Page 15 of Her Second Chance

Zeke grins. “So what if I am? You gonna stop me?”

Brock ignores him, setting a plate in front of me. “Don’t listen to Zeke. He’s a great receiver, but he’s dumb as a bag of hair.”

I laugh, turning to Zeke who punches Brock in the back of the thigh, nearly causing him to drop his tray. “I think I like you too.”

“What about me?” Brock pretends to pout.

I shrug. “Jury’s still out on that.”

He sets a soft drink in front of me. “Then I’ll have to up my game.”

I giggle. Flirting with Brock is fun. He’s so easy to interact with and be around. Unlike Jason, who acts aloof, like he’s too cool for me. If I wasn’t here on a mission, I’d probably try to spend time with Brock as more than just friends. As things stand, I need to keep him at a distance and focus on why I’m here.

He holds up his drink. “To new friendships.”

Zeke and I clink glasses with him.

* * *

The sun sets, bright orange and pink, painting the sky as Brock and I stand in front of my dorm, trying to say goodbye, but neither of us wanting tonight to end. Everything was perfect.

I rub my stomach. “I shouldn’t have eaten that entire piece of cheesecake,” I groan.

He laughs, pinching my side. “I had no idea a little thing like you could put away food like that. Good thing I get to eat free at the dorms, or I’d have to get a job just to keep you fed.”

I shrug. “It’s nice to eat what I want and not be criticized for it.”

Brock's face darkens. “Who does that?”

“Hun–“ Crap. I almost referenced Hunter, who I haven’t met in this timeline. “Um, my ex. He didn’t want a fat girlfriend.” His exact words were, ‘No fiancée of mine is going to have an ass wider than mine.’ But I don’t tell Brock that. I doubt it would make any sense to him anyway. In this timeline, I’m too young to have an ex fiancé, and there’s no way he wouldn’t laugh in my face or run for the hills if I told him I’m a time traveler.

“What a jerk. You deserve better than him. You know that, right?”

I nod my head in agreement. “You’re telling me. I can’t believe all the time I wasted on him.”

“Are you on the rebound?”

Am I? “Um, sort of,” I stammer.

He steps closer. He’s a big guy and towers over me, but I don’t feel intimidated. He tilts my chin up, holding me in place, his eyes locking on mine. “I don’t want to be your rebound guy, so I’ll let you go out on a date with that guy you mentioned earlier.”

“Brock. . .” My voice is a whisper, and my panties are drenched. I’m not sure if I’m begging or scolding. All I know is being this close to him feels like slipping into a warm bath on a chilly day. I don’t want to step away, despite knowing I should.

He places a finger on my lips. “Shh. One date. After that, I’m making you mine.”

Inside, I’m screaming for him to kiss me. I swallow hard but don’t argue. For the first time, I wish the future was different. I wish I could enjoy Brock before settling down with Jason. But I can’t. Risking my second chance for a passionate affair isn’t worth missing out on forever. I’ve got one chance to fix my past. I need to stay focused and not fuck it up.

Jason is the reason I’m here.

He leans down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll see you here next week for our standing steak and lobster dinner.”

“By then, you’ll be the starting quarterback. I’ll be nothing more than a distant memory.” I try to keep my tone light, but the thought of him forgetting about me stings.

One side of his mouth ticks up into a grin. “Then next week we’ll have two reasons to celebrate.”

“Two?”

He nods. “I’ll be celebrating my new status as quarterback and your boyfriend.”

---