The next morning Steph texts Nick.
Steph
Hey? Where are you?
Steph
I’ve been looking for you all over the house.
Steph
I haven’t given up on my goal 😈
Steph
What? Are you joking?
Steph
Damn. What happened to being on leave?
Nick
Our sergeant called. He asked one of us to run over to the base on an errand.
Nick
The guy’s a hard ass. We always try to be on his good side. Makes life easier.
Nick
I didn’t want to make your brother leave, so I volunteered.
Nick
Your family has already opened your doors to me for years.
Nick
I wasn’t about to let Mike’s few days off get ruined for some bullshit errand.
Steph
And you couldn’t have texted? 😠
Nick
I needed to leave right away. Had to be here by 08:00.
Nick
And I liked the idea of you falling asleep thinking of me 😉
Steph
Sleep was the last thing on my mind.
Steph
Last night could have been so amazing.
Steph
When I finally did fall asleep, I dreamed of you.
Steph
No, actually they were sweet…
Steph
Do you remember when we were kids and my dad first bought the jet skis to use on the lake?
Steph
And you and Mike’s other friends came out to the lake house to take them for a ride?
Steph
Do you remember how none of Mike’s other friends would get off to let me have a turn?
Steph
So you let me drive and rode behind me?
Steph
And I drove it out all the way to that little island and totally banked it in the sand?
Nick
I’d forgotten about that. I pushed that thing for damn near an hour and it still wouldn’t come out.
Steph
I remember it took nearly two hours before Mike even realized we were gone and came to find us 🙄
Nick
No one’s ever called Mike observant.
Steph
Lol. No, they haven’t haha.
Nick
So that’s what you dreamed about?
Steph
Yeah, except it was me and you NOW, not back then.
Steph
We were just sitting there, our feet buried in the sand.
Steph
Talking and laughing as we watched the sun set.
Right then, the Sergeant walks in to the waiting room where Nick is sitting and calls out Nick’s name.
Steph
When are you going to be back?
An hour passes before Nick answers.
Nick
Sorry. Done now. I’m about to head back.
Nick
But with traffic I likely won’t make it until later tonight.
Steph
I’ve been thinking about you all day.
Nick
Same here, sweetheart.
Steph
Wondering if we can finish what we started last night.
He wants Stephanie, but she deserves better.
It’s been less than twenty-four hours and already she’s waiting for him.
Nick can’t help but think it will only get worse when he ships off…
Nick
Listen, Steph. I’ve been thinking.
Nick
We almost let things go too far last night.
Nick
I want you. You need to know that.
Nick
But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m shipping out again tomorrow afternoon.
Steph
So that’s it, then?
Steph
Plenty of people in the Marines have happy relationships, Nick.
Nick
But those people aren’t me.
Nick
They haven’t lived my life.
Nick
They don’t know my past.
Nick
You have no idea what’s it’s like to wonder every day if someone you love might never come home again.
Steph
Because last I checked Nick, I’ve felt that same way every damn day since both you and Mike shipped out.
Nick
Steph, you’re not saying what I think you’re saying, are you?
Steph
What? That I love you?
Steph
Of course, I love you!
Steph
And what you’re trying to protect me from is bogus.
Steph
Even if I wanted that protection, it’s a day late and several dollars short.
Steph
And don’t you think I’m smart enough to make my own choices?
Nick
You’re wicked smart.
Nick
You’ve always had both beauty and brains.
Steph
Yet you’re trying to decide what’s best for me?
Steph
Can’t you even just give it a chance and let me decide for myself?
Steph
If logic can’t persuade you then maybe something else can.
Stephanie sends Nick another sexy pic. Way hotter than the last one…
Nick
I thought you said you were a virgin.
Steph
I told you already. Romance novels 😉
Steph
Enjoy the ride back! 👋
Nick
You’re just going to leave it at that?!
Steph
Payback’s a bitch 😈
