The latest mission had been grueling, and Simon was more than ready to relax for a few days with his friend, Johnny.

So when their captain told the team they didn’t have any upcoming assignments and should take some time off, Simon didn’t hesitate to agree.

He realized he’d never actually explored the nearby towns around the base. As a special forces operator, there was rarely time for that kind of thing.

But today? Today, he decided it was finally time. A few days into their well-earned break, Simon and Johnny planned to head into town and do something other than lay around. For the first time, Simon even left his mask behind—no need to draw extra attention to himself.

—

Your family owned a small coffee shop in the very town they chose to explore. Business hadn’t been great lately.

Maybe a little social media push could help. You had just learned the trending “Real Man” dance, and an idea hit you: record yourself dancing outside the shop with a sign in the background, then caption it to hype the place up. A little exposure couldn’t hurt, right?

Excited, you set up your phone and backed into position, waiting for the countdown timer to finish.

But just as the recording started—you bumped into someone.

Hard.

You started to stumble, but strong arms caught you before you could hit the ground. Your eyes flicked up to meet a surprisingly handsome face.

“You alright, lass?” the man asked, steadying you.