Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

long-term relationship to have to worry about. Most of the time we're so busy and focused on the task at hand, that I wouldn't have had time for a relationship anyway. And there are ways to..." I could feel my whole face get hot at my next words. "...get my needs met, without anyone finding out."
    Chase just raised his eyebrows at that last sentence.
    "Oh now, don't go all shocked on me Chase, you were in the same situation, you surely did the same thing. Found the same ways to get what you wanted?"
    He nodded soberly. "Well, of course, but eventually you start wanting a little more than just quick gratification. Something a little longer lasting."
    I smirked evilly. "Aw, Chase, are you having trouble finding someone with staying power?" It was impossibly hard to resist making fun of the innuendo in his words, but I also was secretly trying to get us off of this topic. And with a little help from the waitress it worked.
    Chase rolled his eyes. "I take back everything I said about the Marines making you better. You're still a little shit."
    I laughed just as the waitress walked up with our food. The moment was broken and the topic died, as we moved on to other conversations.
    We stayed at the restaurant for another couple of hours, talking about sports and our families and laughing and joking around. It was comfortable, just like old times and I began to realize how much I missed being around him.
    "So, Bobby said you were working for some non-profit organization?"
    Chase's eyes lit up and his whole face changed as he started describing the place he worked for called KIT— Kids Included Together. It was a national organization based in San Diego that helped work toward inclusion of both healthy kids and kids with disabilities into programs of learning and recreation. He talked for about twenty minutes straight about what they did at the organization and the kids he'd met.
    "Chase, that's awesome, man, that you've found something you like doing and feel so passionate about. Even better that it's such a worthwhile cause. That was exactly how I felt about the Marines."
    I could see the light bulb go off in his head as the recognition hit him. "All right, all right, I guess I get it now. Although no matter how much you like what you do, it can't be easy having to go fight a war half a world away." His eyes seared right into mine, those same beautiful blue-gray eyes I remembered from when I was thirteen and crushing on him. They still made my heart skip a beat and my dick pressed against my jeans a little more. Damn.
    I knew he was trying to offer me a chance to talk about Iraq, but it wasn't the time or place. "Nah, it's not," was all I gave him and thankfully he didn't push.
    I asked him about his house and he described it and the work he was wanting to do to it, but that it was slow going since he was trying to do it all himself.
    "Why don't you just hire people to come do all that for you? Where are all the millions from your football career?"
    He snorted. "Remember I said I was second string. They don't pay second stringers millions. I mean, yeah, I probably made better money than most people at a normal nine-to-five job, but I tried to be smart and put a lot in investments and stuff for the future. And working for a non-profit agency is not exactly a big-money career either. I did buy the house with some of my football money, though."
    Suddenly his face got animated and he sat up a little straighter in his seat. Oh no— I recognized this look on him from when we were kids. It meant he had just come up with an idea.
    I narrowed my eyes. "What?" I asked slowly.
    He smiled. "How'd you like to come over on the weekends and give me a hand? I'm still fairly new to San Diego; I don't really have any other friends to ask. And surely you need to get off of that base once in a while, right? I'll get us tickets to some Padres games!"
    I laughed. "What the hell? Are you trying to coerce me to help you with offers of baseball tickets?"
    He just widened his smile and waggled his eyebrows at me. Damn . A warm flush hit me all over. I was going to say yes anyway, I was just trying to give him grief first. But he looked so adorable with that smile; there was no way I would resist. Besides it would really be fun to have someone off base to hang out with, right? Right.
    "Throw in some beer and a pizza and you've got a deal."
    He promised to email me directions to his house and we made plans to get together next Saturday.
    As I drove