Mercy: Second Chance Military Romance

by Abbi Hemp

  When I didn’t see anyone in the front half of the RV, I rushed down the hall to the back.

  “Haley?” I called out.

  No answer. I kicked the bathroom door open and glanced around. Nothing.

  Fuck!

  I looked down the hall toward the front. Still seeing no one, I moved to the very back of the RV with a door to what was probably a bedroom.

  “Haley?” I called out, turning the doorknob.

  The door was locked. I took a few steps back then rushed toward the door. It opened when I hit it with my arm. I saw Haley passed out on a bed.

  No!

  I went to her.

  “Haley?” I asked, lightly slapping her cheek. “Wake up, Haley.”

  She was still breathing, which was good. Had they drugged her? Before I figured it out, I heard the Mohawk man calling out from the front of the RV.

  “Come on out, football boy. I want to play with you.”

  I stood up and glanced down at Haley. If I rushed the freak with a gun and he shot me, my football career might be over forever. On the other hand – Haley.

  The thought of her made up my mind in less than a second. I took a deep breath, preparing to run down the hall and tackle Mohawk before he got a shot off.

  If I got lucky, it might actually work.

  One more breath. You got this.

  “I’m coming for you!” Mohawk yelled in a sing-song voice.

  Before I had a chance to take off toward him, I heard another voice.

  “Police! Drop the weapon!”

  “Fuck you!” Mohawk yelled.

  He then screamed bloody murder.

  “You tazed me bro! Why did you taze me?”

  “Anyone else in here?”

  “Back here,” I yelled. “My hands are up, and I don’t have a weapon. Someone is hurt.”

  A second later, two officers entered the bedroom.

  “Hands up,” one shouted.

  “They’re up!” I said, moving them for emphasis.

  “What did you do to her?”

  “I was here to save you because when we called you guys, you wouldn’t come right away.”

  “Hey, aren’t you James King?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Wait a minute…That’s Haley, isn’t it? The woman you love so much you gave up football?”

  “Yes,” I said. “Will you please call someone to help her?”

  “What’s wrong with her?” he asked.

  “I have no idea.”

  “There’s an EMS crew outside.”

  “Well bring them in!”

  “Watch your mouth, son!”

  “This is fucking insane,” I said, dropping my arms.

  “Raise ‘em back up! Now, mother fucker!”

  The officer pointed his tazer at me.

  “I told you who I am,” I insisted.

  “Comply! Comply!”

  When I didn’t raise my hands, he fired, the thin wire hitting me square in the chest.

  “What the fuck!” I yelled as I went down, my body flopping.

  I hit my head on a wall. Everything went dark.

  FORTY

  James

  When I opened my eyes, I found myself laying in a hospital bed. I saw Haley standing next to me, looking down. She smiled and squeezed my arm.

  “What happened?”

  “You hit your head. Do you remember anything?”

  “Yeah, the cop came in and tazed me instead of getting help for you. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she said. “You’ve had me so worried.”

  “How long have I been asleep?”

  “Two days,” she said.

  My eyes opened wider. Pain shot through my face.

  “Oww…”

  “The doctor said you might never wake up. Your coach is here.”

  “He is?”

  She nodded.

  “He apologized to me, said his thinking on football players being in relationships was all wrong.”

  “It only took all this, huh?”

  I laughed until it hurt, which only took a second.

  “Rest,” she said. “I’ll be here.”

  “My career is over…”

  My eyes closed by themselves as my voice trailed off. I heard her talking, but it sounded like she was at the other end of a long hallway and walking in the other direction.

  Blackness hit me.

  * * *

  The next time I opened my eyes, I didn’t see anyone. Lifting my head sent pain shooting through my entire body, but I did it long enough to see Haley huddled in a chair, fast asleep.

  My eyes closed again as sleep overtook me. Whatever drugs they had me on were working as prescribed. Crazy dreams kept me entertained for what felt like years.

  When I opened them again, sunlight streamed in through the only window in the room. Haley was talking to Coach near the door of the room. I watched in silence.

  “You’re up!” Haley said when she noticed me.

  Both of them walked over to my bed.

  “Am you going to let me play, Coach?”

  “If the doctor gives you the all-clear, I want you on my team. You showed a lot of leadership and initiative the other day.”

  “I did it for her,” I said, turning my head slightly to look Haley in the eyes.

  Tears were streaming down her face.

  “I’m so happy…I thought…”

  “It’s okay,” I said, smiling even though it hurt.

  “You rest up, son. We’re going to need you in peak condition when you get out of here.”

  “If the doctor says he can play,” Haley said. “I’m not losing him to a concussion on the field.”

  While I knew there were risks involved with football, it wasn’t the time to explain it to her.

  “Come see me when you get out,” Coach said. “I’m leaving now. The team is getting off easy with me gone.”

  “Thanks for stopping by,” I said.

  “Ah-ha! You didn’t say Coach that time.”

