Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2) (33 page)

The tan door opens, and I’m met with a teary-eyed Jo.

Stepping inside the doorway, I immediately pull her into my arms.

“Baby, you gotta tell me what’s going on.”

She doesn’t respond, just continues to fall apart with her head in my chest.

I maneuver us and push the door shut. While gently caressing her back, I take in the apartment. I’ve been here many times, but never seen it in this order.

The apartment is a disaster; leftover plates and cups scattered around the coffee table, the old crocheted blanket crumpled into a ball on the couch along with a couple pillows—it looks like she’s been sleeping in here. Or locking herself in this apartment away from the world.

“Hey, why don’t you go to the bathroom and calm down a little, then we can talk?” I say trying to stop her crying.

“Okay,” she hiccups.

“You wanna jump in the shower? Maybe it’ll help you to relax a little?”

She nods and slowly makes her way to the bathroom closing the door behind her.

I take the opportunity to pick up a little. Halfway through the coffee table, after all of the dishes have been put away, I notice three prescription bottles.

I know this borders on stalking behavior, but I want to know what the hell is going on with Jo. So I chance her getting pissed and check the labels.

All three are prescribed to Joanna Fuentes, all by the Naval Hospital.

One looks like antibiotics, one is ibuprofen—the military’s go to solution for everything— and the third is a pain pill, Tylenol 3.

What does she need all of these pills for?

Jo was out of work on Thursday and Friday last week, forty-eight hours SIQ, or sick in quarters for two days; basically sick days meant to be spent in your rack or your living quarters for non-military. I figured it was just some kind of bug, but that doesn’t explain the pain killer.

She steps out of the bathroom and walks toward me at the exact moment I sit all of the bottles back down on the couch.

Her bloodshot eyes move from my face to the pill bottles and back again. The look on her face shows fear.

Something isn’t right here.

“Jo, what’s going on?”

She looks unsure of herself as her eyes focus on the pill bottles.

“Jo!” She finally looks back at me.

“I didn’t want you to know.”

“Know what? What in the fuck is going on? Are you alright?” My mind is racing, and I’m beyond worried now.

“I lost it, J.C. I didn’t think you had to find out.”

I scratch my head in confusion.

“What are you talking about? You lost what? What didn’t you think I needed to know about?”

“The baby!” she yells. “I didn’t want to tell you that I lost our baby!”

“You what?”

“I lost it. My body couldn’t handle it.”

“You were pregnant? And you didn’t tell me? What the hell, Jo?”

She nods her head with a look of shame across her face.

How the hell did I miss all of the signs or her being pregnant?

My head is spinning and I’m pissed.
How the fuck does she think I didn’t need to know she was pregnant?

I walk away from her and begin pacing the length of the living room.

“When?”

“I found out at the beginning of the month and miscarried days later.”

“So you went through all of this alone? You know I would’ve been there for you, Jo. How the hell could you not tell me?”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry, J.C. Miller tried to convince me to--”

“Miller knew? How the fuck did you think it was okay to tell her but not me? It was my fucking kid too, Jo!”

I came over with the intention to help Jo, make her feel a little better, but that’s all gone to hell now. I walk over to the door and fling it open so hard that it bangs against the wall.

“Wait, J.C., please don’t leave…” she cries.

I don’t have the patience to listen to her now, though. She deserves the sadness she’s dealing with. Now I have to be concerned with myself and accept the fact that I lost a baby I wasn’t even informed of.

“No. Don’t ask me to stay now, Jo. I can’t. I can’t be around you after this.”

With that, I slam the door on mine and Jo’s relationship.

One Month Later

“I’ll go, Chief.”

The words fall out of my mouth before my brain has a chance to process all of it.

To my side, I hear a small gasp from the woman who I’ve refused to talk to for the past month.

Luckily, we’re in front of our Chief so she and I both have to check our emotions and leave our personal shit at the door.

Our Chief called a meeting with Jo, Reed, and myself, giving us the opportunity to voluntarily go on the upcoming deployment. Reed is still working on getting all of his shit straightened out with Tegan, I want them to work out, so he doesn’t need to leave now. And Jo... Well, even though we aren’t speaking anymore, I really don’t need to be around her now. She’s tried talking to me on multiple occasions, but I shut her down each time. I can’t stand to hear her bullshit excuses from a month ago.

