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Glancing up at the clock on the wall, Ethan tapped his foot impatiently. It was fourth period already, and he couldn’t wait to be out of AP Calculus. Not because it was boring or anything like that, but because he was starving and he was so damn close to lunch he could smell it. His hunger was his own fault, he knew, for skipping breakfast to hit the gym that morning instead, but knowing that didn’t make him any less hungry, did it?
“Now, remember. Test is on Friday,” announced Mrs. Ingalls from the front of the room. “So, I suggest everyone hit the books extra hard tonight, got it?”
There were a few grumbles before the class all stood up at the sound of the bell ringing and headed for the doors.
“Hey, Simpson.”
Ethan glanced towards his classmate, Devon Marelius.
“Yeah?”
“You find someone to nominate you yet? Cause I was just thinking about it, and maybe you should ask your Uncle Sol. He does fit the bill, doesn’t he? He’s high-ranked, probably done it before even.”
Ethan forced a soft smile. “Yeah, he probably has” and he had considered him for it ages ago “but I actually got that part figured out.” As of last night, that was.
“Oh?”
“Yep.” He grinned widely. And it honestly was so perfect that he should have thought of it long ago. Now that he knew who it’d be, it felt like everything was pulling together finally.
“You gonna share with the rest of the class?”
“Not a chance, Marelius.” He chuckled at the playful, responding shove as they continued walking through the crowded corridor.
“You dick,” Devon chuckled, shaking his head with a beaming smile.
“Hey, you’re the one who taught me that move, remember?”
The two juniors continued towards their lockers, which were on the far side of the building.
“Yeah, yeah.” Devon then sighed, his hand clamping down roughly onto Ethan’s shoulder. “Tell it to me straight, man. That sweet girl you been seeing is giving you some, isn’t she? I mean, she has to be in order to get that permanent stick lodged so far up your ass out.”
Ethan frowned instantly, glancing at his friend. “Please don’t say things like that about her.”
“Holy fuck!” gasped Devon, forcing Ethan to stop in his tracks by how hard his friend's grip was currently. “You are actually in love with her, aren’t you? Like, it’s not just puppy love but full-blown?”
He bit back a sigh and nodded. “I’m telling you. She’s the one. There’s not a doubt in my mind.”
“So I see.” Devon whistled loudly, shaking his head. “Damn, dude. I’m happy for you.” He squeezed Ethan’s shoulder again. “I mean, I’ll be the asshole here and admit I thought this was just a sort of—you know—obligation thing because of, well, last October, but . . . well, I’m glad to be wrong here.”
Ethan’s eyes dropped instantly. “Honestly, the thought crossed my mind at one point, too,” he admitted softly. It was odd to admit it aloud, but he and Devon had been friends since kindergarten. He knew he could trust him with this. And it was about time he told someone, after all. “I was worried everything I felt was just guilt and obligation and whatever.”
Devon’s dark eyes remained locked onto him. “So, what changed your mind?”
He shrugged lightly. “Every time I’m around her, it’s like . . . like nothing I’ve ever felt before. Indescribable. She’s the first thing I think about and the last before I fall asleep.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.” He ran fingers through his long, messy hair, sighing loudly again. “I sat with her every day while she was in the hospital after that shit happened. Prayed more than I ever had before. Promised God everything under the sun just so He would let her wake up again. She should hate me after all of it, you know? For what I did that night.”
“Hey, no, man.” Devon shook his head gently. His voice lowered quietly. “You weren’t to blame for that. You didn’t do anything—”
“—I drove her to that stupid party that night. I knew what those things were like. You warned me about them even. Said it wasn’t my scene, and you were right.”
“Yeah,” Devon replied, nodding. “Fact remains, though. You didn’t pull any of that shit like the others did. You went after her. I mean, shit, man, you took on Colby. Not a single person did that before. And you’ve stayed with her ever since. So, you say you’re in love with her? Fuck, dude, I see it. No need to convince me. I believe it. And honestly, it’s about damn time some good happens out of a near tragedy, you know? I just didn’t realize you were that far gone on her that you got the whole wedding bells shit in your head.”
Ethan huffed a laugh. “Yeah, I don’t, D.”
“Eh, hate to point it out here, buddy, but you do. And nothing’s wrong with that. When you know, you know. Least that’s what Bubba always says. So, if you’re head over heels in love with a freshie, then you’re in love with her. Plus, I got to say, man. She’s done wonders for you.”
