Six months later...

Catherine was in a restaurant with Billy and he got up to go to the bathroom. They were having dates after the day Billy had kissed her by surprise. She liked him, he made her smile, he made her feel wanted again, he assuaged the loneliness she was feeling after Steve left her, but it wasn't love. She knew she was fooling herself and she was fooling him too.

Catherine didn't know what to do. It is true that she was not responsible for Billy's happiness, but it is equally true that she could be responsible for his suffering if she decided not to continue with this relationship.

Her phone rang, letting her know that she had a new message. Her heart soared when she saw that it was a message from Steve. He said he was sorry for breaking up with her and asked how she was doing in her new life in Guam. Catherine replied that she was fine and that her transfer to Guam was for a year, but had been shortened. She sent the message and saw that Billy was coming back. She quickly put the phone back in her purse.

"Did you miss me?" Billy asked as he sat down.

"There was no time, you went too fast," Catherine replied.

Her phone received a new message and Billy listened. "Aren't you going to answer it?" He asked good-humoredly.

"No. It's just a message," Catherine replied and they continued eating dinner. But Steve's contact had already changed everything for her. She put her hand on her head and sighed. He couldn't mess with her life like that.

"What is it, Cath?" Billy asked when he saw her put her hand to her forehead.

"I have a headache, Billy." And it was true. The whirlwind of emotions that a simple message from Steve had caused in her had left her with a headache.

"That's too bad, Cath. Today is our last day together before I return to the mainland and I was hoping we could spend the evening together somewhere special."

"I'm sorry, Billy. But today's no good," she replied and put her fingers on her temple massaging the spot.

"But you were fine ten minutes ago," Billy retorted.

"But I'm not fine now," Catherine replied a little angrily.

"Okay," Billy replied. He was not very happy with her refusal.

"I'm sorry, Billy. Can we go back to base now?" Catherine asked him.

"Now, Catherine?" Billy saw several colleagues arriving at the restaurant and waved to them.

"What are you doing, Billy?" Catherine asked.

"Since you don't want to be alone with me, our friends will make it easy for you," Billy waved for them to join him and Catherine.

Catherine tried to protest, but there was no time. The sailors were already around them. They called Billy and Catherine to the dance floor. Billy accepted and Catherine refused. While Billy went dancing with a colleague, Catherine left slowly so as not to be noticed. She went back to the base and got ready for bed.

The next day, Billy looked for her at the base before he left and they said goodbye with a hug. "Have a good trip,.Billy." Catherine hugged him and then he looked her in the eye. "I'm sorry about yesterday."

"It's okay, Billy. Go in peace."

"When will we see each other again?" Billy asked.

"I don't know. We'll see each other around," she replied.

A month later, Catherine also returned to her original base, but Billy had already left for a new mission the day before.

Steve and Catherine met in the halls of the base and both their hearts beat harder. "Hi," Steve said to her.

"Hi," Catherine said to him and his eyes drew her in and vice versa.

Freddie saw how they looked at each other and smiled. He knew that there were still feelings between Steve and Catherine. Freddie wished Steve wouldn't screw it up again. But something had broken down between the two, Steve had hurt Catherine badly and they had to start over from friendship, very slowly.

The days went by and Steve was building up the courage to ask her to resume their relationship and he invited her to dinner at the weekend, but he was surprised with an urgent and important mission. He and Freddie were going out again.

Catherine was frustrated again and wondered if this relationship could really work again someday.

Four months later, Catherine received a phone call from Steve while she was in the office, but she didn't answer. At the end of the day she left the base and went to her apartment. She could not sleep and kept looking in her purse, which contained her phone. She knew that there was at least one message from Steve. Catherine tried to resist, but she couldn't. She stood up, opened her purse, and reached for her phone. She accessed Steve's message and was heartbroken when she read his message: "

"Freddie is dead and I feel very guilty."

Catherine was heartbroken and before she knew it she was already calling him. "Steve?" She said when he answered the call and said nothing.

"Hi, Cath." He answered after a few seconds of silence.

"What happened with Freddie?" She asked.

"He died on an unofficial mission. I left him behind, Cath. I'm a horrible person," Steve was crying, she could tell.

I can't believe you deliberately left him behind, Steve. I know that something wrong happened. I know that you loved Freddie, and you would never leave him," Catherine told him.

"I left you". Steve whispered.

"Is he indirectly saying he loves me?" She asked herself.

PS: Thank you for your review in the previous chapter.