Chapter 7: Let The Games Begin!

*~RECAP: Can I ever catch a break? Suddenly my phone buzzed to life showing a text from one of my buddies still in the CF (Canadian Forces) named Denver. He was coming to visit me tomorrow on my day off, Lou, who'd also served with me in Afghanistan but as a Combat Engineer (person who pokes ground for bombs) had apparently invited him up. Something about Mr. Masrani starting up a military appreciation week like Canada's Wonderland does once every summer.

Suddenly a pang of guilt stabbed me in the heart. Denver used to be my friend with benefits, but now…I liked Owen. Plus I'd done so well with not falling back to my old habits, good thing I work long hours. My thoughts ceased when my phone rang, it was Lou.

"Hey Lou"

"Hey, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"We have a week off two weeks from now for military appreciation!"

Fuck.

END RECAP~*

About 4 days had gone by since the phone call about our appreciation day, and I was freaking out! My old flame from Afghanistan was coming to see me, I can't use work as an excuse to escape…and now I really like Owen. My panicked thoughts were soon interrupted by my phone ringing

"Eliza is pestering me again so will we be seeing you at dinner tonight right"

"Yes dear"

"Good see you tonight, oh and dress nice" he said before hanging up. I tried not to overthink it, most times Eliza liked to have fancy dinners to make me feel special and a part of their family. But that just made me feel more out of place. A for effort though. My thoughts were interrupted by a soft musical rapping of knuckles against my window, when I turned I saw Owen there smiling like an excited kid. I rolled down my window and poked my head out a bit and smiled brightly back at him.

"What's up?"

"Did you hear? We have a week off soon!"

"Yeah Lou told me"

"So what are you doing, going to the park or staying at home?"

"Uh, honestly hadn't given it much thought"

"Well, who're you going with?"

"Knowing my friends, Lou will drag me out, plus I have some old war buddies of mine coming up apparently too"

"Oh cool! Mind if I tag along?" My heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah, of course!"

"Great! Well wanna check the gate with me then?"

"Ok" I said hopping out, we walked and talked about everything and anything from funny pranks on tours, to shitty basic stories, to funny ones, to now and how we got here. He was just so damned easy to talk to. We'd finished checking the gates pretty quickly and he walked with me back to my car. I was so distracted I didn't think of Blue when we checked the gates causing me to furrow my brow with worry.

"Hey Owen?"

"Yeah?"

"Was Blue there when we checked the gates?"

"Um no, she was eating her lunch"

"Oh, ok. Oh fuck"

"What?"

"I forgot about my lunch"

"Well I haven't eaten yet and I have two bologna sandwiches in the fridge with some chips if you don't mind eating and sharing with me, plus Barry can take over watch and check the gates"

"Yeah sure, I'd like that" I said smiling sincerely up at him, before we walked to building C. He led me into the break room and grabbed a grocery bag out of the fridge and I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"What? Have you tried to buy a lunch bag from here?"

"Haha it's not that, it's just that I do the same thing and I thought I thought I was the only one who did, sorry that was weird of me" I said clearing my throat awkwardly, he merely smiled at me.

"It's ok I like weird because I'm weird"

My heart melted when he said that. Wait, shut up brain he probably just meant as in he likes weird friends. Fuck. HOW IS THERE NOT A COMPASS FOR THIS SHIT?! Ugh. He handed me a bologna sandwich and I looked at it for a second and frowned.

"You don't like bologna do you?"

"No I do, it's just…I feel bad, this is your lunch y'know?" He thought his over for a second as he took a bite out of his sandwich before looking back over at me. He looked at me with a smile.

"I guess you'll just have to owe-n me"

"Haha, like what?"

"Oh, I'll find something I'm sure" he said with a playful wink. Honestly, how I was still alive was a damn miracle.

"Oo, sounds dangerous, maybe I should just starve…" I trailed off jokingly as I went to hand him the sandwich he put his hand over it, fingers accidentally overlapping my tiny ones.

"I promise you it's not bad, just eat"

"O-Ok" I stammered then quickly unwrapped the sandwich and started to eat to prevent me from talking. For FUCK SAKES. I couldn't even talk normal, I'm stuck on stutter mode! I need help. I just kept staring down unsure of what to do, luckily some more workers came in and sat with us temporarily distracting Owen as I ate my food in silence. Unfortunately the distraction only lasted so long before I felt a large hand overlap the one I had resting on the table, and my heart rate went through the roof. Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.

"Are you ok Riley? I mean seriously you seem jumpy, is it because of Terry? Because I promise you, with Barry and I by your side, you'll be safe" My heart wished he'd have just said himself, but it helped at the same time. I mean who was I kidding? Owen was in a whole 'nother league far from the outreaches of my own. He couldn't possibly be interested.