“Not sure Dad would agree.”
“Well, and I say it with all due respect course, but your dad needs to lighten up, too.”
“Yeah.”
“Plus, you know what they say. Opposites attract and all that shit. And she’s definitely your total opposite, dude.”
They turned the corner then.
“She certainly has made my life interesting,” Ethan murmured thoughtfully. He frowned a moment later when Devon rib-tapped him. “What was that for?”
“Don’t look now, but major babe at your locker.”
“Huh?” Ethan’s eyes darted over there instantly. He blinked the second he saw Amelia stooped over slightly with her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach. “I’ll see you later, man.”
“Understood,” Devon replied quietly. “But someday you’re introducing me to the love of your life so I can give her . . . and you’re gone.”
Ethan barely heard Devon’s mumbled ending as he rushed over to her, recognizing something was wrong.
“Hey, what is it?” he asked the second he reached her. He caught her teeth sunk deep into her lower lip and pained look on her face as she took a deep breath. Not knowing what was going on, he made sure not to touch her just on the off chance she was having some sort of mental episode. “Amelia? Hey, talk to me, will you?”
“Sorry,” she murmured with a slight shake to her voice.
“It’s okay,” he declared, shaking his head. “Just tell me what you need.”
“Home.” The answer was almost strangled out, so he almost missed it.
“All right. Let me get my stuff, and we’ll head home.”
The hallway was clearing out as people rushed past for their next classes. His eyes remained darting over to her as he quickly shoved his books into his bag haphazardly. As soon as he had everything he thought he’d need for the rest of the day, he gently closed his locker, catching a low whimper slipping out of her mouth.
She looked like absolute hell, and he had no idea why. It was obvious she was in terrible pain, though. Her arms were locked fiercely around her torso.
“Am I okay to put my arm around you?” he asked hesitantly. The second he saw the curt nod, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his side. His heart clenched at another muffled whimper that he heard from her. “Are you sure you need me to take you home? Because it sounds more like a hospital to be honest,” he stated quietly, waiting with bated breath for her to give him crap over it. However, she didn’t say a word surprisingly. “Amelia?” He stopped their leaving, turning fully to her. “Look, you and I both know you’re the strongest chick here at Coronado. I’m not arguing that. I’m just saying that you sound horrible, and I’m worried it might be more serious, like, hospital serious. That’s all,” he explained softly.
“They can’t do . . . anything for me,” she replied through a series of winces that hurt to see.
“Is that you being dramatic or—” He groaned at the swift punch to his hip that thankfully wasn’t as hard as he knew she could have punched. “All right. Withdrawn.”
He carefully guided her out towards the parking lot. He said nothing when several times they had to stop and take a breather. He couldn’t understand what was going on, but he knew she’d let him in eventually. He just had to be patient.
They reached his truck several minutes later. He unlocked it instantly, then turned to her, already knowing there was no way she was going to be get up there on her own.
At her intense shiver, his eyes narrowed in confusion. He couldn’t understand why her dad’s hoodie was wrapped around her waist instead of her wearing it like usual. Maybe the pain was making her delirious? “Here, beautiful,” he said gently. “Let me help you put on your dad’s—”
“—NO!” she yelled unexpectedly, throwing herself back and slamming against the side of his truck in an attempt to get away from him.
He instantly took several steps back from her to give her space. “Easy. I was just trying to help,” he explained, palms up and held out to her so she’d see he wasn’t a threat to her. He considered calling her parents right then and there to alert them to this because he couldn’t understand what happened. She had been doing so good lately. This was like all her progress in terms of overcoming her trauma had vanished somehow. “I won’t, though. Promise.”
Her brows furrowed as her head tilted slightly. “It’s not that, Ethan.”
“What?”
“I didn’t think . . . I mean . . . I’m not having an episode,” she murmured after taking another deep, steadying breath.
“Okay.” He nodded. That was a good sign, wasn’t it? It was at the very least a starting point. Some days this point was never reached. “Then, what’s wrong? Because I don’t have a damn clue how to help right now, I’ll be honest. Because you were shivering so I thought your dad’s hoodie could help you stay warm if you were wearing it.” His eyes narrowed at the slight splash of color to her cheeks as her eyes fell instantly. “Hey, whatever’s wrong, you can tell me, okay? I just want to help. That’s all.”
“It’s . . . it’s embarrassing.”