Time away is exactly what I need.

“Okay, thanks Collins. I’ll get your name on the work-up paperwork, next time you report, they’ll give you all the details.

“Thank you, Chief.”

We’re quickly dismissed. Jo rushes past Reed and me while he tries to figure out why I volunteered for this one.

No one knows what happened with Jo and me in the end.

She’s grown more into herself and avoids being around everyone while I spend more time at the bar like I did before our little fling.

I know she’s carrying around the guilt of losing the baby, and my yelling at her for not telling me doesn’t help, but I can’t bring myself to say sorry, not right now, anyway. I’m angry still, and she’s the only person to be angry at.

It wasn’t her fault that she lost the baby, and that isn’t why I’m upset with her. I’m mad that she didn’t give me the courtesy of telling me she was pregnant. She went at least a week knowing she was pregnant, saw me every day at work, and didn’t ever think to say something.

What would have happened if she hadn’t miscarried?
I’d like to believe she would have eventually told me, but I’m not so sure anymore.

Yeah, space is exactly what I need. Time and space from Jo.

Too bad I’ll leave my heart here with her.

First off I’d like to thank the readers, I’m so incredibly honored that you have continued this journey with me. I loved bringing Tegan and Reed’s story to life, and I hope that you all will continue to follow the Navy Love series with me.

I want to thank my husband and my three little boys. If not for my husband’s support I wouldn’t have finished this book. Although he doesn’t understand the feelings I get when writing or reading, he accepts that both are important to me.

Alex Greyson, you never fail to amaze me! I started off as a reader of yours, then you became a mentor to me, and now? I can’t imagine going more than a few days without talking to you! Through this writing process, you’ve become an amazing friend and I’m incredibly thankful for you! Can’t wait to see you this summer!

Marie Carlisle, this is your book. You helped shape Charlie into the perfect idea I had in my head, and I’m so thankful for that! I feel like we’ve grown even closer over this book and I know Jo and J.C.’s book will be the same. You never fail to amaze me with your genius ideas! Thank you for being my sounding board once again!

My betas; Amber, Shae, Danielle, Erin, Marie and Jeanette. Thank each and everyone of you for taking time out of your busy lives to give feedback. Y’all are my dream team! Once again, you guys have blown me away with all the different ways you helped me with this book.

The members of J.C.’s sailor girl’s group. I love each and every one of y’all. You ladies have given me ideas, helped find muses, and each had an input in this book. You are all fabulous!

Angie, thank you for starting the tradition of American Idol. Hopefully I managed to put together a decent sample of our nights!

Special thanks to Rose and Atalia from FMR Book Grind. When I first met you two last year when promoting Inevitable Love, I never thought I’d find two wonderful friends! Thank you to you both, y’all have helped me well beyond what I ever expected. Atalia, I love your beautiful graphics and Rose, I appreciate your help with everything! I can’t wait for the day I get to squeeze you both!

The Talk Nerdy to Me girls, you ladies are so much fun and entertaining! I used to consider my reading habit to be a dirty little secret, until I found this group full of crazy women just like me. I’ve made some great friendships during the past year and hope that more come from this group. You guys are some of the most supportive friends I could’ve asked for. I love y’all nerds!!!

And to everyone behind the scenes, who helped get this book out there, I cannot begin to describe how thankful I am for each of you. Jessica Anhalt from Anhalt Photography and Design, Angela from That Formatting Lady, Rose and Atalia from FMR Book Grind, and Amy & Aleesha from Nouvelle Author Services. Thank you all, I loved all of your dedication and hard work you each put into making my book amazing.

Lastly, I want to thank every blogger who helped promote Love Unexpected. None of this would be possible without your time and help to authors. I am so humbled by the amount of support I’ve received from so many different blogs, I don’t know what to say to thank you enough.

Already Callin’ You Mine
- Parmalee

Why You Wanna
- Jana Kramer

Dayum, Baby
- Florida Georgia Line

The Heart Wants What It Wants
- Selena Gomez

Confession
- Florida Georgia Line

It Girl
- Jason DeRulo

Who I Am With You
- Chris Young

Sledgehammer
- Fifth Harmony