Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2) (4 page)

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 has 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.

No, no.
Stay strong, Tegan. Don’t fall for his charms.

I push against Reed’s chest until he finally loosens his grip to lean back and look at me. I’m out of breath and my hair is disheveled from his hand.

“Stop. We have to stop,” I whisper against his chest.

“Why? Is it the boyfriend?”

The
boyfriend
. I forgot he thought Matthew was my boyfriend. I have to go. As terrible as it is to lie to him about this, I know it’s the easiest way to get out of this situation.

“Yes.” With that, his hands fall away from my body, and I take a step back.

“Tegan, I…” He looks frustrated. “Come home with me.”

“Don’t, Reed. Please, just don’t. I-I have to go.”

I’m shocked that I’m able to walk away without a backward glance while Reed keeps calling my name.

I silently thank the lord that I spaced my alcohol consumption out throughout the evening. I know I’m able to make the quick drive to my apartment.

As soon as I got to my car, I text Marshall, giving him a quick rundown of what happened. There was no need going into details; he immediately responded telling me he’d handle clean-up and come by afterwards.

The drive is only ten minutes long; my apartment is one I briefly shared with Tess before she moved in with Hunter prior to deploying. I’ve since switched bedrooms, moving to the master and set up a futon into my old room that now serves as a guest room or Marshall’s crash pad when he stays over.

I silently pray that Marsh doesn’t run into Reed. He would say something to Reed about upsetting me. It took everything to keep him from saying something three months ago when he came over and saw the mess that I was after Reed ended our thing, whatever it was.

Searching the fridge, I find two Bud Lights and an Angry Orchard just as my phone chimes with a text.

Marsh: Leavin T’s.

Me: BRING ALCOHOL

Marsh: Gotcha cupcake. ;)

The use of his nickname brings a much needed, slight smile to my face.

A few minutes later, there’s a single knock at my door before it’s pushed open by not only Marsh but Jo as well.

He tosses the beer in the fridge then pulls me into a hug and places a small kiss to my forehead.

“Alright, Cupcake, tell me what’s going on.” He wastes no time getting to the point.

“Ugh, Marsh. Where do I even start?” I ask with a sigh.

Jo, who has been standing beside us watching, speaks up. “How about when you two started talking at the wedding? Where were you? And what did he say?”

Of course, the story is really short. I hadn’t spoke, or even so much as locked eyes with Reed until he grabbed me outside the tent. I don’t understand what brought on our impromptu conversation, let alone that damn kiss.

That insanely hot kiss.

However, by the time I finish giving Jo and Marsh every detail like they asked for, I can’t help but want to go back to a couple hours ago and relish in the kiss for a few moments longer. It’s for the best that I walked away, but deep down I know that was the last kiss I’ll share with Reed. Should’ve taken more advantage of the opportunity.

I should have given myself one more night with him. Is it what I need? No. Will it do any good other than produce a couple of mind-blowing orgasms? Absolutely not. Those orgasms, though—they would make the heartache worth it.

Thankfully, I’m pulled from my treacherous thoughts of running to Reed’s bed by Marshall speaking up with a course of action.

“I cannot believe that fucker. Even after I warned him to stay away from you, he still—I’m gonna kill him.”

What?

I can't decide if I'm honored Marshall stood up for me or pissed off that he interfered without my knowledge. Before my mind has the chance to pick a lane in the situation, Jo jumps in.

“Are you serious, Marsh? This isn't your battle. Tegan has to decide how to work through this on her own. You can't go around beating everyone's ass because you don't like how they handle their relationship.”

“What relationship?” I pipe in. The one fact that is clear, and always was, is that while Reed and I were together, we aren't and we weren't a couple.

Both Marshall and Jo are staring at me now.

“What?” I say on a sigh. I feel a headache coming on as I rub my temples. “Reed and I weren't ever a couple. We
fucked
, that's it.”

Ugh, I feel classless just saying that. However, it’s the truth. I could try to proclaim that we had something going, and to me we did, but it’s time I face the truth. All I ever was to Reed was a piece of ass. He didn’t feel anything for me; I was alone in my feelings. The sooner I realize the harsh reality I’m in, the sooner I can stop allowing him to overrun my mind.

My frustration is getting the best of me. I invited these two over to clear my head of all the fog Reed caused tonight, not to relive the past three agonizing months.

An unusual awkward silence washes over us. No one knowing what to say to make the situation better. Each of us lost in our own opinions, the two of them, I'm sure, with their decided approaches to the mess with Reed. While I, on the other hand, am lost on how to tackle this mountain.

“Look, I know I was up for you guys coming over, but I'm exhausted. I don't mind if y'all hang out or crash here, but I'm just going to go to bed. Maybe sleep will bring me some answers on how to deal with this.”

Jo chooses to head home while Marsh decides to crash here for the night. I say my goodbyes to Jo then head straight to the shower.

Marshall and I have fallen into a routine when we stay the night together. He might as well be a roommate; for the past three months, we've spent a ton of time together. Both suffering from heartbreaks. While Marshall has had full disclosure on whatever the hell happened between Reed and me, he stayed tight-lipped about his situation. It seemed some days he was okay, happy even, and others he moped around like someone shot his dog.

Every time I tried questioning him about the status of him and the lover boy Tessa had mentioned, he always managed to brush off the conversation.

As I allow the water to cascade down my body, I think over the events of tonight. Obviously, Marshall had some words with Reed, and then Reed disregarded them and still came to me. I cannot believe he thought I’d go home with him. Just like that, after three months of not speaking to each other at all.

While we were together—well, not together but sleeping together—it was fun. However, I allowed feelings to get involved even though Reed forewarned me not to. Our demise was inevitable from the start; we’d never be more than friends with benefits. And while I don’t regret it, I can’t allow myself to get caught up in another dead-end relationship.