"Oh yeah, I mean I was a bit shook last night, but he's left me alone today so, I'm handling pretty good"

"Well, I still want to follow you home again"

"Creepy" I said chuckling and he gave me a playfully frustrated face before tossing a chip at me and it rebounding off my nose. I just laughed harder and took the chip popping it into my mouth.

"Mmmmm nom nom Owen flavored"

"Creepy" He joked with a cocky smirk.

"Ooo, well played Owen, well played" I said before snagging his fork.

"Now what?"

"Now I kill you Mr. Bond"

"Catch me if you can" He lunged at me from across the table but I pushed my chair back just in time.

"Are we seriously having a conversation with movie quotes and titles?"

"Yep"

"Love it" he said as he ran around the table and chased me, it took him a solid minute before he finally caught me. I laughed uncontrollably trying to wiggle free from his arms, looking up at him through tears of laughter.

"Resistance is futile"

"You don't have me yet"

"But you're in my arms" suddenly without thinking…at all. In the slightest.

I shot my head forward and crashed my lips on his, he let go alright but instead of having them around my arms to trap them he moved them behind my head. My head was swimming, and I lost all thought as our kiss grew deeper and more passionate. Pretty soon one long kiss turned into multiple kisses. I couldn't believe this was happening, I know it was because just before I held the back of his head, I made sure to pinch myself. After what felt like forever we broke for air, faces beet red like a couple of teenagers making out for the first time. My cheeks were so hot you'd swear they melted off of my face.

"Wow" we said in between our puffs of air. Well, I'll be damned. I just kissed Owen and….he kissed me back! I was at a loss for words as we continued to lock eyes.

"Do-Do, you think we could do that again?"

"You won't catch me saying no" I breathed out and before you know it he crashed his lips onto mine with intense fervor. Over and over again our lips melted into each other's, at first it was a bit awkward, but once we caught each other's rhythm it felt flawless. Even if Owen was a bad kisser, I don't think I'd even care. My arms instinctively wrapped around his neck as he held onto the sides of my face. Once more we broke apart panting heavily.

"I like your dimples" he said smiling down at me, causing me to smile more than I was when we were kissing.

"I like your dimples too" was all my liquid for a brain could manage, but we both started laughing anyways. He placed his forehead against mine, our noses touching as he gave me a quick peck on the lips.

"I didn't think you liked me" He spoke up, I pulled my head back a bit and looked at him like he was retarded as I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Are you kidding me? I was oblivious to you liking me!" We both erupted into a fit of laughter again before I pulled him in for a hug resting my head on his chest. Oh yeah, this felt right. So very, very right. I couldn't help but nuzzle him a bit, but his reaction to that was just as good, he kissed me on my head then rested his on it.

"So, where do we go from here?" I asked with a content sigh.

"Well, now that we don't have to awkwardly dance around each other anymore, I'd say we go on some dates. I'm not some cheap ho you can kiss all the time"

"Whaaaat? I don't know if I can do that, I mean that sounds a lot like work"

"Oh yeah right, you were Air Force, I almost forgot" I gently hit his back with my hand and we both laughed again, and for some reason he started swaying us back and forth causing my eyes to close.

"Well, I guess I could put in effort, but only for you Navy" We pulled apart momentarily before we kissed each other once more on the lips.

"But seriously I think we should head back to work, Barry's gunna hound us as is"

"You know what? I don't even care"

"Me neither but what do we call us?"

"We'll figure it out"

And with that we cleaned up our mess and kissed before we headed outside. When we did Barry was up on the catwalk surveying the area with a hand cupped over his eyes. I noticed it'd stopped raining and took my jacket off. When Barry wasn't looking Owen snuck a kiss on my cheek, and I quickly got him back before he had a chance to straighten up.

"This war ain't over darlin'"

"I wouldn't have it any other way" I said with a wink and a smile before walking over to my car and stuffing my jacket in it. I walked over to the gate and Barry came down, it was only fair that Owen go back up onto the catwalks. I don't even know how long our "lunch" went on for. He greeted me with a wave then when he got closer and looked at my face his smile grew devilish.

"AHA! What happened at lunch Riley?"

"Nothing Barry" I said smiling then sticking my tongue out at him, he merely laughed and shook his head.

"I'm sure one of you little birds will sing eventually"

I already was inside. Yeah, I'm a cheeseball.

*A/N: That was of course the most fun I've had with a chapter for this story yet! I hope you guys like it! Now I think I'll have a nap and relax! Don't worry I should have Chapter 8 out tomorrow! Have a good one guys!*