Second Chance: A Military Football Romance

"Yeah, but the cops were on their patrol big time. There was one that kept coming around, and I thought Derek was going to blow a fuse." She laughed and wrapped her arms around herself. "I didn't mind him so much, though. He was crazy cute."

"Cuter than Derek?" I lifted my eyebrow.

"The cop again?" Emily walked in and sat down on the other end of the couch by my feet.

"Yep. He's worth bringing up a few more times, don't you think?" Cindy's cheeks colored pink, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"He was a fine, fine man." Dedra walked in and sat down on the coffee table. "Come on. We only have a little more than a week left with you. Don't make us spend the evening without you. We can go see a movie or eat all the chocolate in the candy store in town, but come with us."

"I agree." Cindy turned to me and reached out to brush my hair from my face. "Our time is growing short, thanks to your dumb parents. Come with us tonight."

"Yeah, you're right. I'll come. We can go shopping, though I'm in a bit of a mood. Be warned." I pushed at her hip so that she'd move and I could sit up.

"We like moods, right?" Cindy stood up and smiled. She was a little too positive for my liking, but I swallowed my need to growl and got up.

"I don't feel like driving." I walked to the door and slipped on my sandals. "Can one of you do it?"

"I'll drive." Emily grabbed the keys and touched my back. "You okay? Something go wrong with Brody?"

"It was his sister that Brandon cheated on me with." I shrugged as my friends gasped.

"Oh, fuck. Seriously?" Dedra opened the door and gave me a sympathetic look.

"Yeah, and I know it's stupid, but I just can't shake the fact that he's just like her. I mean, I must have seen him with five girls over a three-day period before we decided to give each other a try." I walked to the car and pulled my sunglasses onto my face. Going out with my friends was the like the last thing I wanted to do, but it was probably because it was the only thing that would pull me out of my funk.

After the incredible night with Brody, I couldn't help but think I was in trouble. It wouldn't take much to drown in a man like him. All I had to do was to learn to trust him and I would be completely lost. I guess it was somewhat of a good thing that I didn't trust him, at all. Especially not now.

"I know you don't need for me to tell you this," Emily started as she glanced over the top of the car at me. "But you know that Brody isn't his sister, and he's not Brandon, either, Cora."

"I realize that." I opened the door and got into the car as my phone dinged. Brody. I dropped it in the cup holder and buckled up. "I just don't want to end up in an emotional coma like I was three months ago. I was just starting to feel like the ice was melting around my heart."

I teared up, hating how emotional talking about Brandon left me. Did I still care about him or was it just the excruciating pain of rejection?

"Hey. We don't have to talk about this, but I'm telling you that I think Brody could be a different man. Clay hasn't stopped talking about how excited they all are to see a better side of him. He's the jerk in the group, and yet for the last few days, he's been chill, a totally different guy." Emily squeezed my shoulder.

"I'm not sure what to do about all of it." I glanced around. "If it's alright with you guys, I'd rather not talk about it. We can talk about anything but Brody, but I need some time to process what's up with us and what I want to do about it, first."

"Sounds good to me. Boys aren't the end all be all anyways." Dedra leaned up into the front seat and turned the radio up. "I'm saying let’s jam out, eat something greasy, and go lay by the lake and dream about the future."

"I like the sound of that." Cindy pipped in. "And maybe I can try and a new pasta dish on you guys tonight. Does that sound good?"

"Yep." I turned and smiled at them, forcing myself to let my nefarious thoughts subside. I wasn't going to bastardize the good time Brody and I had the night before—or this morning. Him washing me in the shower had been one of the most intimate times I could remember ever having with a man. He'd been tender and almost loving. It probably scared me more than the scorching heat from the sex.

"And, no boys!" Emily declared and gave me a cheeky grin. "One more

shitty subject and then we'll just have fun."

I gave her a sideways glance and nodded. "Sure."

"You need to call your folks today and tell them that you're not coming back early. Life is going to move fast once we leave this place, Cora. You need the summer to have fun. That's what we planned a long time ago. Fight against it and get the six weeks back that they are trying to take. We were supposed to have three months, and you're down to having just a couple of weeks."

I ran my fingers through my hair. My parents weren't going to relent. They never did.

"Maybe I can come back after we go through the case work that they are wanting me to see." I picked up my phone and read through Brody's message as a smile lifted my lips.

Brody: Just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you. I'm a little concerned by how badly I want to see you again. Feels like we could make a chick-flick out of our situation. I was trying to think of a title, but all the good ones are gone.

Me: How about, Beauty and the Beast?”