I was pretty sure it was a girl since their hair smelled of strawberry shampoo. It was a higher perfume than the cheap dollar shampoo in the gallon bo...tle. Of course it wasn't as bold and fragrant as the spa level shampoos that had a scent strong enough to overpower the various chemicals they put in to make it do some special trick. I was pretty sure it was a girl because most boys with long hair would put it in a ponytail, not braid it. Well, that, and she just smelled like a girl. My arm was. Uncertain as to the man's actual rank and deciding the situation dictated he act as if the man were a superior officer, he saluted."Sir?" Yes?" the Confederacy Marine looked at Harry's plastic name badge. "Ah, Captain Arsenault. We're sorry that we can't extract you or any of your men yet." I know, Sir. Not for another eleven months and twenty-three days I'm told. However, we're more concerned about the rest of the Squadron. They're still over the Pacific, inbound."The Marine's eyes grew. ”I knew what that meant. Vodka. I’d drunk vodka and bourbon occasionally back in Chicago. Fortunately, I’d only have to make it up the stairs to bed, rather than take a cab or the El home. Of course, when this had happened in Chicago, I’d ended up sharing a bed with Tanya, separated by a wall of pillows. That wasn’t a bad result, but it was unlikely to happen at the Voronin’s residence, especially given I had my own room.Tanya and I went upstairs to our rooms and changed. I put on sweatpants. ..”“I know.”“I didn’t want to lose YOU, though.”“And really, we’d already decided between us that if YOU could stand it.”“Took a while. I still have episodes...”I giggled. “Not when BOTH of us are after you.”“No, you, you’re more than I ever imagined. And then you tossed Deena into the stack...”Giggle. “Almost literally.” I shook my head. Hair’s still damp, but there’s a bounce to it and I happen to know that my Bill is wired such that me shaking my hair is a major thing to him, as verified by.