The night air was balmy. 

I tugged at the hem on my mini dress. My choice of clothing was coincidental, I just grabbed the first thing hanging in the closet. There were no intentions of flirting tonight, no matter what it looked like. Only drinking. 

"Welcome back." The bouncer at the door greeted me. 

I smiled as he stamped my hand. He winked in return. Good grief, was he flirting with everyone? I guessed at least every female entering. The ones behind me flirted back. Apparently that was normal...the bouncer laughed and chatted with them as I waited to enter. The club was loud again but had a different feel to it. It was Friday night. Sex practically floated among the patrons. Everyone was on the prowl. 

Winding my way to the bar I found an empty bar stool and sat down, taking care to not snag my heels on the rungs or having my dress expose my underwear. I never dressed this way anymore. Going out was my past. Or maybe now could be part of my future again. Possibly. 

"It's you!" A voice exclaimed from the side. 

I looked and saw the blonde sergeant from earlier in the day, at the beach. This side of the island was beginning to feel very very small. 

"Hi!" I said, smiling at him. 

He was hot. Tall like Luca and tan, offsetting his eyes like jewels in a necklace. 

"Didn't think I'd see you again...that was wild today wasn't it? That shark!" He said.

A person next to me got up, freeing a bar stool. The sergeant slid onto it. He assumed I wanted to talk to him, which honestly I didn't mind. If he was here though, was Luca? 

"Gunny Ajello was furious though." He laughed. 

Ajello...what type of last name was that? It sounded Italian. Which Luca definitely must be, his coloring fit. Was he first generation American or had he been born there? My mind darted all over the place, wondering about my handsome dance partner. He wouldn't come unstuck in my mind. 

"Hey you ok?" He asked. 

Snapping back to reality, I nodded at the handsome blonde. I realized I didn't know his name. 

"I'm sorry, yes. Just been one hell of a day. I'm Mila by the way. I never asked your name.." 

"Pretty name..Mila. I'm Shane." 

He held his hand up to signal for the bartender. A pretty woman sauntered over and took our order. Shane flirted lightly but kept his eyes on me at the same time. I didn't mind the attention, in fact it was kind of nice for a guy to be direct. Unlike Luca. 

Luca. Is he here?

I told myself to snap out of it. If he was, he could come find me. Absolutely nothing was stopping him from talking to me or flirting, anything really. 

"Are you waiting for your boyfriend to show up?" Shane asked playfully. 

"I don't have one of those." I laughed, smiling at him. 

He rested his cut forearms on the bar top, the muscles flexing as he did. Lord these marines were mighty fine specimens of the male species. No wonder local girls loved dating them, and some ending up married to one. 

"That's good. I don't really feel like getting in hot water with the gunny. He'd have my ass if I got into a fight again." 

His blue eyes sparkled with humor as he spoke. Again? 

"You fight often?" 

"Only when there's no other choice...but I never start it. Self defense is permitted, starting things is most definitely not. I'd like to get promoted one day and gotta watch myself." 

The drinks came and Shane ignored the bar tender now, to her dismay. She gave me a nod and arched an eyebrow as if to convey 'he's all yours'. But he certainly wasn't mine. I didn't belong to anyone. 

I took the shot in my hand and clinked it against Shane's. Right as I swallowed it and grabbed my beer, I noticed the object of my mental confusion staring at me from the other end of the bar. Luca.

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He wore a white fitted tee tonight and it made his tan deeper than ever. His black hair was styled sexily, sending my thoughts all over the place. He took a long pull from his beer bottle, his eyes set directly onto me. Why did he always look at me this way? He analyzed the situation, seeing my expressions and Shane's. Gauging whether I was into his sergeant no doubt. I decided it wasn't any of his business. 

"So where are you from?" I asked Shane, turning on the barstool so I was facing him more. 

His eyes lit up as he noticed my body language. An invitation. He turned one of his legs so it was inches from mine. 

