Page 4 of Fighting Our Forever

Chapter Three

Ryan Donovan

Paul was hanging out in the surveillance room with Cash and me when Garret called to tell us Olivia had gone into labor. God, I’m happy for her and her men. They deserve this after all they have gone through in the last year. Olivia and I became close last year when she started teaching at the same school as Logan and me. She became the little sister I never had.

When we first met, I thought she was beautiful, the kind of girl I could see myself with. I had just gotten out of a bad relationship, and I wasn’t ready for anything other than friendship though. The more we talked, the more I was drawn to her and the darkness she carried around with her. I could see myself in her shadows and wanted to protect her from the heartache she experienced. I claimed big brother status, and we’ve been close ever since.

Garret and Logan, whom I’ve known since Parris Island, are great friends with Paul and me. We all completed The Crucible together while in boot camp, and after that, we’ve been close. The Crucible is an exercise that takes over fifty-four hours to complete and tests you physically and mentally. One of the key factors is working together to problem solve and overcome any obstacle you encounter. In all my years, this must be one of the most difficult things I have ever done.

All four of us were recruited into special forces and went from boot camp to Marine Corps Special Forces (MARSOC) Training. When we were done with MARSOC, we joined the same SRT. Adam Kingston was the Team Leader of the Special Reaction Team we were all on while in the Marines. Adam was like an older brother to us, guiding us through our first tour in the sandbox. It was there that we met Reece Atwood and Cash Owens.

You get close to the guys you depend on to cover your ass and make sure you don’t get dead. We were on the SRT for over four years together, along with the rest of the team. Kings had built the team with men he knew he could count on in any situation. We all became a unit, a family of sorts, in a world where family is the friends you choose to claim. After a hard mission, Kings decided enough was enough and got out. The rest of the team followed within a few years of each other.

I was supposed to be working with Cash tonight in the surveillance room when we got the call that Olivia’s water broke, and they were taking her to the hospital. We decided I would stay to work my shift and Paul would go and pick up Callie. It was late, and we didn’t want her driving around in the dark. Our Angel is many things, but a good driver isn’t one of them.

We haven’t made our move, wanting to give our woman time to adjust, and slowly get close to her. She hasn’t made it easy on us. She keeps us as far away as can be. If it weren’t for Olivia telling us she’s interested, and the few times we’ve caught her checking us out, we wouldn’t have any idea how she feels. Keeping our distance, we’ve been keeping an eye on her and letting any guy that gets close, know she’s already spoken for.

After twenty minutes of trying to work, I’m unable to focus on the properties we are monitoring. Cash tells me to just call Terrance in to cover my shift, so I can get to my girls. I need to get to Olivia and be there for her. I know she has Logan and Garret, but I’m the uncle, and I should be there when my niece is born. First, I call Terrance to see if he is available. He is, thank the lord, and agrees to come in for me. I text Paul and tell him to swing by and pick me up before they head to the hospital.

I can’t lie, the prospect of seeing Callie is tempting. I was green, knowing Paul was going to see her and spend time with her alone. Paul and I met Callie when Olivia was attacked by her stalker last year and ended up in the hospital. Callie came to the hospital to be with Olivia and was sitting by her side when we walked in to check on my sister.

I knew as soon as I saw her. I knew she was the woman I would want for the rest of my days. No other woman before here compared in the slightest to Callie. There was a quiet innocence about her I found tantalizing. Crazy enough, Paul was entranced with her as much as I was. That had never happened before. Paul would never poach a woman I was interested in, and neither would I. We weren’t sure where to go from there, but we were staring at an option right in front of us. Garret and Logan were trying to make it work, maybe Paul and I could too.

Since that day, we found out how shy our flaming beauty is, well only around us. In her element, and around her girls, she’s a spitfire at the best of times. We have watched her for months, and in that time, we’ve waited for the right time to claim her. Paul and I talked many times about the kind of relationship we expected and wanted from her. We were both determined she was the one for us both and couldn’t see moving forward in any other way, but together.

Callie never warmed up to us, purposely staying away and putting distance between us whenever we tried to get closer. I could tell Paul was getting frustrated with the wait, but he’s nothing if not persistent.

When Paul pulls up with Callie in the front seat, I can’t help myself. I should have sat in the back of the truck, giving her space and time like we had been. Too bad I can’t pass up this opportunity. Frankly, I’m tired of waiting for her to catch up with what’s going on between us. Seems as though Paul is feeling the same way judging by the hand gripping her thigh.

If I thought she wasn’t interested, we wouldn’t be pursuing her so hard, but sitting here next to her, she can’t hide how she’s feeling. With choppy breaths, heated skin, and a bottom lip red and tortured from the hundreds of times she’s sucked it into her pretty mouth, I know she’s affected by us.

Paul parks in the hospital parking lot and shuts off his truck. Neither of us makes a move to get out and sit silently, waiting for her to finally speak to us.

She’s squirming in her seat, and I almost cave myself, knowing we need to get inside to see Olivia. I don’t though, I can’t. Callie needs to address what’s between us. I can see it coming before she explodes, and if it weren’t so important, I’d be laughing right now.

“Well, are we going to get out of the truck? My best friend is in there having a baby, and you guys are just sitting here like there’s nothing else we should be doing.”

“There are some things that need to be said while we have you here, where you can’t run away from us,” Paul tells her.

“I don’t run away from you two. I, we…” she sputters.

“Exactly. Callie are you attracted to us?” I ask her.

“What? God no, of course not!”

I rub my hand up and down her thigh. “So, when I touch you like this, you aren’t affected?”

She shutters at my touch but shakes her head no, slowly.

“This doesn’t make your heart beat faster?” Paul asks, dragging his fingers up her thigh.

“You’re going to be ours, Calliope. We’ve let everyone know except you. That changes tonight. Give me your phone.” Paul commands.

She clutches her bag close to her chest. “No.”

“Give him your phone sweetheart. It will be easier that way.”

I run my nose along her neck, up into her hair where I pull her earlobe into my mouth, sucking lightly.

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