Second Chance: A Military Football Romance

"And starting over," I said. "I like that."

"Exactly," Quinn handed me a controller. "Here, we can start over and no one knows us."

We explored the Mars landscape. I had almost forgotten what it felt like. Video games were supposed to be an escape. Now, as Quinn and I worked together, tried and failed, and fought our way through surprising problems, it all came back to me. The whole reason I loved my job was that I could show people how to be who they really wanted, even if the real world kept telling them no.

"This is good, right?" she asked.

"The best," I said. "I really needed this. Thank you."

She moved closer on the couch and curled up against me. "Is it wrong that I always really wanted this?"

"No. Our timing was just off. Other people got in the way," I replied.

Quinn shook her head, her eyes sad for a moment. "She also brought us together and kept us together," she said.

"But you make me better," I said. I leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Thank you for always making me better."

"Even on Mars?" Quinn asked with a smile.

I nodded. "But especially here and now."

Chapter Nineteen

Quinn

The game was interesting and I loved exploring the Mars scenery with Owen. I was bursting to tell him about my plans for the money I was earning. First, I wanted to see the worried furrow in the middle of his forehead ease. He was so wrapped up in his own problems that I was not sure the time was right.

"Watch out for that crater," I said. We both pulled our avatars back sharply.

"Thanks for saving me again," he said.

"I don't know when you think I saved your life," I said.

"Right now. All I could think about was who might be setting me up and what would happen. All the hypotheticals were killing me," Owen said.

"So a little imaginary exploration of Mars was just the right thing?" I asked.

Owen smiled and wrapped an arm around me. "Maybe it’s more than just the Mars game," he said.

"Like what?" I paused my player.

Owen turned to me and opened his mouth to say something. Then, he shook his head. Instead, he tugged my shoulders closer and pressed a light kiss against my lips. I did not pull back. Wrapped up close next to him on the couch was exactly where I wanted to be.

"You're okay with this?" he asked. Another trio of gentle kisses brushed my lips.

"Okay with what?"

"I know it has to feel a little strange. I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you. Or using you to ease some guilt. Or, I don't know, whatever other people say about us," Owen said.

I hovered a half an inch from his face. "I don't want to think. I just want to feel, because this feels right to me."

Owen tossed aside his controller and brought his other hand up to cup my cheek. This time, his kiss was light but did not brush past. The heat built between our searching mouths. He tangled his hand in my hair and tipped my head back to deepen the kiss.

I could not get close enough to him. I turned from cuddling against his side to sitting astride his lap. Owen's arms wrapped around my back and pulled me closer. This time was different, the heat building slower. It seemed to radiate gently from my chest. My heart beat long, throbbing pulses against him. I worried that I knew what that meant.

"It feels right to me too," Owen said. "So, absolutely right, and I waited too long."

I felt his hand push gently against my side, asking permission. I moved in the direction he suggested and lay down on the couch. For the longest time, we enjoyed the warm friction, our bodies rubbing together as the kisses grew longer.