Mercy: Second Chance Military Romance

by Abbi Hemp

  “What’s up, James?”

  “Gonna grab a slice and hang a bit. You know Haley, right?”

  Curtis turned to me and nodded.

  “Yeah, I do. You don’t come here often, do you?”

  “No, too busy working and studying. How’s that knee, by the way?”

  His face grew pale.

  “Fine,” he said. “I’ll talk to you guys later.”

  “Yeah, see ya, fellas,” James said then turned.

  After we had walked a few feet to another booth, he whispered into my ear, “You have to tell me that story about Curtis.”

  “I can’t. Patient and doctor confidentiality and all that.”

  “You’re not a doctor, are you?”

  “No, but I plan on being a Nurse Practitioner, which is practically the same thing.”

  He sat down. I took a seat on the bench across from him.

  “You have a lot of years of school left then, huh?” he asked.

  “Too many. I’m going to be in debt for years.”

  “Unless you find a rich husband.”

  I wasn’t sure how to answer him. Luckily, a waitress walked up, leaning her weight all on one leg, her hip sticking out.

  “What can I get you two?” she asked, a pen in her hand poised above an order pad.

  “Two slices of the Thin Max Style and a pitcher of water,” James said then turned to me. “Did you want something else?”

  I shook my head, loving that he took charge.

  “That’s great.”

  “Be right back,” the woman said.

  “Thanks, Janice.”

  After she walked away, I asked, “You know her?”

  “Not well, but I’m in here enough. It’s the place to be social if you don’t drink alcohol.”

  “You don’t ever drink?”

  “Not during season. Sometimes in the summer. I don’t get all the fuss. It can be nice, but it always destroys your body for days afterward.”

  “Yeah, but I enjoy a glass of red wine once in a while. It’s healthy.”

  “Hell, they’re even saying coffee and chocolate are healthy these days.”

  “You mean they’re not?” I asked with exaggerated shock.

  He laughed.

  “You’re funny.”

  “There you go with the compliments again. You trying to…”

  I stopped talking mid-sentence, not wanting to bring up anything sexual after the night before.

  “We can talk about that later,” he said coolly.

  Does he ever get upset?

  The waitress returned with our slices on two paper plates, a pitcher of water with ice, and two glasses. After she set them down, she rushed to the next table, looking frazzled.

  “I do love their pizza here,” I said.

  “Right? It’s the sauce.”

  “Totally the sauce.”

  I picked up a slice then set it back down.

  “Hot, hot, hot…” I said, waving my hand.

  “Here…”

  He picked up the pitcher and poured me a glass of water and ice.

  “Wrap your hand around that,” he said.

  I giggled.

  “You tell that to all the women, right?”

  He cracked a smile.

  “Just do it.”

  I did, my hand feeling better.

  “I’m a nurse. I do know cold helps with burns.”

  He poured himself a glass of water.

  “Take it back, bitch!” someone yelled across the restaurant.

  I spun my head around. My heart sank as I saw one of the guys who had accosted me the night before. He was holding a plate toward Janice. She glanced around while frowning.

  To my surprise, James got to his feet and walked over to the commotion. I stood and followed, standing five or ten feet away from him. Derek, the asshole, noticed me and grinned.

  “Here’s another worthless bitch. Did someone blog a dog whistle or something?” He turned to the waitress. “Take this shit back.”

  “Just throw it away. I’ll bring you another slice.”

  Derek threw the plate and pizza at her. It landed on her chest then slid down.

  “What the fuck is your problem?” James asked, stepping closer to their table.

  Two other guys, also wearing polo-shirts, sat across from Derek. James stared at them all one by one as if daring any of them to make a move. I felt scared and excited at the same time even though he wasn’t standing up for me.

  “Let’s go, James,” I said, grabbing his arm. “You don’t need this shit.”

  “Yeah, Jamie Boy. Listen to your bitch.”

  In one fluid motion, James grabbed the picture of beer in the center of their table and threw it on Derek, soaking him. He stood up, pulling his shirt out.

  “What the hell, man?”

  “Oops,” James said. “Accident. Sorry.”

  “Fuck you it was an accident.”

  James glanced to the left then right.

  “You guys saw that, right? I tripped over his pizza slice on the floor and almost killed myself on their table.”

  Derek scowled, his eyebrows pointed down toward his nose and his brow furrowed deeply.

  “You’re going to pay for this,” he said then stormed off toward the door.

  His buddies got out, making sure to stay out of James’ way as they scurried after their preppy friend.

  “You okay?” James asked as he turned around.

  I nodded, putting my hand on his back. It felt so tight.

  “Fucking assholes,” he muttered.

  We made it back to our table and finished eating. The rest of the patrons acted as if nothing had happened. By the end of the snack, we were laughing and joking together again.

  * * *

  Back at the apartment, I invited him in, justifying it by telling myself I didn’t want to deal with Tabby and all her problems. If I brought James in, she would retreat to her bedroom for the night. At least I hoped so as I unlocked the front door.

  “Excuse the mess,” I said as I walked inside.