  I grinned.

  “You got me, Coach.”

  He smiled, the first one I had ever seen on his face, then waved and walked away.

  “He’s crazy,” Haley said.

  “He is, but he’s a good man.”

  “You’re a good man. I can’t believe you saved me.”

  “Me, Teddy, Brian and a bunch of geeks in armor.”

  She smiled, wiping the tears out of her eyes.

  “I love you, Haley. Since the moment I laid eyes on you that night.”

  “I’ve been so much trouble…”

  “No. I wouldn’t change a thing. What happens to us is what shapes us. And we’re becoming better people, a stronger couple.”

  “Did that bump on the head turn you into a philosopher or something?” she joked.

  I smiled.

  “It’s just the love I have for you.”

  “I love you too, James.” She kissed me. “Now get some rest. We have finals coming up too.”

  I groaned.

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “You got this,” she said.

  “We got this,” I corrected.

  * * *

  The final play of the final game of the year, and we were down by three points. I scanned the end zone, looking for someone open. Gonzales waved his hand like a madman, but I waited a moment, not trusting his catching skills. Curtis held back the opposing team, giving me a few crucial seconds.

  I saw a guy break through and come toward me. Here goes nothing, I thought, throwing the ball toward the end zone. I dodged out of the way of the man who had broken through while keeping my eye on the football arcing gracefully through the air. Come on, Gonzales! Catch the damn ball!

  He raised his hands, looking at the ball and running back and forth to line it up. Two other players rushed toward him. Catch the ball! At the last moment, he jumped up about a foot and caught the pass, which had been a bit too high. Oh shit! I thought as he danced around, slamming
the ball to the ground.

  “We won!” I shouted, soaking up the cheers from the crowd of easily twenty-thousand people.

  Haley sat in the crowd somewhere. She was the only one I really cared about, but I lifted both arms into the air with my index fingers pointing to the sky. The fans ate it up, cheering even louder.

  I made my way to the locker room with the other players. We were all exhausted, but we had won. A headhunter was in the stands from what Coach had told me.

  Hopefully, he wouldn’t mind my last pass, which had been too high. Even if I didn’t make it to a pro team, my college career was nothing to laugh at.

  Curtis ran up and slapped me on my back shoulder pads.

  “What’s up, bro?”

  “Good job keeping them away from me. Maybe we’ll get drafted on the same team next year.”

  “I don’t think I’m going pro.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short.”

  We entered the hallway leading to the locker room, walking side by side. After four years of playing and living with him, it felt odd to think of our last game together.

  The thought passed quickly as I thought about Haley and our future together. No matter what happened, we would be together. After having been through so much together, we trusted each other completely with no questions asked. I would die for her, and she would do the same for me.

  We loved each other.

  ***

  I told Coach and the rest of the team I would see them later that night before leaving the locker room. Freshly dressed, I went straight to the parking lot.

  Haley sat on the hood of my black and yellow Camaro, looking as beautiful as ever. She smiled and waved as I walked over, stopping in front of her.

  “You’re going to dent my hood,” I teased.

  “I didn’t think you would mind.”

  Her legs dangled over the side above the wheel well.

  “If it’s you doing it, I don’t mind.”

  I stepped in between her legs. She wrapped them around me as I leaned forward and kissed her perfect lips. We knew each other so well, each kiss reminded me of our first.

  She broke away.

  “Good game today.”

  “Thanks. How did you do on your final? Did they post the grades yet?”

  “Passed,” she said, head held high and proud.

  “That’s my girl.”

  She kissed me again then said, “Uh oh.”

  “What?” I asked, following her gaze.

  When I turned around, I saw frat-fuck Derek walking toward us.

  “What the fuck does he want?” I mumbled, stepping forward and stretching my arms.

  “Hold up!” Derek said, raising his hands in the air, palms out. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”

  “Damn straight. What do you want?”

  “I came to apologize. After I heard what happened in the park, I felt bad about that night…”

  He stopped talking.

  “Go on,” I said. “What about that night?”

  “I was wrong, okay?” He turned to look at Haley. “I’m sorry, okay? So sorry.”

  He took a step toward her. I put out my arm, stopping him.

  “Watch it,” I said.

  Haley hopped down from the hood and walked over.

  “You want to make up for it?”

  He nodded.

  “Anything. I can give you money, or…”

  “I don’t want your money,” she said, cutting him off. “But I do want you to volunteer for at least a few hours at a battered woman’s shelter.”

  “I don’t usually…”

  “Hey,” she interrupted again. “You asked. That’s what I want. You probably won’t, so it doesn’t really matter. You’re just saying sorry to keep out of trouble. I didn’t report you to the police then, and I’m not going to do it now.”

  I placed my hand on the small of her back, so proud of her in that moment.

  “I’ll do it,” Derek said. “I promise.”

  “Good. Please leave now. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

  He turned and skedaddled away. I stepped in front of Haley and put my hands on her hips. Our eyes locked on each other. All the other people in the parking lot faded away.

