Unconditionally (Operation FALLS Trilogy - Book 1)

Chapter 10

"Are we going to talk?" Ty asked after the kids had made their way up to bed.

Dinner had been a lively event. But it always was at the Gatti house. Vince made homemade pasta and a signature sauce. Charlie informed Ty that he had helped Vince this afternoon prep the pasta dough. That had prompted something about Juliet peeling the tomatoes, which made all of her brothers groan. Ty felt like his chest was sunken in over that. No one went on to explain anymore. It was some kind of joke only for the family.

But wasn't he family?

By the time dinner was served, Ty was able to shake off the mood that he had found himself in. The kids yelled across the table at each other or were speaking over one another to tell Vince or him some story. Most of the stories Ty had already heard before, but he still listened as if it were the first. Juliet spilled her milk into her spaghetti and then insisted it tasted better that way. Vince and Ty had exchanged a confused look for it before laughing. However, dinner ended abruptly Echo launched a meatball at Kilo. Of course, Kilo then tried to dump his whole plate on Echo's head. Both the boys were sent up to their rooms after that.

Charlie left to his room after eating a bowl ice cream for dessert. He always ate his bowl while he watched Vince do dishes. Ty and Juliet had gone into the living room to watch TV. It didn't take long before the little girl was struggling to keep her eyes open. When he heard the little snores and heavy breathing Ty scooped her up and carried her up to bed.

As he walked back down the stairs he heard the TV change from whatever kids show to sports. Both of them enjoyed watching whatever game was on. Neither of them was loyal to one team, Ty liked to route for the underdogs and Vince wanted whatever his prediction was to be true. That way he could spend time gloating about it. Ty found it endearing, the man hardly relished in anything, watching him act a fool over a sports game -that in the grand scheme of everything mattered very little – humanized the soldier.

"I thought about it," Vince's rough voice answered him. "We don't have to talk."

"You thought about it? Want to share those thoughts?" Ty asked as he flopped down onto the large leather couch.

"No."

Ty tilted his head to look over at his friend, "Not good enough. You asked to talk, so you've got to talk."

"There's not a problem anymore," Vince stated blankly, keeping his eyes on the game.

"But there was a problem?"

Vince grunted in response.

"Come on, Vince!" Ty groaned, slouching back into his seat. "I'm trying here."

There was a long beat before Vince mumbled, "Are you?"

"Excuse me?" Ty felt the air leave his lungs.

"I come home, and you just disappear? What kind of shit is that?" Vince growled, tightening his grip on the bottle he held.

"I didn't disappear. What are you talking about?"

"You didn't stay the night when I got back. You always do that. You haven't been texting me back. You never leave me on read." Vince pouted, which normally Ty would've found cute.

"They deserve time just with you. They miss you-"

"They miss you too," Vince interrupted.

"Not the point. Also, I didn't text you back because you're a jerk. Be nicer and maybe I'll respond," Ty teased, playfully punching Vince on his muscular arm.

Vince huffed; his eyes darted from the screen for a moment before flicking back. He wriggled in his seat before clearing his voice. "There was a rumor you went on a date with some doctor, I thought- Well, when you were late to Juliet's recital, I thought maybe... But you were at Juliet's dance so I guess I thought I might owe you an apology."

"An apology?"

"Yeah," Vince nodded turning fully from the screen. Giving Ty his full attention; Ty gulped. "I should've known better than to believe that rumor."

"What was the rumor exactly?" Ty asked, nerves eating away at his stomach.

"That you went out with some doctor," Vince threw out casually.

Ty winced, "Well, then you don't owe me an apology because that's true."

He tried to act nonchalantly as he leaned tensely back into the couch cushion. Ty fixated his gaze on the game as if it could take him out of the room that was slowly growing with tension.

"What?" Vince hissed next to him.

Ty could feel the man's eyes on him, watching his every move waiting to pounce like the skilled hunter he was. "I went on a date," Ty whispered, looking down in his lap.

"A date?" Vince's voice was tight, trying to keep himself from yelling and waking up the whole house. "A fucking date, Ty!"

Ty could feel the tears burning at the back of his eyes, "What can't believe someone would want to date me?" He tried to joke, wanting to get the waves of rage coming from Vince off him.

"What?"

"Can't believe your pathetic little babysitter got a date?" Ty shot back. If the bridge was going to burn, he might as well help it along.

Vince launched himself at Ty, trapping the younger man underneath him. Ty was shocked to find himself pinned to the couch by Vince. The man's big hands wrapped tightly around his upper arms, the large fingers digging deep into his skin. Vince's eyes burned brightly as he glared down at Ty. His face was close, all Ty had to do was lean forward a bit and their foreheads would touch.

"Don't call yourself that," Vince hissed.

Ty's lungs begged for air as he held his breath. His mind was unable to get over the fact that Vince's thighs were trapping his own.

"You can't date."

"Vince-"

"You can't date because you're mine."