my thigh.

  “Are you serious?”

  He looks up to me. “I was serious when I said I want kids and marriage with you.”

  I look down at his hand, my eyes following the trail his hand makes. His other hand lifts my chin back to eye level with his face.

  “I meant it, Tegan. I’ll wait until you’re ready, but know that those are the ultimate goals I see for us.”

  It’s somewhat of a dream come true to hear him say he wants the same things I want. As much as I want them too, I don’t want us to miss out on activities for just the two of us first.

  “I know; I want all of it too. I just want us to take our time and enjoy being just the two of us first.”

  “Babe, we’ve got all the time in the world. It took me forever to figure out I wanted you, now that I have you, I’m not letting you go. Just know that eventually, you will be Tegan Reed, barefoot and pregnant in our kitchen.”

  I can’t say that image doesn’t sit perfectly well with me.

  We get up and tidy up the last of the mess left by their baking adventure then head to our room and curl up in bed together with a movie on.

  I hear Charlie’s snores before the previews end. I smile and snuggle myself closer to his side.

  Reed

  5 weeks later

  Our apartment is filled with friends and family alike.

  I surprised Tegan with not only her parents coming to visit, but mine as well. Ev
eryone we love is here to celebrate her twenty-second birthday.

  Well, almost everyone—J.C. is still deployed, and Jo is on another visit home to California. Seems her mom’s health is getting worse.

  Tegan’s birthday happened to fall close to Easter this year, so the timing worked out perfectly for the time her parents to come up for another visit and Tanner happened to be on a break from school at the same time.

  She knew her parents were coming—we actually had dinner at Tessa’s house with everyone—but mine are surprising her.

  Tegan and my mom have stayed in touch since our visit to Michigan through texting and phone calls.

  We’re sitting on the couch watching a marathon of Modern Family when the doorbell rings. She looks at me expectantly, and I shrug my shoulders, appearing to be clueless.

  Tegan gets up and crosses the room. I can’t help but smile at how adorable she looks in her flannel-print pajama pants and spaghetti-strap tank top. She peers through the peephole and jerks her head back in my direction with a suspicious glare before opening the door.

  She and my mom both squeal in delight when they catch sight of each other and wrap their arms around the other.

  I sneak around them and grab my dad and Tanner for a hug then help them with the luggage. Mom and Tegan are already inside on the couch catching up when we finish bringing everything inside.

  “I cannot believe y’all are here!” Tegan comes up and hugs both my dad and brother.

  “It was Reed’s idea. He’s been trying to get us to come out for a visit forever.” He nods his head in Ma’s direction. “Someone didn’t ever seem too interested in getting on a plane until she heard it was a surprise for your birthday.”

  I walk over and wrap an arm around Ma’s shoulder.

  “That true? I had to get a woman to live with me for you to come visit?”

  “Oh hush.” She swats my stomach.

  We help get my family settled in after giving them a tour of our new home. Although nothing is said, I can tell my parents are happy for us.