Free The One That Got Away by Jamie Sobrato

all the way—get married, raise kids, take the hand Fate had dealt him, and play it through.
    He hardly recognized the crazy thoughts he was having. But he felt so present, so thankful to be alive, that he wanted to run with each wild idea.
    For instance, what would it be like to kiss Ginger?
    Was she a good kisser? He had no idea. Was she warm and eager or cool and reserved?
    He was hoping for the former as he stared at her mouth.
    “The thing about a near-death experience,” he said, “is that it makes you wonder what you’re missing out on. It makes you want to live in the moment more, and do whatever the hell you feel like doing.”
    She looked at him curiously, her eyes luminous in the fading light. “Oh, yeah? What else do you think you’ve been missing out on?”
    “You,” he said.
    He hadn’t meant to say it, but he had drunk half a bottle of wine.
    And it was true. Sitting here right now, he couldn’t think of anything on earth he was more curious to experience than Ginger.
    He slid closer, leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
    No sooner did he wonder how she was going to react than he felt her response. She was, as he’d hoped, warm and eager. After the initial shock, she kissed him back, her soft, pliant lips coaxing his into a deeper kiss.
    Wow.
    He pulled back a bit, looked her in the eyes and smiled slightly. “That was nice,” he said. “Can we do that again?”
    The words were barely out of his mouth before she parted her lips, and he leaned in again. This time he lingered, explored, tasted.
    His body responded with an eagerness the likes of which he couldn’t recall having felt before. He shifted closer and put one palm on her waist. He was contemplating where it might go next when Ginger’s own hand landed on top of his.
    She stiffened and pulled back from the kiss.
    “What’s wrong?”
    She sighed. “Where did that come from?”
    He grinned. “My near-death experience? Carpe diem, right?”
    “Seriously. I…we…we’re friends. How would Izzy feel if she saw us out here like this?”
    Right. Izzy . He was supposed to be thinking of her needs first.
    The thought sobered him, and he slid back until a proper twenty-four inches separated them.
    “Sorry,” he said. “I’m still getting used to this thinking-of-the-kid-first stuff.”
    “Yeah, well, I just don’t want to screw up the summer before it’s even gotten started.”
    “Right, right, good thinking.”
    “And seriously. What on earth is going on, Marcus? You’ve never showed the slightest romantic interest in me before.”
    He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, yeah, I know. We’re friends, and I don’t want to mess that up. I’ve always wanted to protect our friendship.”
    It was a lame excuse in a way. Because of course he’d never thought of kissing her back in college. They’d both had to grow up for him to see Ginger’s appeal. Now he was looking at her through the eyes of a grown man—and a father—rather than the selfish perspective of a guy on the run from everything and everyone.
    “I know you’re going through tough times, and maybe it’s tempting to seek the closest—and most convenient—comfort.”
    “Right,” he said. “I guess you’re right.”
    It was true, he supposed. The comfort of a willing woman’s arms sounded like a welcome distraction right now. Too bad that woman couldn’t be Ginger.

    M ARCUS’S GREEN EYES WERE barely visible in the moonlight. The two of them paused at the back door of the house, both reluctant to go inside, to leave behind this crisp, quiet night and whatever crazy spell it had cast over them a few minutes ago. As Ginger looked at him, trying to think what to say, only one subject came to mind.
    That kiss…
    Dear God. Ginger was going to spend the rest of her sad little life replaying that kiss in her head. Wishing she’d said or done something different.
    Wishing she’d had the guts to go for it even though she’d known it was