Second Chances

Brian sat down, feeling all of the fight draining out of him. She’d done this wrong. She’d made mistakes.

Not half as many as HE’D made, obviously.

He felt the mattress sink as she slowly sat down on the bed. “Bri, I….I’ve known you for five years,” Jenn said haltingly. “And I swear, I’ve wanted you in every way possible for every single second of that time.”

He shifted his head, turning to look at her, uncertain of what he’d just heard. “What?”

“Don’t make me say it again. Once was hard enough.”

Brian turned toward her. “But…”

“I’ve been fighting like hell to stay away from you. And yes, you were right. I was trying to set it up so that this time when you met me---Jennifer---at that party, you’d end up going home with her. See, I thought that might be a way to compress those five years into just a few short days. But we don’t have days anymore. Only hours. I don’t know, maybe it’ll still work. See, I thought if I could make Jennifer feel the same way as I do about you…” She took a deep breath. “I guess I just thought….I mean, I can’t imagine making love with you and then letting you walk away. I guess I thought if I did this right, Jennifer wouldn’t let you walk away, either.”

Brian was watching her silently, his eyes subdued. Jenn wanted to reach out and touch his cheek. But she knew that touching him was the last thing she should do. “I’m sorry. I said that badly.”

“No,” he said softly. “You did ok.”

“You were right about my having double memories,” she told him quietly. “If you and Jennifer…” She couldn’t say it, but she knew from his eyes that he knew what she meant. “I guess I figured at least I’d have that, because you’re right. I’d definitely remember. I haven’t quite figured out what it is---maybe some kind of hormonal release that affects certain memory centers—but even a simple kiss is enough to make a residual memory extremely clear and…”She broke off. She was babbling now, and he was just watching her, his eyes so soft, so warm. She could drown in those eyes.

“So now what?” She forced a smile. “Which one of us locks ourself in the bathroom until checkout time?”

Brian touched the side of her face. “How about neither?”

Jenn knew she should stand up and put some distance between them, but she had no strength left. Instead she closed her eyes, allowing herself the forbidden pleasure of his touch. She felt him move closer, felt the softness of his lips where his fingers had been mere seconds before.

“Jenn?” he breathed.

She opened her eyes. His mouth was mere inches away from hers. He smiled, and even though it was a sad smile, it made his eyes shine. She couldn’t keep herself from reaching up and lightly tracing the line of his jaw. He was so beautiful, it hurt. “Yeah, Bri?”

“I want to be with you tonight.”

She couldn’t answer him. What could she possibly say to that?

“Tomorrow night I’ll do what you ask,” he told her. “But tonight I want to make love to you.” He kissed her lightly on the mouth, pulling back to look into her eyes and whisper, “Please?”

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