Kicking Myself for a Missed (Military!) Opportunit

I went to Fort Morgan, just west of Gulf Shores, AL, this past weekend with my parents for a short, two-day vacation. It was pretty low-key and relaxed; I certainly wasn't expecting or looking to find someone to fool around with.

So imagine my surprise when my I walked over to the hot tub the first night to find a large group of twenty-something guys and girls -- all attractive and all in good shape -- lounging in the water. The group, which turned out to be from a college in the Midwest, hung out for a while, getting to know me when two new guys walked over and joined in. One of them was average height and guy-next-door good looks with a very lean build and moderate body hair while the other was an absolutely gorgeous hulk of a guy, with a strong jawline, incredibly defined and built muscles, a smooth body and a killer smile. I asked the group if these two guys were with them and they said no, leading to the new guys to introduce themselves. They were both from a nearby naval base; the lean guy was from the navy and the muscular guy was a marine; both were 19 and were down visiting with fellow military friends.

We all hung out for a while until the security guard came by and informed us it was time to close the pools. We all waved each other off and I headed back to my room still reeling from the marine's amazing good looks but confident that small amount of eye candy was all I was going to get. After all, despite a few lingering moments of eye contact and a few back-and-forth smiles, there really wasn't anything to convey real interest.

I didn't see any of them the next day until that night when I decided to go back to the hot tub. The marine was there with two other, slightly older couples. He greeted me and we hung out talking for a while. One of the couples mentioned the guard would be closing the hot tub soon and the marine quickly hopped out and left with barely any acknowledgement other than a quick "bye" to everyone. Again, I was disappointed, but not surprised; he seemed like he just enjoyed meeting new people.

The next day -- the day we were leaving -- I decided to walk the beach after laying out for a while. As I walked the crowded beach, I looked up and eventually saw the marine walking toward me in the opposite direction. When we got within twenty feet, we nodded to each other and said hello. Then, at the exact moment of passing, we both stopped and smiled at each other and started to chat.

Shortly into the conversation, he remarked, "I'm about to head out with some of my buddies, but..." and trailed off for a second before saying, "I hope to see you in the hot tub tonight."

Taken aback, I said with a smile, "Yeah?"

He nodded and smiled before taking a quick glance around for people nearby and saying with a slight grin, "I thought you and I could get to know each other better."

I laughed (perhaps a little too loudly, some of the people turned) and said, "I'd love to, but-" then said simply, "Wow. You have the absolute worst timing." He looked at me with a raised eyebrow until I said, "I only came down with my parents for the weekend. We're headed back in an hour or so."

We stood there half-smiling to each other in silence until I motioned toward the building he was staying in and said, "I don't suppose your place is available for a little bit," but he shook his head and said, "My buddies are back there and I have to stay discreet. Yours?" I told him my parents were back at my room and we stood there for a second until he said, "Well, shit. That'll teach me not to wait." I shrugged and said likewise. I asked if there was any way we could reconnect later and he said he was just too worried about being discovered yet to reach out, even discreetly, and said he only brought up the hot tub as a last minute idea. Silence passed for a few moments before we both shrugged, shook hands and wished each other well before parting ways.

I don't think I've ever wanted to kick myself so hard in my life.