He gently lifted her chin up, staring into her nervous eyes. “More embarrassing than my little misfire at Christmas?” he asked with a soft, loving smile. Because he sincerely doubted that.
“Sorta?” She seemed to curl more into herself, eyes falling again. He had never seen her make herself so much smaller than she was before. He hated it with a passion. “My cramps are being a bitch today. That’s what’s up.”
“Oh!” Ethan smiled widely, cursing himself for it half a second later for looking idiotic with how happy he was at that. “Is that all?” He scoffed, shaking his head before he moved closer and quickly kissed her forehead gently. “Never be embarrassed with me over that, beautiful. Not when we all know it’s just letting us know I didn’t accidentally knock you up this month.”
“What?!”
“What?”
They stared at one another for half a moment. Stunned at what he said.
There was no reason for him to have said it. They hadn't done anything remotely sexual with one another, in fact. Made out a few times, yeah. Cuddled together, sure. But honestly they were pretty low-key. Why the fuck had he said that?
“Okay, yeah, so, um, we’re never going to tell anyone, definitely not our parents, I said that, okay?” He smiled hesitantly at her, catching her instant eye roll before she let out a low groan and curled back into herself for half a second.
“Sometimes you can be a real dumbass,” she muttered lightly.
“Hey now,” he groused, “I wasn’t the one here assuming my sweet, loving boyfriend would be all Neanderthal-like and not be understanding over you getting your period, thank you very much.” He frowned at her flipping him off. “You know, sometimes I swear you forget you’re not actually in the Navy.” He shook his head lightly, feeling his earlier tension melt away now that he knew what the problem was and how to fix it. “All right. So, here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to give you my hoodie to sit on, and we’re going to switch it with your dad’s.”
“You don’t . . .”
“I know I don’t have to,” he argued, “but I want to. Because if my hoodie gets a little dirty, no big deal. Plus,” he shrugged casually “I like the visual of ‘Simpson’ written across your ass.”
“Oh, do you?” Her tone was trying to stay light and playful back, but the winces took the fun out of it.
“Yep.” He then quickly pulled his Islanders’ varsity football hoodie off, handing it over to her.
“You really don’t mind?”
“Not in the slightest,” he confirmed, offering her a warm, honest smile. "Plus, remember? I have an older sister. I know it's perfectly natural and nothing to freak out over. It happens."
As soon as the hoodies were switched and her dad’s hoodie was back around her torso like it always was, he stepped closer to her.
“All right. Now, I’m going to help you up into the cab, okay? And I’ll go nice and slow. If you need me to stop, let me know. Just don’t do it by kicking me, please.” He waited for her curt nod of acknowledgement, noticing the pain flood back into her face at likely another cramp.
The truck wasn’t that tall to begin with, and Amelia wasn’t that short either. However, the way she was curled in on herself, it was clear all her usual strength was being spent on keeping her upright currently. He gently helped her up, waiting until she settled herself in the seat before he pulled himself up using the grab bar to pull her seat belt across her body.
“I can do that.” She sounded absolutely miserable.
“I know, but I wanted to so I could do this,” he replied, bending his head to brush his lips over hers gently. He winked at her roguishly before he hopped back down to the ground and shut the door. As he rounded the front, he sent a quick text to his dad, letting him know he was taking her home. He knew it’d earn him a lecture later, but he didn’t care. They could argue about that later.
Hopping up into the driver’s seat a moment later, he started his truck up, hearing it rumble to life. He made a mental note to make sure he changed the oil later that weekend since he was getting close to it needing to be done. The moment he felt Amelia’s head against his shoulder, he leaned his head towards hers. She had undone the seat belt and slid across the bench to him.
Low Country music serenaded them as he drove to her house.
“Are they usually this bad?” he asked, unable to stop the words from tumbling out.
“Sometimes,” she replied, fingers curling tighter around his leg before relaxing again. “This is the worst they’ve been in a while, though.”
He nodded silently.
“Should we call your mom when we get home?”
“Dad sent her off with Aunt Sarah for another girls’ week,” she answered. "Since I ruined the last one."
He frowned at her reply but knew better than to argue with her right then. “Your brothers then?”
“They’re off with Grandpa Jack and the babies. Supposed to be back tomorrow.”
“And your dad?”
“I don’t know. Probably off somewhere with Pops trying to figure their shit out since they retired. I tried them all.” She let out another low whimper, curling around him as her fingers tightened around his leg for half a moment. “I was trying not to bother you with this. Honest.”
