Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2) (6 page)

I had to get out of there. The nerve of all of them. Tessa for acting like she’s my mother, telling me who I can and cannot date. Hunter for keeping himself out of hot shit by pretending like he didn’t know anything had happened between Reed and me. And Reed, the
nerve
of him. After three months of not speaking to me, then that ludicrous act at the wedding Friday and today.

He must get off on being a dick and fucking with my emotions.

He had to have been kidding when he said that kiss will happen again. No. No.
No
. That cannot happen again; it will ruin me. Getting over him three months ago was brutal. If it weren’t for the friendship and companionship of Marshall and Jo, I would’ve became an ice-cream-addicted nocturnal creature.

Although I’m sure the two of them would be there in a heartbeat for me again, I can’t allow myself to fall under his spell again. I know it is a dead-end relationship.

I never expected to start sneaking around with one of my sister's best friends. It honestly just sort of happened. What started off as a wild night of drunken passion became a tangled web of lies, deceit, and secret rendezvous.

I told my heart from the beginning to not get involved. It was just fun, but that bitch never did listen. Before I knew how to stop it, I developed feelings for Reed.

What I can’t get over is the way my sister acted to all of this. Sure, I knew she’d be upset—I knew before I ever got to Norfolk that I would be off-limits to her friends—but never did I expect her to tell me that if I continued seeing Reed, I wouldn’t be allowed at the hospital when the twins are born.

How can she be so immature about this? Does having a carefree sexual relationship somehow cause me to be a bad aunt or a bad person in general? Because if so, Tess probably needs to look in a mirror. Lord knows she had her fair share of flings and friends with benefits.

I’m hoping today was just her overcharged hormones.

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing, but not on Tessa. She’s a moody asshole. My new brother-in-law is a saint for being able to handle her mood swings. I guess not being included in any of the pregnancy aspects with Sawyer’s mother, he’s determined to be a part of everything this time around.

Maybe in a day or two she will have calmed down a little and we’ll be able to sit down and have a rational conversation about all of this.

Hunter sent me a text not long after I stormed out telling me he’ll talk to her. If anyone can get through to my stubborn sister, it’s one of the Stevenson brothers.

This time she’ll only have to rely on Hunter for support; the other Stevenson brother is meeting me at the coffee shop I work at to be
my
support system.

Marshall was quick to let me know that he knew about Reed and me all those months ago when I was going through my heartbreak. He’d known from the beginning, or pretty close to it. I’m unsure why he didn’t try to turn me away like everyone else has done. Even sitting here with him now, he doesn’t.

“I gotta be honest with you, Cupcake.” He rubs the back of his neck contemplating how to word what comes next. “Your sister is stubborn as fuck. You really think it’s a good idea to go against her wishes right now?”

“Marsh, I’m not a little kid, number one. Number two, who I
fuck
is my business. And number three, none of this matters anymore; I told Reed nothing will happen with us again.”

I internally cringe at my vulgar language. I don’t typically talk like that, but I’m sick of everyone acting like I’m virginal and innocent.

He looks at me skeptically.

“Well, in a roundabout way.”

“You honestly believe that either of them believed that crock of shit?” He pauses a beat, allowing me to really think about his question. “Tegan, babe, neither of them did. And I know that for a fact because the lie in that statement is written clear as day across your face. Anyone can see it.”

Choosing to ignore his comment, I stare intently at my coffee mug.

“You care about him. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you need to consider the man. Do you honestly believe Reed is the type of guy worthy of your feelings, Cupcake? And I’m sure that is what your sister is worried about.”

“I just wish she didn’t treat me like a child or give me a damn ultimatum. And I have no clue about Reed, not anymore. Granted, we were just sleeping together before, but I let my heart go with him, I developed feelings fast, and got my heart stomped in the end. I don’t know if I’m willing to go there again, but I would like the opportunity to make that decision myself, not for my sister to make it for me.”

“I don’t agree with that ultimatum bullshit, either, and you can bet I’ll say something to her about it if my brother hasn’t already. She was out of line with that. You need to talk to her, like Jo and I have been telling you to do for months now. It’s time she realizes that you aren’t a child and she starts treating you like the adult you are.”

We toss our trash and walk out of the shop after a few more minutes of talking. Marshall walks me to my car and plants a kiss to my forehead before walking away. I climb in and shut the door when a light rap on my window causes me to look up to see Marsh standing there again. I press the window button, unsure what he needs.

“I know Tessa is giving you a hard time right now and is thinking the worst of Reed, and I know you're confused and frustrated with both her and Reed, but know that if you feel like Reed is worth the risk, take a chance and go after what you want, Cupcake. I've known Reed for a while now, and I know he has some issues, but I can guarantee you, when that man decides to finally let love in, he’s gonna love fierce, just like everything else that he does.”

