Second Chance: A Military Football Romance

"Come on. I wouldn't mind helping you clean up." His eyes moved across me, and my desire for a few kisses turned into the need for a long night pressed to the bed beneath him.

"Nope, but thanks. Are you picking me up or what?" I turned and walked to the car where my friends were waiting.

"I'm getting us two bikes for the evening. I want to show you the far side of the island. You up for a late-night ride after the show?" He pulled his t-shirt over his head, and I almost lamented over not getting to stare at his beautifully sculpted chest for a few more minutes.

"I'm up for it. Are we eating?"

"Each other?" His brow lifted.

"Dinner." I rolled my eyes and opened the car door.

"Anything you want." He shrugged. "I'll be there in an hour with your lovely pink bicycle and a handsome escort for your evening. Sound good?"

"Oh, Daniel's going with us?" I chuckled and got into the car, ignoring the smirk on his mouth that was likely to drive me mad.

"God, he's hot. Please tell me if you guys decide not to go any farther than just being friends." Dedra waved as I pulled out of their driveway.

"I thought you were starting to talk to some guy at church?" I glanced over at her as I slowed my turn for a group of bikers.

"No, that guy was all hands. I swear those church boys can be the worst." She huffed and glanced into the backseat at Emily and Cindy. "They're already sound asleep. I need a man. That's why they're tired and you and I are wide awake up here."

I snorted. "True that."

"What do you think about Daniel? He's already in our little friend group we've created, and he's really good looking under that nerdy intellectual thing he has going on. No?" She turned her attention to me as I chuckled.

"Nerdy intellectual thing? I'm pretty sure that's just his personality, Dee." I pulled up to the stop sign and glanced over at her. "He's pretty inexperienced, you know. I mean, not that I know, but just from what I can tell."

"Yeah, I gathered that, but I kind of like it. It seems like most guys are over-experienced nowadays, and you get some dumb ass that won't listen to you in the bedroom because he knows so much. Ugh. Drives me nuts." She huffed and rolled down the window. "I think I might start hitting on him a little and see what happens."

"I think that's a great idea, but if you want to wait a few days, I'm sure Brody will be available." I pulled up to our driveway and parked the car as she started in on me about how great Brody could be underneath his sexy playboy appeal.

"Not this again." I got out of the car and moved to the back door, pressing my hands to it and pushing. The car shook and the look on Cindy and Emily's faces as they jolted awake was almost priceless. "Get up, girlies!"

"Hey." Dedra tapped the top of the car, getting my attention. "You do what's best for you, okay? No matter what all of us think or don't think. Do what works for you and makes you comfortable and happy."

"Alright. Thanks, Dee." I smiled at her, realizing that I was using Brody's nickname for her. We all had various names we used for each other, but I like the name Dee. It was fitting.

I walked into the house and made a beeline for the shower, closing the door and locking the world away for a few minutes as I prepared for what was sure to be an interesting night, if nothing else.

After blow-drying my hair and putting on a little bit of make-up, I called Cindy from the kitchen to help me with outfits.

"The blue or the white?" I stood in front of my bed, the two summer dresses that fit me best laid out in front of me.

"I like them both. The white will bring out your tan, but the tightness of the blue one just under your boobs makes them look bigger, you know?" She crossed her arms over her chest and glanced over at me. "Are we going for pretty or fucking hot?"

I laughed. "Both?"

"The white one. Your boobs are big enough to get their own attention. You don't need an outfit to help with that." She picked up the white one and handed it to me. "Wear the brown sandals that wrap around your calves, too. They're sexy."

"Alright. Thanks. Tell me when he's here." I closed the door behind her and lifted the dress up before remembering that I was going to be riding a bike. I tossed it into a pile of clean clothes on the chair next to me and decided on a pair of short white shorts and a double layered tank top. It was summery and cute. That's all I needed to be for the evening. Now to hope that the movie theater wasn't insanely cold.

I'd just finished putting on my earrings when I heard Brody and the girls talking and laughing about something. He was a little early, but it was probably for the best. Being rushed through dinner would suck, and even if we were going as friends, I still wanted time to find out more about this guy I was kinda,

sorta thinking about letting into my bed. Maybe. Probably.

Fuck. Most likely.

I walked out into the hall and caught sight of him before he realized I was walking that way. Warmth rushed through the center of me as he turned and smiled. His outfit was almost matched perfectly to mine.