“Oh, hush, Mitchell,” he lightly scolded. “I’m on lunch anyway, remember?” Though, he had already decided several miles back he wasn’t going back until he was sure she was going to be okay. He could make up the lessons he missed. No biggie.
A few moments later, he parked in front of the two-car garage next to the black Mercedes. The Ninja motorcycle was gone, and he could see the Porsche inside the garage. He shut off the engine and quickly headed over to her side of the truck. He carefully helped lower her to the ground, keeping a strong hold on her.
“Almost there, beautiful,” he stated softly.
He grabbed the house key from her when she offered it, quickly unlocking the front door and helping her inside. He chuckled the second Theo came racing to greet them, watching Amelia lightly pet the sweet dog before they continued onward.
“I’ll grab you some fresh clothes while you—”
“—you really want to see my underwear drawer, don’t you?”
He felt the deep flush sweep down his neck. “No. Course not. I'm just trying to help.”
“I know.” She then sighed, leaning heavier against him. “I can handle it from here, though.”
“All right. I’ll be in the living room.” He brushed back her hair before he cupped her cheek and kissed her gently. “Holler if you need me.” He hated watching her climb her way upstairs, but he wasn’t going to push her on it. He then glanced down at Theo when he felt the insistent brush against his leg. “Guess it’s just you and me, pal.” He followed the yellow Labrador to the back door, stepping outside to watch Theo race off the back deck into the fenced-off yard.
They walked back in a few minutes later with Ethan checking on Theo’s bowls of water and food. Both were still fairly full.
Pulling his phone out, Ethan checked to make sure there were no new messages from his dad. There was nothing, though, which seemed odd. Then again, since his dad retired, the man was spending a lot more time focused on working through processing all his emotions from the past decades in the Navy. Maybe his dad was in a session then?
Finding Amelia’s Dad’s contact info a second later in his phone, Ethan hit ‘Call’ and waited as the line rang. His feet shuffled impatiently. It seemed like a lifetime passed before the line finally clicked over and was answered.
“This is Pete Mitchell.”
Here went nothing. “Hello, sir. It’s Ethan, Ethan Simpson.”
“Ethan?” A slight pause. “Is everything okay?”
“Um, well, sort of. I take it my dad didn’t reach out to you?”
Her dad sighed loudly. “Please tell me you two boneheads didn’t get into a fight or start a riot or whatever it was this time.”
“No, sir.” Ethan smiled faintly. Contrary to everyone’s opinions, they weren’t that bad. “I brought your daughter home from school today. She wasn’t feeling the greatest. She claimed she reached out to you and the others but didn’t get through. I just wanted to make sure you were aware.”
“Is she okay now?”
Ethan still couldn’t get a clear read on the captain’s mood. His tone was still too neutral.
“She’s currently taking a hot shower to see if it’ll help.” He wandered into the kitchen in the meantime, deciding he’d see if he could find some supplies to help cheer her up. “She admitted earlier on the ride home that her cramps are pretty awful right now.” That was probably something he wasn’t supposed to share with her dad, but he knew her dad required absolute honesty. And he really wanted to stay on Captain Mitchell’s good side for the time being. “Any chance you can stop and bring home some comfort food for her?”
Her dad chuckled quietly to himself for half a second. “Yeah, I think I can do that, kid. In the meantime, I trust you’re taking good care of my little girl?”
“Yes, sir,” he confirmed. “I’m currently working on finding chocolate for her as we speak.”
“Kitchen. Upper left cabinet, behind the Triscuits.” There was a muffled voice in the background yelling something towards the former captain.
“Thank you, sir.” He found them exactly where Captain Mitchell said they’d be.
“I’ll be home in fifteen minutes.”
“Understood, sir. I’ll see you then.” Ethan then hung up, shoving his phone back into his pocket before eating a handful of Triscuits to stave off his hunger.
With the unopened bag of Dove Chocolate in hand, he headed into the living room. He quickly put the bag on the coffee table, then grabbed the extra fluffy US Naval Aviation blanket from the back of the sofa and set it at the end. He grabbed the remote from the coffee table, swiftly selecting one of her favorite movies and keeping it paused for the time being.
Chocolate.
Comfy blanket.
Remote.
Her dad was bringing her comfort food.
He turned on a lamp before he shut the curtains, just in case she had a headache, too.
All in all, everything seemed to be well on its way.