  Tabby looked up from the couch with a smile on her face. It faded as James stepped in behind me.

  “Hey, Tabby. This is James.” I turned to him. “James, this is Tabby, my roommate.”

  “I’ve seen you on campus, I think,” he said in a friendly tone.

  “I doubt it,” she snapped.

  As she stood and fled to her bedroom in back of the house, I didn’t even attempt to hide my smile. James shut the door then followed me into the living room.

  “Was it something I said?” he asked.

  I shook my head.

  “She gets jealous of me.”

  “Oh, do you swing both ways?”

  “No!” I said a bit too loudly. “I’ve got nothing against that, but I like men.”

  He smiled.

  “Good to hear.”

  “I’m still not sure why you’re so interested in me.” I pointed to the couch. “Have a seat.”

  We sat down next to each other.

  “I think it’s the way we met the first time,” he said. “You’re not digging my company?”

  “No, no. I had fun. I mean, I’m having fun.”

  He put his hand on my thigh.

  “It’s okay. Calm down. Breathe.”

  I stared into his dark brown eyes. He leaned forward, tilting his head slightly to the left. I mirrored his actions. Gravity – or some force – drew our bodies closer together.

  Our lips met then moved back before pressing together more passionately. I felt his hand sliding higher, aiming for between my legs. My heart beat faster.

  “Can you two go to your room at least?” Tabby asked.

  I glanced up and saw her in the disgusting brown robe with her hands crossed over her chest.

  “Do you mind?” I asked.

  James moved back, holding his hands up.

  “I’m not wanting to cause any roommate grief.”

  “Good. Then you sho
uld leave,” Tabby said.

  “Hey, that’s rude,” I said. “Don’t talk to him that way.”

  “Whatever, Haley. I warned you. I’m going to watch my shows in here. If you two don’t like it, you can leave.”

  I turned to James, a frown on my face.

  “Can we pick this up some other time, please?”

  “Sure.”

  He turned to glare at Tabby then stood up.

  “I’ll call you soon. It’s just that I think I remembered I have a pop-quiz tomorrow, and I need to study.”

  He nodded.

  “See you, Haley.”

  As he walked toward the door, I thought about jumping up and chasing after him. He left before I acted, shutting the door behind him. It sounded so final.

  I spun my head to Tabby. She had a self-satisfied smile on her face.

  “You’re a bitch,” I said.

  “I’m protecting you, Haley. He just wants one thing from you.”

  “How would you know?” I shouted as I stood up. “Just leave me alone, okay? This might be our last semester together.”

  “We have to be roomies,” she cried.

  “I’m not in the mood now.”

  I stormed past her and into my bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me.

  What the hell is her problem? I wondered as I fell back-first on my bed. Laying across it sideways, I stared up at the ceiling and wondered what must be going through James’ mind. After all the resistance I’d shown, he would surely move on to the next woman.

  Fuck my life.

  SEVEN

  James

  The next morning, I woke up half-an-hour early to get an extra mile or two in on my run. Part of it had to do with the pizza I’d consumed the night before, but I also wanted time alone to sort through my thoughts. Haley had appeared in my dreams.

  At least I thought it was her. I’d woken up with a raging boner, something that hadn’t happened in a long time. Now, running alone a walking trail that circles the entire campus, I tried to piece together why she attracted me so damn much.

  I came up with no answers, just like the night before when she had asked me. We had gotten closer to sleeping together, but I wondered if even that would help get her out of my mind. As I neared the School of Architecture building, I saw trouble ahead.

  Derek and a few of his frat brother friends stood on the path, blocking my way. I thought briefly about simply running around them, but that would only embolden them. As a top dog, many others had questioned my position and tried to fight me for it.

  As a football player, I wasn’t supposed to get in trouble, and I didn’t want to risk injury, but I had to stick up for myself, not to mention Haley. Ten yards away, I stopped, jogging in place with a smile on my face. I always liked to try humor first.

  “Hey, fellas, care to join me? You’re not dressed for it, but you all look a bit soft.”

  “Keep laughing,” Derek said with a smug grin on his face. “You should know I talked to your coach. He’s not happy with you.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s your work against mine. Coach trusts me. He doesn’t know shit about you fools.”

  “Watch your mouth,” Derek said then peered to the left and right for reassurance from his friends.

  I stopped jogging.

  “Look, we got off to the wrong foot. I’m being more than kind with this bullshit. You were about to attack a woman…”

  “We were drunk,” he interrupted. “It didn’t mean anything. We wouldn’t have gone through with it.”

  “She was asking for it,” someone else said.

  Take down their leader, and the rest will scatter.

  I braced myself, ready to pounce and strike Derek. He stared me down.

  “Let’s go, guys. We’re done here.”

  “That’s right,” I said, swinging back my shoulder as if I were about to hit him.

  He flinched. I laughed and ran through them, not afraid of turning my back to them.

  “Talk to your coach!” Derek yelled.

  I raised a hand in the air, flipping him the bird.

