Catherine took a shower and was getting dressed to sleep when her mother came into the room. Catherine, invite your friend to lunch or dinner here sometime. I want to meet him and thank him for what he did for you."

"It's okay, Mom. I'll invite him when I see him again."

"He's handsome, isn't he? He's tall, muscular..."

"And just my friend," Catherine completed her mother's speech.

"And did I say anything else besides that?" Carol asked.

"You talk as if I didn't know you, Mom," Catherine answered. She knew her mother was already dreaming of a wedding for her.

"Ah, Catherine! It's no fun talking to you," Carol complained and left the room.

"Mom!" Catherine called her back and Carol went into the room again.

"Do you really think so?" Catherine asked.

"That he's tall and handsome and muscular? Yes," Carol told her.

"No, Mom. Do you really think it's boring to talk to me? Is that why the girls didn't go to the nightclub and leave me there alone?"

Carol regretted what she said. "No, Cath. Of course you didn't. You're lovely, and if they weren't there it was your luck. You had a good time with him after all, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did," Catherine said again.

"So that's what matters. Good night, dear," Carol kissed her forehead and left the bedroom.

Catherine lay down and was thinking she practically kissed him by accident. "Oh, shame on you!" She said it and put her hands on her face.

Steve was also lying in his hotel bed and smiling alone as he remembered Catherine's ashamed face. "Her mouth is soft and I wish it had been a real kiss."

He suddenly stopped smiling. "What are you thinking, Steve? She's a fine girl, very well educated, she's sweet, I'm sure her father wants more than just a sailor for her."

He tried to think of other things, but his thoughts always came back to her.

Catherine was almost falling asleep when she received a text message. She glanced quickly at it and thought about ignoring it, but changed her mind when she saw it was a message from Steve.

"Hi. Forgive me if you were asleep. I just wanted to tell you that I signed up to be a SEAL, and training starts in a month."

"That's great news, Steve," she answered his message.

"I mean, I don't know if I'll be selected yet, but I'm hoping so," he sent her another message.

Catherine took the initiative to call him. "Hi, Steve. I'm calling because I'd rather talk than text when it's possible."

"I'm sorry if I woke you," he said.

"No, you didn't wake me up. I'm happy for you, and I'm sure you'll be selected," Catherine answered.

She said she was sure he'd be selected, and Steve wondered if she'd ask her dad for favors and he didn't want that.

"Why are you sure?" He asked.

"Because I know you're good at your job, you're responsible, and you're also smart," she answered.

"Is that all?" He asked, and Catherine remembered her mother's words: tall, handsome and muscular. "But of course I won't say that," she thought.

"I won't inflate your ego, sailor," she replied to him.

"What about me? Why do you think the other girls snobbish me?" She asked.

"Envy, because you're also very good at your job, you're smart, you're beautiful, you're sweet, you're lovely, you're... Enough! I won't inflate your ego," he laughed.

"Thank you," she answered. "Oh, Steve, I've got something new too. I'm getting promoted to lieutenant. It's gonna take a few months actually, but it's going to happen."

"I'm happy for you, Catherine. You deserve it," Steve replied. He was sincere, although he thought it would diminish his chances even further.

"Okay, Catherine. I'll let you sleep now. Good night," Steve told her.

"Good night, Steve," she answered and he was going to end the call when she asked him to wait. "My mom's inviting you over for lunch or dinner. She said she wants to thank you for saving my life on the ship."

"Tell her it's not necessary, Catherine."

"She'll be upset if you don't accept her invitation."

Steve thought for a moment, and he decided to accept the invitation. "You choose the day and the time," he answered.

"Okay. I'll talk to her and then I'll give you the answer. Good night."

"Good night, Catherine."

"What if her mother is a snobby woman?" Steve thought. "No, she can't be a snobby woman and have a daughter like Catherine."

The next day, Steve was waiting for Catherine on her way off base at the end of her work day.

"Hi," she said when she saw him. She parked her car and went out to talk to him.

"Hey, what's up?" She asked.

"All right. I don't really know what I'm doing here. I get tired of staying in a hotel room doing nothing all day. I've seen about five movies today," Steve told her.

"What about your family? Why don't you go visit them?" She asked sweetly and a little fearful that he'd consider her nosy.

Steve thought hard before answering, but he felt he could trust her, that she was a good listener and wouldn't go out telling other people about his life. "It's a long story. Do you have time to listen?"

"Yes, but only if you really want to tell me, don't feel uncomfortable about it," Catherine answered.

Joe was also leaving the base and stopped the car at the guard to watch them both. Steve looked at her with delight, like a needy boy who longed for attention, and she paid attention to him.

"Well, well. Looks like my boy's falling in love," Joe thought.

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