At the sound of the upstairs bathroom door opening, his eyes darted upwards.
Sure enough, she appeared at the top of the staircase not long afterwards. She was wearing one of his old t-shirts and loose flannel PJ bottoms.
“You know, I’m starting to think you steal a lot of my clothes when I’m not looking,” he teased, giving her a wide smile as he watched her walk downstairs.
“You left it here the other day,” she snorted. “Ergo, that makes it fair game.”
“Uh-huh.” He hugged her gently the second she was within reach, burying his nose into her hair. Just having her in his arms was causing muscles he hadn’t even known were tense to loosen again. “Feel any better?”
“Getting there,” she mumbled, snuggling into his chest.
“Well, your dad is on his way home.”
“Ugh. You called him?” she groaned.
“Remember how we agreed to do everything we could to let them trust us? This is one way to do that. Letting your dad know we’re alone in the house together. That I’m taking care of you and your moody ass PMS self.” He yelped at the hard punch to the ribs. Yeah, he deserved that.
“Dumbass.”
“You are so damn violent with me sometimes,” he grumbled, not feeling any of the sharp pain anymore. “Jeez.” He gently guided her to sit on the sofa, climbing in behind her and stretching out so her body rested between his legs. He made sure to pull the fluffy blanket up to cover her up with. “And here I got you chocolate, cozy blankets, dark room, your favorite movie, and your dad. I’m perfect boyfriend material.” He kissed the side of her head, smelling the familiar berries shampoo.
“Sure you are.”
“Yep. All the girls want me,” he drawled loudly. “In fact, I’ll have you know I’m considered a hell of a catch.”
“Of gonorrhea maybe,” she quipped while squirming slightly to get herself more comfortable against his chest. She sank against him not long after, tucking her head under his chin as he held her.
“Yeah, well, you love this case of gonorrhea, you sassy little minx.” He pressed ‘Play’ on her favorite movie and settled in happily, his arms wrapping around her loosely.
“You’re snuggly.”
He pressed his lips together to keep from laughing at her annoyed turn. “And that upsets you?” God, she was so damn cute sometimes.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s making me drowsy now.”
“So sleep.”
“Can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because you said Dad’s on his way home. He’s going to be pretty irritated seeing us like this.”
Ethan pressed another kiss to her damp hair. “Nah. He told me to take care of his little girl. And that’s what I’m doing. I’m following his orders to the ‘T.” He smirked, hearing her snort. God, he loved making her laugh. It was his favorite sound in the world.
“You’ll be here when I wake?”
“Likely. You’ve made yourself pretty comfortable on me, after all.”
“Such an asshole.”
“Eh, you know what they say. You’re always attracted to men like your dad.”
“Fuck off.”
He chuckled deeply, closing his eyes. “Love you, too, Captain Mitchell's little girl,” he murmured, snickering at her light punch to his side again.
When he woke later on, he caught numerous pairs of eyes leveled on him. He instantly closed his eyes again and swallowed back a groan. Amelia was still in his arms, and judging by the deep breathing he could feel from her, she, too, had fallen asleep.
“We can wait you out, young man.”
He mumbled back a low ‘Uh-huh.’
Because while they could definitely wait him out, he also had the advantage of having Amelia lying on him. Not a single one of her dads would dare move on him with her right there. Her arms had encircled his sometime while they had slept.
God, he never wanted to let her go.
“Guys, come on. Let them rest,” Penny quietly said somewhere off further in the house.
“That is not what I meant by you taking care of her,” spoke Captain Mitchell under his breath.
“Cheeky little brat,” snickered one of her uncles near his head.
“Go ahead and sleep. We’ll wait right here, young man.”
“Pete Mitchell,” Penny hissed, closer than before. “Ron Kerner. Tom Kazansky. Get over here right this minute, you three.”
Ethan heard a few snickers.
“And you two,” huffed Penny, practically next to Ethan’s ear, “Rick and Leo. Let the kids sleep a bit longer.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Hollywood and Wolfman muttered before Ethan fell back asleep again.
When he woke much later, the house was quiet and dark. Amelia was no longer in his arms. He sat up swiftly the second he noticed that. He didn’t see her anywhere nearby or heard it.
“Morning, Mr. Simpson,” chirped her dad softly.
“Is she—” He cut himself off at Captain Mitchell’s raised hand.
“She’s all right, kid. Headed up to her bed an hour ago.”
Ethan nodded silently.
