Page 36 of The Commander

“He’s not my husband; he’s your father.”

Semantics.

“He’s accusing me of having casual sex with a respected captain who gave me a ride home when my car wouldn’t start. You’d think I had a scarlet letter on my forehead.” I shook my head and shoved roast chicken into my mouth, glaring at Dad.

I hated our family dinners.

I hated not knowing if Noah had suffered any consequences for my father’s attitude.

“Which is what I’m trying to stop from happening, Quinn. People talk. There’s a chance you are already favored because I’m the Colonel.”

I pushed my chair out. “How dare you! I have given it everything since I started. Noah has never given an inch and always been harder on me than anyone else in the platoon. Male or female.”

Dad leaned back in his seat. “What did you say?”

Shit.

I knew I’d fucked up.

“I meant Captain Jenkins...”

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Dad glanced at Mom, and there was no going back now. Dad was too astute. So, I had to say something, or he’d think I was a liar.

“Look, Jenkins is a handsome soldier. All the women on base talk about him. That doesn’t mean anything has happened.”

Dad kept staring.

“I haven’t slept with him!”

“Some people think you have and wonder if that’s how you climbed up the ranks fast.”

Anger boiled up within me with such ferocity I thought my head was going to explode.

“That’s utter bullshit.” I stood and slammed the chair into the table, making the glasses and cutlery rattle as Mom squealed.

“Watch your mouth.”

“Watch yours!” I yelled back. “I’ve put up with your insinuations, treating me like I’ve used my body to get ahead in a man’s role. Well, I’m sorry to tell you and every motherfucker on that goddamn base—”

“Quinn, language, my goodness,” Mom cried.

“—that everything I’ve achieved has been on merit. Hard work, blood, sweat and tears. Not to mention determination. I learned that from you, Dad. So, if you think I...I...” Tears threatened and clogged my throat. “Spread my legs to get where I am now—” My swallow was loud while Mom looked horrified. “Then what does that say about you as a father?”

I meant everything I was saying, while I was also well aware I was lying. I had kissed Noah. I’d let him into my home, and we’d stood almost naked in front of one another.

But he had never promoted me in exchange for sexual favors, and that would always be the truth.

“Stop.” Mom climbed to her feet and held up her hands. “Stop, both of you. Don’t say anything else hurtful that you’ll regret.”

Thank goodness Ted had been on vacation in Hawaii that night. My brother wasn’t confrontational, but I think he would have been angry with my father.

Sadness plowed into me.

I thought back to the little girl I’d been, following Dad around when he was on US soil, helping him clean his weapons. I doubt many fathers would like their daughters to join the military. They’d worry.

That I’d understood, even if I’d been annoyed.