Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2) (9 page)

I’m the last one to get my bearings about me. When I look around to see what cause the drastic shift in mood, I lock eyes with Reed.

The dampened mood suddenly makes sense.

Judging by the silence and stiff posture of everyone, I’m assuming they all know something about the Reed and Tegan situation. What they know, I’m unsure of, but I don’t intend to stick around and find out.

My southern roots win out in the inner battle on whether or not to greet him. My momma would scold me for not using my manners.

“Hey, Reed. How are you?”

Something flashes in his eyes, and I’m met with a grunt in response.

I feel my eyes starting to burn. The last thing I want to do is cry in front of him. I go to turn and remove myself from the embarrassing situation. However, I’m stopped by none other than J.C.’s hand around my shoulders.

In a flurry of movement, multiple things happen; J.C. comforts me while Reed stares daggers at the two of us, he’s then met with a slap to the back of the head just as Marshall comes to stand next to him.

With his eyes on me, he addresses Reed.

“Quit being a fucking dick, dude. Everyone here is sick of it.” All of the guys nod their heads in agreement. “Look, you two are going to see each other, all of us know something happened between you guys, so everyone needs to get the hell over it so we can move on like the big, fucked up, dysfunctional family we are.”

J.C.’s hand moves to my lower back, and he lightly pushes me toward Marsh. Luckily, everyone else seems to have picked up with their own conversations. It’s just Marsh, Reed, J.C., and Hunter who seem to be interested in this conversation.

No need for more people to see me humiliated today.

Marsh looks from me to Reed, speaking to us both.

“You two have got to work something out; there’s no way we can keep dealing with this shit.”

I shake my head in denial while Reed starts to argue.

J.C. pipes in, “Dude, don’t even start to deny it. You’re an even bigger asshole than you typically are.”

The smile that sneaks onto my face is unavoidable. It does bring me the slightest bit of pleasure knowing he’s somehow miserable with everything too. Although, I’m not sure why—he didn’t want a relationship to begin with and he was the one who called an end to our fling.

“Y’all go talk this shit out. At least make it to where we can all be together without this divide in the group,” J.C. practically begs.

I look to Reed, leaving this in his hands. I have no issue talking to him. I’m surprised when I see him give a single nod to Marshall and J.C. then lead the way to a small bistro-style table at the far side of the yard.

The exact spot where he kissed me not too long ago.

Taking a seat, I wait for him to start this conversation. After a couple silent minutes of glares and him taking swigs of his beer, he finally talks.

“What is it about him?”

“Excuse me?” I’m utterly confused.

“Him, the guy. That’s why you wouldn’t go home with me at the wedding. What’s he got that I don’t?”

“Are you shitting me right now?” I rise out of my seat. “Your friends want us to try to be friendly toward one another and this is how you start off that conversation? What the hell does my
friend
, Matthew, have to do with anything, Reed?”

This is a lost cause. Reed has no intentions of discussing anything that matters, he’s only curious as to what stopped him from getting laid. I turn to walk away when he grabs my hand, halting me.

“Tegan, wait. I’m sorry, okay? I don’t know what you want from me.”

I turn back to face him and pull my arm out of his grasp. Him touching me is too much, I won’t be able to walk away from him if I feel any kind of physical connection.

“You know, Reed? I don’t either, but for starters you can help fix this shit storm you and your damn mouth got us into. I don’t want my sister pissed at me, and I’d prefer if all of our friends don’t know our seedy past. So until I’m on normal terms with Tessa again and our fling, or whatever the fuck you want to call it, isn’t the topic of discussion for everyone, I don’t accept your apology.”

With that, I walk back to the deck where Marsh is waiting for me.

My heart may have shattered just a little more with that conversation. I now know with certainty that I was never more than a conquest to Reed.

Reed

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I had every opportunity to talk to her, tell her that I’m sorry, be a fucking friend. And instead, I let my mouth get the best of me. Now she probably hates me even more. I didn’t think that was possible after the way I ended shit between us.

Sitting alone at the bistro table, I think back to that night.

I had heard through the grapevine at work that Tess was being sent home early. Knowing Tess and how good of a sailor she is, I knew she didn’t get into trouble, which only left one of two other options for her to come home early; either she got hurt or she got knocked up.

Things with Tegan had been great, too great, actually; I was beginning to feel things for her. It was past time to put an end to us; Tessa’s return worked in perfectly. I had intentions of going over to her apartment, telling her what was going on, ending it, and then leaving. But when I walked in and she’d prepared dinner for us, I couldn’t.

All through dinner, I kept telling myself to blurt it out, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. That’s when one last night together came to me. I decided at the dinner table to show her how much I care in the only way I knew how—with my body.

