“Uhm… I guess,” you squirm. “I mean maybe something like, 75% of me wants her.”

“And the other 25%?”

“It wants cake, I think,” you say with a little smile over your shoulder at Grisham.

She chuckles. “You’re in deep, aren’t you, Cadet,” she says. “Do you have fantasies of marrying Terra and raising Sarah together with her?”

You snort with laughter, but Grisham does have a point. What kind of relationship could you ever possibly have with Terra? The age difference between the two of you alone puts you in different worlds. And that’s before the fact that Sarah and some other unknown super soldier are also in the mix. Terra’s got a lot on her mind right now besides you. That’s more than obvious.

“I like Terra,” you say. “That doesn’t mean anything is ever going to happen. I’m not stupid.”

“You’ve got the biggest crush on her, and you have had since before I met you,” Grisham says, easing you off her lap. “I’m just a latecomer, aren’t I, Cadet?”

You turn to face her, your arms crossed over your chest against the cool of the night air.

“I’m sorry,” you mumble, biting your lower lip as you realize it’s probably sort of an either or thing. Grisham obviously likes you, and she’s a lot more available, physically and emotionally than Terra ever has been. And Grisham is hot in her own right. Really hot. What if she decides to be with someone else now you’ve said you want Terra?

“Ah, you know what? This isn’t fair on you,” Grisham says suddenly. “You look so forlorn right now, Cadet. Just forget I said anything, okay? We’re fine.”

“Are we?”

“Mhm,” Grisham winks, her face lit attractively in the glow of her vapor. “Go and get some sleep. You need it more than any of us.”

“I’m not really tired,” you lie.

“You’re dead on your feet, Cadet,” Grisham says, her tone lowering into a register of command. “Now get to bed, before I put you to bed.”

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