  “I love you, Haley Harrison.”

  “I love you so much, James.”

  Our kiss lasted until the last car had left the parking lot over an hour later.

  FORTY-ONE

  James

  Three Years Later

  I pulled up to the two-story Colonial and parked on the street.

  “It’s a nice one,” Haley said. “They’ve sold it already, though.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, look at the sign.”

  She turned to me. I grinned, unable to keep the secret any longer.

  “What?” she asked suspiciously.

  I opened the center console and took out two keychains with two keys each.

  “You know who bought it?”

  “Yes. We did.”

  Her eyes widened as she squealed in delight, just the reaction I’d been after.

  “Let’s go inside and check it out.”

  “When did you do this?” she asked, opening the passenger door of my Camaro.

  “I started the process a month ago. After I knew what you wanted in a house, all I had to do was find one that matched. With all the studying you’re doing for grad-school, I figured I would take care of it for us.”

  I stopped beside her on the sidewalk in front of our new home.

  “When did you find the time?”

  “Between practice and when you got home every night. Took me two weeks to find the perfect place.”

  “Can we afford this?”

  “I wasn’t a first pick in the draft, but we got enough for a down payment on this place.” I put my arm around her waist. “Oh, and something else.”

  She turned her head.

  “Something else?”

  I nodded.

  “It’s in the garage.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “I did.”

  After getting the clicker out of my front pocket, I opened the door of the garage. Inside, a forest green Mercedes sat all bright, shiny and new.

  “James!”

  “That’s an odd name for a car, but okay,” I teased.

  She stepped in front of me and hugged tight while resting her head against my chest. I rubbed her back, loving to see her smile.

  “You work so hard going to school and chasing your DNP degree…”

  “I love you, James. So much. Can we go for a drive? Oh, wait. I want to see the house first. I feel like a little girl on Christmas morning.”

  “It’s not over yet,” I said seriously, reaching into my pocket again.

  She stared into my eyes, her face expressionless. I pulled out a velvet covered case and got down on one knee in front of her.

  “Haley, you’re the woman for me. You’ve been by my side since the beginning, not knowing if I would make it all the way to the pros or not. I love you with all my heart and soul. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

  “Yes!” she cried, pulling me up. “Yes, silly. So many times yes.”

  I took her hand and slipped the ring on. We had met a little over three years earlier, but I felt as if we had been together for a hundred years at least – in a good way – like we were two old people who had met and married right after high school.

  She kissed me. Neither of us cared who saw us in the exclusive, upscale neighborhood, but I led her to the front porch. After unlocking the door, I picked her up and carried her over the threshold as she giggled, overwhelmed by happiness.

  FORTY-TWO

  James

  Six Years After That

  Nine years after meeting Haley one night on campus, I found myself preparing mentally for my last play of my final Championship Game as a professional player. My six-year career as a pro had paid handsomely, but I wanted to retire before I got h
urt seriously.

  I’d taken a few lumps over the years, even breaking a bone in my leg, but overall I had gotten lucky. Haley had saved me in so many ways, I credited her with my luck on the field. All I had to do was get through one more game, and I would be able to walk away.

  The crowd went wild, a sound I would miss after I retired. Working every day with Haley at the King Sports Medical Center would be even better as we both sailed gracefully into old age. After this last play, I would be able to start my new life even closer to her.

  We were already rich beyond our wildest dreams, but we enjoyed helping other athletes, even if they didn’t always have the money to pay for treatments. The defensive line settled down a few feet in front of me. I prepared to catch the ball and pass it to the end zone.

  Ironically, I found myself in exactly the same position as my last college game. We were down by three points and close to their end of the field. All I needed was one player to get open and to throw a ball to him while avoiding getting hit by the opposing team. Simple!

  I stared at Curtis, number fifty-seven, hoping he had it in him to hold the line and protect me long enough to get a good pass off. The only thing running through my mind was to not throw the ball too high again like I had back in college. You got this. Do it!

  “Hut, hut, hike!”

  The ball in my hands, I scanned the end zone, looking for anyone who was open. Nothing! Fuck! I moved back a step, hoping someone opened up. No one did. Someone broke past Curtis and came toward me. He whirled around and chased after the guy.

  Fuck this noise!

  Tucking the ball under my arm, I took off toward the end zone. The move surprised my teammates and theirs as I ran forward, zigging and zagging to avoid all attempts to tackle me. Somehow, I made it across the line and stopped.

  The fans went wild in the stands as I jumped up into the air and slammed the football into the ground. My teammates ran over and picked me up. I lifted my hands in the air. While the adoration felt satisfying, it was nothing compared to the birth of our children.

  John, two-years old, and Mary, three-years-old, were the loves of my life. Everything Haley and I did was for them in one way or another. We had a good life, but I wanted something even better for them, the American dream. They were with a babysitter for the night.