Second Chance: A Military Football Romance

"Are you kidding me?" He reached for a chip from the basket that sat between us. "I fucking love that movie. It's in my top five."

"Ghost? No way. I don't believe that. It's the ultimate-”

"Chick-flick. I know." He shrugged and gave me a sexy smile. "I love those things, just don't tell anyone about it, alright?"

"Really? No way."

"Yes way. Guess what my very favorite movie is. It's not really a chick-flick, but it comes pretty close." His expression softened a little, and the cocky guy across the table from me turned into a handsome man I wanted to know.

"Dirty Dancing?" I couldn't help but chuckle after saying it.

"That's number four. Number one is Grease. God, I love that movie so much. I have three copies from wearing it out." He laughed before giving me a stern look. "You promise you'll not tell the guys? You know I'd never hear the end of that shit."

"Yeah. I promise." I reached for a chip and let out a soft sigh. He was going to win me over whether I wanted him to or not.

Chapter Seventeen

Brody

I wasn't sure she could have been any more beautiful than she was sitting across from me with the sun setting behind her. My heart was racing in my chest, so much so that a light sheen of sweat covered my hands and forehead. It was almost embarrassing.

"Alright. Tell me what your plans are now that you're out of college. What's next for you?" I sat the menu down and turned my full attention onto her. While getting her into bed would have been a great ending to the night, I was pretty sure she wasn't going to let that happen just yet. Besides, I had to discern if I was friend-zoned or if my deflating ego was making shit up. I hadn't slept with anyone in a couple of days, and it was almost shocking how much I attuned my worth to how women saw me and treated me.

"I'm actually staying here in Arizona. I'm going to work for my parents for a while and then start law school either in the fall or the spring." Her voice softened in a way that made me want to push the conversation. She was being humble or maybe was unhappy about the next steps in her life. I wanted to know which it was.

"And, you're thrilled about that? I can totally tell. Riveted, right?" I smiled as she sat back in her chair and gave me a weak smile.

"Can't we start with something easier like 'what's your favorite color?'" Her smirk was precious and drew me in. I couldn't remember sitting across from a girl and not thinking about how well her tits filled up her shirt or pondering on the color of her panties. Where I could have easily done that with Cora, I wanted a real conversation...a friendship, of sorts.

"You wouldn't want that conversation. We're not on a real date from what you said, so no pretenses. Just two new friends hanging out, right?" I offered her another out, hoping she wouldn't take it, but knowing it was the right thing to do nevertheless.

"I guess you're right about the conversation." She ignored my comment about the friend date, leaving me still standing in the dark on her feelings. The kiss a few days before had been delicious and left me thinking she was ready for a little more where we were concerned, but now, I wasn't so sure.

"So, tell me why you're not looking so happy at the idea of becoming a lawyer. That's a big deal. Loads of money, prestige."

"Yeah, and every minute of my life becomes about my career. That's not at all who I am." She shrugged and picked up her menu. "Share the fajitas with me. The smallest platter is still way too much food for me."

"Sure, whatever you want." I picked up my glass of water and glanced up as the server approached. Cora ordered for us, and I added in my beer order before turning back to her.

"So why are you going to law school, and what do you want to do with your life if not that?" I sat back, trying to remember the last time I had a real conversation with a woman. I couldn't place it. Not even with my mom or sister. It was odd. Had I really grown that shallow?

"It's my mom and dad's dream for me to work in a firm like they do. It's actually their firm that they want me to work in." She licked at her lips, and my eyes moved down to focus on them again as she finished talking. I missed the whole last part of her response thanks to the memory of our kiss rolling over me.

She chuckled, and I came to.

"What?" I asked before reaching up and taking my beer from the server.

"You're not listening anymore, are you?" Her eyebrow lifted as she gave me a cocky grin.

"Yeah, I am." I pressed the beer to my lips as her smile lifted to her eyes, captivating me.

"No, you're not. You ass. You faded off into a daydream." She pressed her arms to the table and lifted her eyebrow at me. Her position had her dark hair brushing over her exposed, sun-kissed shoulders and left her cleavage on full view. My mouth started to water.

"I did, you're right. I was reliving that kiss the other night. It's been a long time since I've panted over a three second make out session." I smiled, hoping to catch her off-guard.

"Was it three seconds? Felt like forever." She shrugged and diverted her eyes from me as she picked up another chip. "You're turn. What are you doing after this summer?"

"I don't know." I ran my fingers through my hair, struggling with the truth versus what I figured she would want to hear. Just friends, right? "I want to be a coach, but the time and energy involved in that is massive. I figure there aren't too many women in the world that would be interested in marrying a man who followed his heart into a low-paying, time-demanding job."