An hour later, Nick pulls over to the side of the road and texts Mike.
Nick
I’m on my way back. Almost there.
Mike
We’re at Tony’s Restaurant. Meet us here for dinner?
Nick
I think I’m just going to head back to the lake house.
Mike
Suit yourself. Steph’s already there.
Mike
She made us wait forever while she got ready and then at the last minute she bailed.
Mike
Said she doesn’t feel well.
Nick swears. He knows exactly what Stephanie’s up to.
He immediately texts her.
Steph
Sitting on the lake house patio. Why?
Nick
You were supposed to go out to dinner with your family.
Steph
I decided to hang back.
Nick
Don’t “so what” me, Stephanie. I know exactly what you’re doing.
Steph
Oh? And what exactly is that, Corporal O’Brien?
Nick
You’re forcing my hand.
Steph
That’s not what I’m doing.
Steph
My family is just sitting down to dinner.
Steph
They haven’t even ordered yet and they’re likely going for drinks afterward.
Steph
That gives us plenty of time.
Steph
So I’m giving you a choice.
Steph
You can either join me here at the lake house, just the two of us, and you can stop being so hell-bent on protecting and serving others that you allow yourself happiness and see what this really is between us.
Steph
Or you can join my family at dinner.
Steph
And when you ship off tomorrow, things will go back to the exact way they were before.
Steph
I’ll still worry about you. Still wonder if you’re okay every day.
Steph
But I’ll also wonder what could have been between us.
Steph
And don’t pretend like you won’t, too.
Steph
Because it’s more than just heat between us.
Steph
It’s been more than that for a long time.
Steph
I think we both know that.
He’s known it from the moment she first kissed him a year ago.
Nick stares at the screen of his phone, torn between what his heart really wants and what his past dictates.
Nick
I’m coming, sweetheart. Be there in five.
Steph
I knew you would come!
Steph
You never let me down. Not when it really comes down to the wire.
Nick
I won’t let you down.
Nick
I want to give what’s between us an honest shot.
Nick
And when I get there…
Nick
I’m going to give you a night you won’t ever forget…
Early the following morning, Nick returns to his room.
He doesn’t want Steph’s family – and especially Mike – to know what happened.
Nick
Good morning, sweetheart.
Steph
After everything we did last night…
Steph
My limbs feel like Jello and I’m certain I won’t walk straight for a week.
Nick
Lol. You’ll get used to it.
Steph
I’m not sure that I will.
Steph
I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that charm of yours.
Steph
Can we try that position you mentioned?
Nick
That will have to wait until next time I’m stateside.
Steph
I almost forgot you were shipping off today.
Nick
I warned you it would be like this.
Steph
With Mike and my parents here, we won’t even get a proper goodbye.
Nick
I’ll figure something out.
Nick
Mike, we need to talk.
Mike
Oh no. Please don’t tell me you clogged the upstairs toilet again.
Mike
It was bad enough when you did it in the barracks, but now my own damn lake house??
Nick
That was Henderson who did that and you know it.
Mike
I’m just messing with you, man lol.
Nick
Where are you? This is a conversation we need to have in person.
Mike
We can’t. I already left for Parris Island.
Mike
Last time I checked you could haul your own ass there yourself.
Mike
You don’t need me to hold your hand.
Nick
I’m in love with your sister.
Nick
I really care about her.
Mike
Of course I knew, you dipshit!
Mike
You’ve clearly been crazy about her since we were teenagers!
Mike
So what makes you feel like admitting it after all these years?
Mike
YOU SLEPT WITH MY SISTER?!?!?!
Mike
AT MY FAMILY’S LAKEHOUSE?!?!
Mike
I was two damn bedrooms away from you!!!
Nick
You knew I loved her and you still invited me!
Mike
That wasn’t an invitation to sleep with her, moron!
Nick
She’s not like the other girls I’ve been with, Mike.
Nick
This is more than a one-night thing.
Nick
More serious than I’ve ever been about anything.
Mike
I should have known it was just a matter of time…
Nick
Does that mean we have your approval then?
Nick
If you know how I feel about her, then come on, man.
Nick
She can make her own choices.
Mike
I’m not exactly happy about this.
Mike
You know how protective I am of her, but…
Mike
Anyone with eyes can see you two were meant for each other.
Nick
I promise I’ll do right by her.
Mike
I guess if any guy’s going to have her, why the hell not you?
Mike
You’re already like a brother to me.
Nick
So we have your approval then?
Mike
What the hell…yeah. I guess.
Mike
And it’s not like I can do much to stop it.
Mike
When I found out Steph was going to be stationed at the VA hospital near Parris Island, I wondered if things might pick up between the two of you.
Nick
Did you say Steph’s residency is down the road from our next station?
Mike
She didn’t tell you?
Mike
You thought you wouldn’t see her after today yet you still slept with her?!?!
Mike
When you get to the base, you are so in for it 😡
Nick
Remember, I’m like a brother to you? 😄
Nick
Meet me on our island in an hour. Take the jet ski.
Steph
What? I thought you had to leave??
Nick
Just be there, Steph. Please.
An hour later, Nick is sitting on the island dock, waiting for Stephanie.
When she arrives, she sits down beside him and he passes her his phone.
Stephanie starts reading the open text between Nick and Mike.
Nick
I know your residency assignment.
Nick
Why didn’t you tell me?
Steph
I planned to tell you.
Steph
But before last night, I wanted to see if you’d choose me, without knowing.
Nick
You didn’t want to make it easy on me, huh?
Nick chuckles and Stephanie grins.
Nick
We have Mike’s blessing.
Nick
No secrets. We can really see what this is between us.
Nick
I promised you one night, but we can have thousands of nights.
Nick
That is, if you want to.
Steph
Of course I want to!
Stephanie throws herself into his arms, kissing him.
When their kiss breaks, Nick smiles a wicked grin.
Nick
Now, I have a few things in mind to do right now…
Nick
And talking isn’t one of them.