  They were just joking around, I told myself, but by the time I got back to gym, I found myself walking toward his office, wondering if they had talked to him. They didn’t bother me, but it pissed me off they had practically assaulted Haley the other night.

  As I approached the door, I heard him yelling. Curtis walked out a moment later, his head bent. He shook it as he passed.

  “He wants to see you too.”

  “What about?” I asked.

  “Get in here, James!”

  Fucking frat boys.

  EIGHT

  James

  I walked into the office. Coach glanced up at me with the same look of disgust he usually wore, even when we won games. He didn’t say anything as I sat down at a hard, wooden seat in front of his desk.

  “You going to be ready for this next game?”

  “Yes, Coach.”

  No frat-boys?

  “Good. I hear your grades are up, and I’ve not heard of you partying hard. Who’s this new girl you’ve been hanging out with?”

  I did my best to mask my emotions.

  “Girl, Coach?”

  “Come on, you know what the hell I’m talking about. Curtis gave you up to get out of trouble.”

  That fucker…

  “It’s not serious, Coach,” I lied.

  He read me like a play-book.

  “Tell me the truth. She going to distract you?”

  “No, Coach. It’s under control. Football first. Always.”

  “Damn straight,” he said then glanced down at a printed spreadsheet. “Your stats are looking solid, but I want you to try to push yourself a bit farther this next game. Can you do that, son?”

  “Yes, Coach.”

  “Why the hell do all of you guys say my name every time you answer?”

  I cracked a smile.

  “I’m not sure, Coach.”

  He waved a hand through the air in front of him.

  “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care. I’m too damn old, but I want one more big win.”

  “We’re going to deliver it this year, Coach.”

  “Well, make sure you’re not spending too much time chasing tail. I imagine there’s plenty of young women willing to lay with you.”

  “Yes, Coach.”

  “Get the hell out of here,” he said. “Remember, give me double.”

  I stood and walked out of his office, determined to find Curtis and give him a piece of my mind. If Coach thought I was fucking around with a social life, he would stop helping me do my absolute best and increase my chances of hitting the pros after I graduated.

  Many players like me dreamed of hitting it big, even if the average career of a football player was only about five or six years at most. And most of us had no chance of making pro. I believed I would make it, and that made me special.

  Coach saw my potential, and I didn’t want to let him down. At the same time, a little down-time with Haley wouldn’t be a bad thing. When I walked into the locker room, I saw Curtis sitting on a bench, waiting for me. He stood up, holding out a palm.

  “Calm down, buddy. He tricked it out of me.”

  “You need to mind your own damn business,” I said, walking over.

  The other players crowded around us.

  “I don’t go around blabbing your secrets.”

  “You don’t know any of my secrets,” he said.

  “Oh, no? How about what happened at the Med-Center.”

  His eyes widened.

  “Who told you?”

  I grinned, still having no idea what had happened.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “Was it Haley?”

  “No, it wasn’t,” I said. “You ratted me out to Coach. That’s what we’re talking about here.”

  His demeanor changed instantly. He put a hand on my shoulder. I glanced over at it then back to his face, looking him straight in the eyes.

&nbs
p; “I’m sorry, man. Coach is all over me, and…”

  “It’s fine,” I said, cutting him off. “Just don’t let it happen again.”

  “Get a fucking room, you two,” someone yelled.

  The others laughed then wandered away.

  “You getting suited up?”

  “Yeah, yeah, give me a minute,” I said. “I’ve got to make a call.”

  “That damn Haley is going to ruin your future career,” he warned.

  “Let me worry about that, alright?”

  I stepped away and pulled out my phone to call Haley. She answered right away.

  “Hey, James. What’s up? I just got out of class.”

  “I’m not stalking you. Promise.”

  “Well, I’m not sure I would be too upset if you were. I mean, in a romantic way.”

  “Noted,” I said. “Anyway, I’ve been thinking about you all day?”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah, nothing dirty. I ran into Derek and his goons again today. We should talk about my goals.”

  “Your goals?”

  “What I want to do with my life after I graduate.”

  “You’re going pro, aren’t you?”

  “That’s the dream, but I don’t know if I’ll make it.”

  “You’re going to make it.”

  I smiled, loving her support.

  “We could hang out later tonight.”

  “Hang out?”

  “Or more,” I added quietly so my teammates wouldn’t hear.

  “Or more?”

  “Stop copying me,” I said then laughed.

  “Yeah. Make it after eight. Tabby will be gone by then.”

  “See you later tonight, Haley.”

  “Bye, James.”

  I ended the call, feeling confident in my plan to rid myself of the pesky woman. Once we had sex or at least got a blowjob, I’d be able to concentrate on more important things, like football and going pro.

  The thought of going to hang out with Haley later that night and busting a move on her made me work even harder on the field as we played a full scrimmage game. Coach yelled at us from the sideline whether we executed a play perfectly or not.

  When I noticed him watching me closely, I made sure to put in some extra effort. Thanks to Curtis, he would be keeping an eye on my constantly. As a star, I had to constantly prove myself to my teammates and the fans as well as Coach.