Yet, when Ski and Cornpone suggested we go see what movie was playing in the big rec center tent, instead of going with them, I said I was tired and wanted to crash. They gave me a funny look, but left me alone. There I was, not with my buddies, not back at our tent in case they came back there, there I was, sitting alone in the basketball arena tent, waiting for a girl to contact me.

For all women who've waited for a guy to call or text them back, I know how you feel. It sucks.

And then my zPhone pinged with a text.

What I expected was for Shauna to suggest we meet somewhere, talk, maybe meet her friends, that sort of thing. She totally surprised me by meeting me at a gate to the logistics group motor pool, a fenced area for the Kristang trucks we'd been using. She had the code to the gate, and we slipped in, I followed her quietly as she put a finger to her lips. We weaved our way between the closely parked trucks, I didn't know where she was leading me, until we stopped behind a truck and she swung the back gate down. The truck had a canvas type roof over it, she pulled the flap aside and pointed a flashlight inside. For a second, I was afraid there were other people in the truck and Shauna expected me to get into some sort of sketchy activity that I was not interested in; my Army personnel file already had enough remarks about me getting into trouble.

There wasn't anyone in the truck. There was a thick pile of blankets.

My eyes must have shown my total surprise, because Shauna grabbed my shirt and kissed me passionately. "You Ok with this?" Her eyes were glittering in the dim security lights. "You're cute. Kinda dumb, maybe, but cute."

I nodded like a four year old being asked if he wanted a bowl of candy. "Yeah, Ok. Yes!"

For those of you who've had sex, I won't bore you with sweaty details of me and Shauna. You know what it's like, and I'm sure we didn't do anything you haven't done before. Or wanted to do.

For those of you who haven't, I won't spoil the surprise for you.

Hint: a-w-e-s-o-m-e.

Wow.

We took a break, some small talk, she was laying on her back, me next to her. After a while, I lightly traced my fingertips down from her neck, between her breasts and stomach, and down.

"What are you doing?" She giggled.

"Running my fingers through your hair." I said innocently.

"That's not what that means!" She laughed and slapped me playfully.

"This isn't romantic?"

"Yeah, like your friend here," she tapped my friend, "is all about romance, Joe."

"Hey," I said, with my friend waking up from her touching him, "he's very romantic."

"Mmm hmm, uh huh, I'll bet. He's into romance, if it leads to sex."