With that, he walks away, leaving me speechless.

I’ll be damned. Reed has a cheerleader
.

Tegan

It’s been two weeks since the run-in at my sister’s house. She and I are barely speaking—if not for Marshall and Jo’s insistence, we wouldn’t be at all. For now, our communication has been deduced mainly to text or through other people; there’s hardly any face-to-face communication.

The really sad part? She still doesn’t know anything. No other details were given, at least not to my knowledge, about what exactly happened between Reed and me. Unless Marshall or Jo filled her in, she’s pissed off by a kiss. Well, two kisses. Reed just had to throw in that he’d kissed me before.

I’m sure she assumed there was more than those two kisses that transpired between us, especially since he mentioned something happening the night we met.

Oh, well.

Tessa needs to get over whatever issue she’s having with this. For once in my life, I will not apologize for something that I did nothing wrong in. I typically do, just to make peace again, even if I’m the victim in a situation. Not this time, though. Tess crossed a line, and if anyone is owed an apology it’s me.

Reed is right, I
am
grown, and while I don’t appreciate him dredging up our sordid past, I do agree that I’m able to make decisions for myself.

And I intend to tell my sister just that today when I meet her for lunch.

Jo had the idea to force the two of us to sit down together and resolve some of our issues before Tessa’s baby shower this weekend.

I was so against the idea of meeting in a public location that Jo decided to do lunch at her apartment just so we could hash this out.

This is the first time I’ve been inside Jo’s apartment. I knock and hear Jo call out to come in.

Walking in, I’m surprised by how homey it is. A crocheted blanket is draped over the worn couch, mismatched frames hang along the wall behind it, and this adorable little Pomeranian pooch is cuddled up in a doggie bed underneath an end table.

Jo is standing at the dining room table sorting through the two large bags of food from a local deli. I catch the scent of cheddar broccoli soup. Well if all else fails, at least I’ll have something good in my stomach from this meeting.

“Hey, girl,” she says over her shoulder as she continues shuffling through the bags.

“Hey, Jo. I didn’t know you had a dog.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s Chachi. He was with my Ma, but since her health has gotten worse lately, my brother brought him out to me last time he came to visit.” There’s a sadness when she speaks about her mom. I don’t know all the details, just that she’s been diagnosed with cancer. But from the sounds of it, it doesn’t seem like the fight is going in Jo’s mom’s favor.

She uses Chachi as a perfect excuse to ensure the conversation doesn’t turn to her mom, whistling and calling him over to us.

I bend down, and he immediately throws his front paws on my knees and begins licking every inch of my skin within his tongue’s reach.

“He likes you, Bug.” Jo stands in place watching the dog and me interact. “I can’t say he’s the only male in this group who seems to have taken to you.” She winks.

I love that she uses my childhood nickname from Tessa. All of the group has picked it up now—everyone except Reed, that is. However, I do not like where she’s going with this conversation.

“What do you mean?”

“You know damn good and well who I'm talking about. Seems you've managed to wrap Reed around your fingers.”

“Excuse me? I think you're mistaken. Reed and I slept together a few times and that was it, there's no feelings there.” I damn near whisper that last part.

“Hmm, no feelings, huh? Is that why you look like someone just stole your favorite lip-gloss?” she asks inquisitively.

“Jo, I think I—”

“Listen, you know the rule with the two of us: we keep it real. And I’m here to tell you, I’ve noticed a huge difference in Reed. I’ve caught him looking over my shoulder when I’m scrolling through Facebook or texting you. I know he has pictures of you saved on his phone, and J.C. has mentioned a time or two that he’s asked about you anytime he knows we’ve hung out together.”

“But, Jo, that doesn’t mean anything.”

“It does, Tegan. You may not realize it yet, hell, Reed may not even realize it yet, but that doesn’t take away from just how big of a deal it is and how much it means in the long run.”

I wish her words lit a spark of hope inside me, but they don’t. As much as I want Reed to care or for all of that stuff to mean something, it doesn’t. Until Reed realizes and acknowledges his feelings, they don’t do me any good.

Knock, knock.

“Hello? Are you guys here?” Tessa calls out as she walks in the front door.

I can't remember the last time I was this thankful for my sister’s interrupting. Even though I know Jo is only trying to be a friend and get me to open up about the subject, I don't know that I'm ready to talk about Reed to anyone except Marsh.

Unfortunately, that's part of the reason I'm here today—to talk about Reed, at least a little bit.

Tessa goes straight to Jo and gives her, in true Tessa fashion, a huge overbearing hug.

I miss those. Hell, I miss all of my sister’s weird and annoying quirks. I just miss
her
.