And that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t fuck her that night, I made love to her. And then I left her with a note and a bullshit apology on the table in the middle of the night.

I cut her completely out of my life. I stopped hanging out with the group as much as I normally did, distanced myself from Hunter just so I didn’t have to possibly run into her. I didn’t answer her calls or texts. After about two weeks, she finally got the hint.

Hardest two weeks of my life.

I’m not a sentimental guy—hell most of the time I’m an uncaring bastard—but Tegan had an aura about her. She was the girl next door, angelic like to an extent, even the most uncaring person wouldn’t want to cause her pain.

For the first few days I drank myself into an oblivion just so I didn’t call her to apologize. After about the third or fourth day, J.C. showed up. In one of my many drunken talks, I admitted to sleeping with Tegan. I didn’t know what all I said to him that night, but ever since then, he’d been on my case to make this shit right.

And I just fucked it up.
Again
.

Knowing Marshall and J.C. are waiting to hear how our chat went, or more than likely waiting to rip me a new one for being a dick again, I slip out the side gate. If I wasn’t the bad guy in this situation before, after that talk, I definitely am now.

I didn’t miss her saying
my friend, Matthew
. The dude isn’t even her boyfriend, I acted on impulse and jealousy both times I’ve mentioned him and he’s just her friend. Just goes to show that Tegan sparks emotions and feelings inside me that I’m not used to or comfortable with.

Stressed out and irritated, I know the two things that will clear my head. I shoot off a quick text to J.C.

Although he wants things between Tegan and me to settle, I know he won’t give me too much shit for the way I acted today. I let him know I’ll be at his place at ten to pick him up. A few beers with one of my best friends is the perfect ending to this fucked up day. And hey, maybe I’ll find someone to take home for the night.

As soon as I walk in my apartment, I dash to my room and change clothes. On my way back to the front door, I grab my leather jacket out of the front closet and switch out keys before leaving again.

It’s a bit cooler than I like when I ride, but it’s needed today. I’m glad I only had a beer at Tessa’s house.

My adoptive dad was the one who introduced me to my love of bikes, he had a couple when I was growing up. His love of bikes rubbed off on me and my younger brother. Working on them became something special that he shared with us. I mean, what teenaged boy isn’t fascinated with motorcycles?

I rode my first one when I was seventeen; my dad taught me to drive one of his old ones. It was my first taste of freedom, and I was instantly addicted.

Within two years, I had my own.

Ever since then, I’ve always had a love for riding. Those eight weeks during boot camp, that was the one thing I missed most, being able to get on my bike and just drive. While others craved a drink or cigarettes, all I wanted was the open road and my bike.

I shouldn’t have been a dick to Tegan today. She wants to be friends so that everything is okay with the group. I get that, I really do, I just don’t understand why I
don’t
want to be her friend.

Relationships are a no-go for me. However, something inside me is tugging at my brain, screaming at me that I’m wrong in this case.

Two hours later, I pull up under my carport refreshed but still burdened with stress.

Normally, my rides clear up all of the jumbled thoughts in my head—that wasn’t the case today. I found myself questioning my decisions more and more.

Should I have slept with Tegan at all?

Would she have dated me had I asked?

How long will this ‘no relationship’ rule last?

Do I want to end up an eternal bachelor?

The only positive I figured out today, is that I need to get my shit together and apologize to Tegan and the rest of my dysfunctional family for my shit mood lately.

I volunteered to pick up J.C. tonight. The chances of both of us going home in the same vehicle are slim. One or both of us typically finds a nightly companion. However, lately, J.C. has actually been keeping it in his pants. My guess is Jo has something to do with that. But judging by her having a date at Tessa's wedding and his attendance in the pity party at the bar that night, I don't know that they're still an item.

Thinking back now, we looked like a couple of pathetic pussies that night. We both could’ve found someone to go home with, but we ended up at my apartment together tossing back beers and wallowing in our own private pity sessions. Neither of us questioned what was going on with the other. It’s just something he and I have adapted to in our friendship. We both are very private guys, J.C. knows if I need or want to talk, I’ll come to him. And I’m aware that he’s the same way.

That being said, I'll see what I can get out of him tonight regarding the situation with Jo, but my main goal is to just relieve some stress and hang out with my bro. I contemplated calling Hunter and some of the other guys, but I'm sure they're pissed at me. I can't say I blame them, either. I know when Tegan went inside they, especially Hunter and Marshall, wanted to know what was said, and I don't expect her to cover for me. Not after the way I behaved today.

I saw the tears welled up in her eyes when she walked away; it took some guts for her to say what she said to me. She usually avoids confrontation, so I’m proud of her for voicing her opinion. I just wish it hadn’t been directed at me.