“Dempsey, my office now,” Commander Hansen orders and I pop tall. What the hell did I do now?

“Sir,” I say and stand at his desk.

“Take a seat,” he instructs me and points to the chair. Commander is the kind of officer we all want to serve under. He’s fair and doesn’t think he’s above everyone. He’s a leader you want to follow and it makes taking orders from him pretty easy. “My wife is a pain in my ass. She meddles, and most of the time I’m able to handle her shit, but Natalie is a different story. Gilcher served under me for six years. I knew him and he was like family. So, me calling you in here isn’t Commander to Chief. It’s man to man.”

I nod out of respect and bite back my response. It’s no one’s business what the hell happens between Natalie and I. The other night was a shit show. What was supposed to be a turning point ended up in complete disaster thanks to a stupid bitch.

“I’m sure you don’t give a shit, and honestly, I don’t care if you do. I care about Lee and Aarabelle. More than that, my wife makes my life miserable when she gets like this. Rea is worried, so if you need to take a few days and be there, go.”

That wasn’t what I thought he was going to say. I thought I was going to get the stay-away-from-her speech. To which I would’ve found a way to tell him to suck my dick . . . respectfully. “How long?”

“If you need to drop leave, I’ll approve it. We have the next two weeks where there’s nothing going on. Hell, most of you guys will leave before lunch anyway.”

“I’ll do that, sir. I appreciate it.”

Commander looks away and huffs. “Natalie didn’t smile, cry, or laugh. For weeks she just sat with no emotions. Reanell was in the delivery room with her and it wasn’t until Aarabelle was born that she finally cried. She went back to that way a few weeks after Aaron’s memorial.” He scratches his face. “Then she started to open up when she thought no one was looking. I attribute that to your arrival.”

“I don’t know that I had anything to do with it.”

“I don’t either, but it’s a hunch.”

This is the most bizarre conversation I’ve ever had.

Commander stands and walks to the wall. “I suspected something was going on before he left for Afghanistan,” he admits. “I think Natalie remembers a different life than what she was living.”

Aaron was my best friend. I knew he was struggling with a baby coming and what it meant, but I never thought he was fucking around on her. He and I were living on opposite coasts, so we didn’t talk as often, but he sure as fuck never mentioned another woman.

I think about Natalie and how she is already reconstructing her walls. I remember what she felt like, tasted like, and how long it took my dick to go down. Yesterday was another day I didn’t expect to happen the way it went, but she opened up to me. The need to claim a part of her was so strong, I wasn’t sure I would stop. I had to constantly remind myself that she was in control of how far we went.

She’s worth the blue balls.

“I understand, Sir. I’m going to need those few days.”

“I was hoping you were the man I thought you were.” Commander stands and extends his hand.

“Commander.”

“Chief, I’ll see you in a few days.”

I turn and start to form a plan. One that includes no way out and maybe rope.

“So, you guys still together?” Quinn asks as we load the weights on the bar.

“Yeah,” I reply and get aligned to lift. I’m going for a personal record and all this dick wants to do is talk about Natalie.

I line up my hands and Quinn pushes down so I can’t move. “She’s okay with this? The fact that her husband—your best friend—was fucking around on her and she wants to be with you?”

“I’m not sure where you got confused when I said ‘yeah.’ She and I are together. Aaron fucked up, but he and I are separate.”

“If you say so,” he scoffs and moves his hand.

He’s always got something smart to say. It’s irritating and I’m tired of his bullshit. “You know, you’re not a part of my fucking life choices. If I want to be with her, I will. If she’s okay with it and I’m okay with it, then what the hell do you care?”

Quinn steps back with his hands raised, “I’m just asking, dude.”

I sit up, pissed off. “When you’ve fucked anything that walks, I never said shit. You’ve fucked up more than all of us combined.” My hands tremble as I clench them into a ball. “Lay off about me and Lee.”

He moves toward me. “I won’t say another word after I say this. You hurt her and I’ll beat the ever-living shit out of you. She’s not just some girl. She’s his fucking wife and that’s his daughter. I know the cost that comes with a single mother.”

“I’m not stupid.”

“The jury’s still out on that one.” Quinn slaps me on the shoulder. “I may not have been as close as you and Aaron were, but he was my friend too. I know you’re not a piece of shit. I’m saying to make sure you’re all in before you go any further.” He gives me a pointed look and then morphs back into his normal, jackass self. “Now, let’s see if your weak ass can lift this.”

We’ve been friends for a long time. It’s probably the longest speech I’ve ever heard. “You don’t have to worry about me hurting her.”

“All I wanted to hear. Are we going to work out or do you want to hug it out?” he jokes while waiting.

“Dickhead. Let’s go.” I get back on the bench and try to focus on getting through the rest of the workout.

Quinn and I finish and decide to go grab lunch. He’s smart enough not to bring up my relationship or whatever the fuck this is with Lee. We talk about the upcoming deployment. Having our own squad means we work together but each manage a group of guys. We’re hoping our squads aren’t split since we understand each other. It’s nice to know the guy who’s watching your six.

“I heard you’re taking a few days off,” Quinn mentions as he grabs his drink.

“Yeah, I’m going to take Natalie and Aarabelle somewhere. I have to figure it out,” I laugh. I’ve racked my brain trying to think of something close that she’d like. Just something for us to get away from all this shit and see if this is something or if it’s a matter of circumstance.

“Why don’t you take her to my beach house?”

“Where?”

“The one in OBX. I know she lives on the beach and all, but it’s a nice house and it’s away.”

“I gotta admit, man, I’m shocked,” I muse and lean back. He’s the last person I thought would be helping me out.

“I told you, I wanted to be sure. You care about her and you’re taking the kid. I think that says it all. Here,” he says and takes the key off his ring. “Take it. Go or don’t. I don’t care. I’ll tell you all the info. It’s a few hours, but Corolla is a cool spot. I’ve seen the wild horses a time or two.”

“You’re not such a dick after all.” I smile as I put the key in my pocket.