Navy Blue - A Second Chance Romance (Complete)

Navy Blue: Chapter 24

Finn woke up with a jolt. Green and grey images chasing him into consciousness.

He tried to shake the memories the dream elicited as he shuffled toward the bathroom. Emily in her green dress. Grey eyes boring into him. The red veil that descended when she left with Max.

Spite had reared its ugly head. Finn decided if she could leave with another man, then he'd move on as well.

A huge mistake.

As if they were faced with a ticking time bomb, the brunette clinging to him on the dance floor had dragged him into a cab. In the backseat purple painted nails tugged at his jeans, pink stained lips sucked at his neck. In the past, Finn could easily give in to the desires of this woman. Meaningless sex satisfying an immediate need for the numbness to descend.

This time was different. This time, everything was all wrong. She was the wrong woman. Numbness no longer held the same appeal. He wanted to feel something. Like he had in the hospital room for a few brief moments. The warmth. The tenderness. The desire. He wanted Emily. Despite the offered easy lay, Finn walked the brunette to her door, making sure she got home safely but refused to come in.

Back at base, he'd paced the common room, drinking beer and flicking bottle caps across the room in anger. Tension coiled in every muscle. Finn his best not to imagine where Emily was, what she was doing, who she was doing it with.

A losing battle.

Eventually, he sought refuge in his room, knowing sleep would elude him, but hoping beating on his pillow might help. Or crying into it. He must have drifted off, launching into a strange dream where Emily twirled before him, trying to tell him something. A thick wall of glass separated them, blocking out any sound. He woke up with a heavy heart and a massive erection, visions of a green dress the cause of the latter.

Water pulsed over his strained muscles as Finn dealt with his morning present in the shower, a strangled groan emitting from him as he ejaculated to the memory of Emily's smile. Leaning against the shower wall to catch his breath, Finn tried to find the calm he needed to meet the day.

He had to get away from Emily. This was the only solution. That plan had worked before. It would work again. Determination set in. Time to renew his contract. The Navy was happy to have him, and Finn needed to be somewhere he was wanted.

At breakfast, he shoved eggs between two slices of toast and scooted out the door. Determined to avoid Max, his usual dining companion. Not sure what to do with himself, he considered taking the bus to Bridgetown. Simon had sent several texts asking him to get together again. His brother didn't seem to understand Finn hated the small seaside resort. Too many memories.

Of her.

As Finn pounded the punching bag at the base gym, he set his mind on finding a way to face Max. There was no way he could avoid it. Max was a member of the team. A valuable member. His friend. How could he face him? Be happy for him? The thought caused the red veil to blur Finn's vision again. He hated how he was being petty.

After another shower, this time to ease his aching muscles, Finn locked himself in his room. Campbell texted, asking him to join them for a day at the park, but Finn declined the invitation. His buddy may be used to his foul moods, but there was no need to subject his wife and kids to the maelstrom. Besides, Finn doubted he could stand the front-row seat to the happy couple show Campbell and Lily presented.

An Avengers movie marathon on his smartphone wasted most of the day. His stomach grumbled and Finn checked his watch. Ten minutes until the mess hall closed. Surely Max would have grabbed grub without him by now.

The fates were not with Finn. Moments after he sat down in the nearly vacant dining area, a plateful of pasta before him, Max walked in. The other man loaded up his tray and plopped down across from Finn. "Hey."