Second Chance: A Military Football Romance

"Good day for boating." I smiled and tilted my head to the side.

He stood, almost dropping the poor tramp on the floor. "Hey, Cora. How are you?"

"I've never been better. Where is the rest of the group? We were thinking about skinny dipping tonight." I pulled my glasses off my face and kept my expression friendly. "I see you're busy, but can you give them the message? We just wanted to have a bit of risqué fun before the big event on Monday night."

"Skinny dipping?" The girl beside him moved up to his side and put her arm around him. "I wanna go."

He ignored her. "I'll be there. We'll all be there. What time?"

"Around 10? Bring your friend, too." I waved at her. "I'm Cora. Brody's little sister."

His expression turned sour as he shook his head. "Alright. Keep it up."

"Seems you have no problem keeping it up yourself." I chuckled as if we were old friends. "See you later, playboy."

I turned and dropped down into the seat beneath me as my heart contracted painfully.

"What the fuck was that?" Dedra turned to me, whispering roughly.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "But you guys have to go skinny dipping now."

"So do you." Emily pressed her arms to her legs as she leaned toward me. "And, you know he's coming now."

"No, he's not." I glanced up at her. "And no, I don't. I'm not

going anywhere near him."

"Then, he wins." Cindy pulled off her hat and started the boat.

"Fuck, fine." I glanced back over my shoulder to watch him watching me intently. "He's not winning. I'll go."

"Of course, you'll go." Dedra patted my leg. "It was your damn idea, anyway. Crazy girl."

Chapter Twenty

Brody

Skinny dipping? Shit.

"So, what time are we meeting up with your sister tonight?" Veronica squeezed my middle as she held on tightly to me.

"I'll let you know later." I unwrapped her arms from me and took her hand. "Come on, let's get you off the boat and let me go find my friends. I'm sure I'm going to get an ass-chewing for not being there when the game started."

"Sounds good. I can play if you guys need me to." She gave me a warm smile as my stomach sank. I didn't want her touching me, or hanging around me, or anything. I wanted Cora. I'd wanted Cora since first laying eyes on her. Just the thought of pressing my lips to hers drove me toward need like I couldn't remember ever experiencing.

Why though? What was it about her? Was she really so different than every other girl I'd tried to get in bed? Was I trying to get her in bed? If so, I'd fucked that up royally a few days back.

"Come on. We'll see if they need extra players." I pulled out my phone and wrapped my other arm around me to ensure that Veronica wouldn't grab it. We weren't together, nor would we be. I had no doubt Cora would have assumed that I was trying to seduce the girl beside me, but it was just another strike in my corner.

I texted the guys to let them know I was headed their way and that they needed to help me get rid of my new tag-along.

"Veronica?" a girl called out and waved wildly.

"Tanya?" She turned to me. "Oh my God. Come meet my old friend from high school."

"No, you go ahead. I'll see you in a little bit." I smiled, grateful for the chance to slip away without hurting her feelings.

Since when the fuck do I care about anyone's feelings?