”Sweet dreams Arizona Robbins.” she whispered next to my ear.

”And you, Calliope Torres”.

I watched her walk the whole way to her front door, she glanced over her shoulder to shoot me a sultry wink. I felt like my brain had melted into a pool of liquid mush, all coherent thoughts lost to the emotions swirling in my head which had now had taken over my body, rendering it useless.

God, I had it bad.

My Dad returned home from base the following weekend, a typical military father – strong, tall and built like a brick wall, he could be intimidating to those who didn’t know him. For me, Colonel Daniel Robbins, USMC, decorated war hero, was the biggest softie father any young girl could ask for, he was the guy who gave the best bear hugs, put a band-aid on my scrapes and sores, instilled my sense of pride and supported me 100% when I told him I was romantically interested in women. He raised me to love my country, my family and stop at nothing to protect the things I love.

As a family when went for dinner and filled him in about the on-goings of the past week or so at my new school. My Mom was more relaxed now that he was home for good, after years of following him around the country and waiting for months on end to hear if he was safe when he was on tour, she finally could breathe.

”What are your plans for tomorrow, baby girl?” He asked in his gruff voice, his eyes crinkling into a wide smile at finally having his family around him.

”Well Callie and I have a study session at her place and then I’ll be home in the afternoon.”

”I’m glad you’re making friends. This is a friend, right?” He questioned with a smug look on his face.

”Yes, Dad. Just a friend.” Unfortunately. But I didn’t say that out loud. I was sure my mother had already informed my father how close Callie and I had become in such a short period of time. I knew it was suspicious and could be contrived as a more ’involved’ friendship.

”If you say so baby.” He still had that same smug smile plastered on his face and my Mom was trying to hide a smile behind her napkin. I just rolled my eyes and changed the conversation. Talking about my love life with my parents wasn’t something any 17-year-old girl was privy to.