“We’ve reached out to your dad, and he’s all right with you spending the night over here.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Mitchell snorted quietly. “Don’t thank me yet.”
Ethan glanced around the darkened living room, only finding it was him and her dad. “Where are the others, sir?”
“They went to bed not long ago. You just missed Jake by fifteen minutes, in fact.”
He nodded. “But you remained?”
“I left her enough times over the years. Her and her mother,” Captain Mitchell answered softly. “Wasn’t going to this time.”
“I only held her like that so she’d feel comfortable, relax even.”
“I know.”
“Then, respectfully, sir, why are you yanking my damn chain about it?”
“Because she’s my little girl, and you’re trying to steal her from me,” he stated bluntly. “And you’re going to win, and I’m a real sore loser sometimes.”
Ethan shook his head, hearing the light humor in the captain’s voice. “Sir, I’m not trying to take your place here. I doubt I ever could. But you’re right. I do love her a whole hell of a lot. And I’m not going to apologize for that either. However, I will always make sure she’s taken care of. No matter what. Because she deserves the damn world and then some.”
“That she does.” He then sat on the corner of the sofa opposite of Ethan. “Word of advice, kid. Quit worrying your dad so much.”
“Sir?”
“You skipped school again. A habit I’m told you never did before you met Amelia.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “She wouldn’t want you to throw away your life over her. Over whatever this is that you’re trying to figure out.”
“Figure out, sir?” Ethan’s head tilted.
“You made up the work, sure. However, take it from someone who cut classes a lot, too. It makes things harder when you go to training later on. I know you’re an intelligent kid, but you can’t keep going down this path. Not like this. Giving up your life for hers. It’ll end up becoming something that drives a wedge between you two if you continue.”
“I’m not trying to give up my life, sir.”
“You’re sacrificing a hell of a lot for her from where I’m sitting. In fact, your dad mentioned you haven’t managed yet to finish your Academy application yet. Why not?”
“Because I haven’t spoken with you yet, Captain.”
“Me?” Her dad’s eyes narrowed. “Why the hell would you speak with me?”
“I would like if you nominated me, sir.”
“To the Academy?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re pulling my damn leg, aren’t you?”
“No, sir.” Ethan shook his head. “Forgive me, but I know of your history with the Academy and the Navy. I know how they don’t understand or appreciate you in the way they should. You have been trying to get out from Duke Mitchell’s shadow for decades. I want to do the same with my dad’s quite frankly. And the only way I see that happening is if you nominate me.”
“You’re more likely to get your papers rescinded then, kid.”
“I don’t agree.” Ethan met the green eyes locked on him. “You are one of the few who shot down five enemy aircrafts, became an ace in fact as a result. You’ve done the unthinkable on missions no one else would ever succeed. And, I’m told, you survived a high-level ejection twice in short increments. In other words, you’re a badass, sir. One of the Navy’s greatest Naval aviators in history. You’re a hero.”
“All right. Enough sucking up there.”
“I’m not, though. You are. You brought your entire team home. You did that. You saved Admiral Kazansky even from certain death when everyone else would have—pardon the phrase—shit their pants instead. You see danger, sir, and you deal with it head on. Just like your daughter does. And, yeah, that pisses a lot of people off, but the fact that they don’t have balls is their problem, not yours.”
“Is that so?”
“You change people, sir. For the better. You make us the better versions of ourselves. So, yeah, I want you to be the one to nominate me because I can’t think of anyone better to do so. Plus, you’re going to be my dad-in-law someday when I marry your daughter. If anyone can give the selection committee a statement on my character, it would be you, sir.”
“I don’t have a lot of people on my side, Ethan.”
“I don’t need them to be. I just need you to try for me, sir.” He then inhaled deeply. "And if I don’t get it, then it’s not meant to be. However, I don’t want the acceptance solely on the basis that I’m Beau Simpson’s son. I want to earn my place there.”
“You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”
“Deadly as a Trident, sir.”
“I’ve never nominated anyone for the Academy before.”
Ethan smiled faintly. “That’s all right, sir. It’ll be a learning experience for all of us.”
Her dad watched him for half a moment before he shook his head. “I suppose I can try. However, you have to promise me that for your dad’s sake and Amelia’s as well, you’ll buckle down and stick with your studies.
“I can do that. If you promise to answer her call next time.”
"Understood." Captain Mitchell then patted his shoulder lightly. “Thank you for taking care of her for us.”