Page 51 of The Marine

Ten Years Ago

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“Istill think he wasbetter inSpeed,” I say as Aidan takes my hand and we walk out of the movie theater.

“You kidding me? As John Wick, Keanu’s way more badass.” Adiantsksme as if my words are blasphemous.

Which makes sense, as I’m sure he thinks Keanu is a god.

I shiver as the night air hits us, and he glances down, then stops and wraps his leather jacket over my shoulders.

I swear this man makes me swoon with every move he makes. No wonder I can’t get enough of him.

He’ssohandsome.

His short, wavy, dark hair frames his bright blue eyes and square jaw. He’s broader, taller, and overall, just bigger than the boys I went to high school with.

He’s just finished college and talking about going into the military.

I am excited for him.

College wasn’t an option for me, but I’m really proud of myself for finding a personal assistant role a week after finishing high school. I’ve been there six months and love it.

That’s how I met Aidan.

One Friday night after work, I went to a local restaurant and he was there. He watched me for over an hour before finally coming over to talk to me.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, leaning on the partition next to me.

“What for?” I asked, praying my cheeks weren’t burning red.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” he said, twisting to face me and indicating with his chin out across the restaurant. “I was talking to everyone else.”

I frowned.

“I’m sorry. She’s going to fall in love with me, so you all missed out.” He grinned at me stupidly.

What?

The confidence of this man.

But I laughed because he was so damn ridiculous. Lucky for him, he asked me things about myself and the conversation over the rest of the night was interesting and funny.

And I found myself wishing he’d kiss me.

He didn’t.

He saw me home in a cab and asked for my number. Then, we started dating.

For a few months Aidan took me out for dinners, on lazy Sunday drives, to the movies, to meet his mom and dad, to the beach...you name it, we did it.

He kissed me on our first date, and it was everything I ever dreamed of. Slow, delicious, and like an entrée to the best meal you ever had.

We had waited.

Not because I’d wanted to, but because Aidan wanted me to be sure. So there were a lot of one- and two-base nights. But regardless of how far we went, afterward I always found myself lying in his arms, feeling so blissfully happy.

Safe.

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