“Head up,” General Vance ordered, his voice dropping lower.

“You stand at attention in front of a senior officer.”

Evan jerked his head back up, his eyes glassy as he stared at the trim along the ceiling.

“Lieutenant Colonel Miller earned those gold oak leaves over twenty-two years of honorable service, including two overseas deployments that you’re in no position to judge,” General Vance said.

“She sat at that gate and gave you three separate chances to walk away.

You chose to touch her uniform.