"Los Angeles. My entire family is still there. Were you born here?" 

I shook my head, taking another swig. 

"I'm from San Diego. My mom married my dad after a vacation to Hawaii...my dad was Hawaiian." 

I knew my explanation wouldn't make much sense. It sounded a bad movie plot, but I was still hesitant to share that I had a connection to the marines. And I definitely didn't want to share my tragedy with anyone. Not yet. 

"Ahh...explains your beauty. Real local girls are some of the prettiest I've ever seen." 

My cheeks flushed deeply. I was a much lighter skinned and petite Hawaiian mix of sorts, thanks to my mom. She was a tiny blonde woman. I did inherit dark brown hair and brown eyes from my dad, but that was it. 

Shane smiled, oozing sexual tension , and drained the rest of his beer. I didn't reply back but busied myself finishing off my own drink. He got the bar tenders attention and ordered us another shot and more beer. I wondered if Luca was still watching me. I wasn't going to turn to look though. Stubbornness was taking over. 

"Ahh shit. I'll be right back. Gotta talk to someone." Shane said, touching my hand as he stood up. 

I was confused as to why he suddenly needed to speak to someone but decided to just go with whatever was happening. Music was thumping as it was last night and our drinks appeared. It was a nice evening. Nice enough to lower my inhibitions.

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https://youtu.be/-JWewEsf-X0

"You want to switch to vodka and cranberry?" 

The female bar tender was speaking loudly to me, over the music. I giggled and swayed to the music, giving her a nod. 

"Ok...coming right up." She hesitantly said. 

I was well buzzed, almost too buzzed. More alcohol probably wasn't the best idea. Still waiting for Shane to come back, I sat alone in the crowded bar. Until a new guy came up. He looked to be a marine as well. Goody. 

"Is anyone sitting here?" New guy asked. 

"No..go right ahead!" 

He assessed my dress climbing up my legs almost to the panty area and smirked. I smirked back. Two could play at that game. I boldly reached for his muscled forearm. 

"You like that?" He asked huskily, looking down at my hand.

"I like muscles, what girl doesn't?" I smiled, biting on my lower lip. 

The bar tender placed my mixed drink right in front of me. I thanked her and let go of the new marines arm to greedily suck on the straw, savoring the burn and cranberry goodness. The music switched to a slow bedroom mix and I felt more flirty...more of everything. 

"Want to dance?" 

Should I dance with this new marine? I had just intended to drink tonight. Debating if I wanted to, he took my hand and helped me slide off the bar stool. He was making up my mind for me. I became a tad unsteady in my heels and had to grasp onto him for support. His cologne was overpowering, it made my nose scrunch up. Why would such a hot guy need to spray so much of it on? 

"I'll take it from here." A voice boomed from behind me. 

Hands were steadying me by my hips then lightly tugging my mini dress down. Who in the hell was touching me now? I tried to turn but the bar stool got in my way and I sort of tumbled into someone's arms. Looking down I saw they were familiar, and deeply tanned. 

"I swear everyone is so muscular here. Why are marines so cut? All of you!" I muttered. 

The man leaned down as he held me steady. 

"You've sampled quite a few of us tonight." 

Was that Luca's voice? I found my footing, straightened my dress and glanced up. It was. The words I'd intended to say all but left my mouth. Nothing came out. His expression was unreadable. It looked angry, hurt and maybe...jealous? 

In the dating world, especially in the club scene, finding a partner could be quick. Boyfriends were made in a week or faster if you clicked. His behavior shouldn't surprise me. But for some reason, it did. It bothered me. 

"Luca...why are you acting like this? Why stare then ignore me...I don't..." 

His hands reached up and one smoothed a strand of loose hair from my eyes as the other lingered on my collar bone. I bit my bottom lip as he stared at me. 

"Let's go outside." He softly said.

**This story is only found on Wattpad. If found on another site, it was stolen. Thank you for reading.💋**