My Marine

Chapter 7

I drag him into the speak easy my excitement sky rocketing and at the same time I became weary of the fact that not only was I holding his hand but I brought him to my favorite place subconsciously.

'What are you doing Ace?' I question myself. But I let it go and shake my head clearing my head of all thoughts. Tonight I have fun and forget him.

I turn to see Troy grinning his previous nervousness is gone and replaced by excitement and curiosity. I lead him through several hallways until it opens up to a wide floor plan. I smile seeing the place packed. I lead us to the bar top and I take my seat in the far corner where I can see everything.

I watch Troy as he eyeballs everything scanning for threats and being honestly observant. "How do you know about this place?" He asks and I look over at the bar tender Mathew.

"Drinks first questions second." I answer and he nods.

"Fair enough." He says and Mathew comes up with the menu.

I look at him and say " I will have the southern." Troy looks at me reminding me without words that he is buying the first drink. I laugh and nod.

"I will just take a Corona." He says and looks back at Mathew. Handing him the menu.

"I will grab the beer first then your southern Ace." He says.

"Thanks Mat." I say and then to Troy.

"So how do you know about this place." He asks again leaning back in his chair.

"I own it." I say a smirk marrying my lips.

"You own it?" He says his eyebrows raising ad he grabs his beer from Mat.

"Yep." I say poping the P. "I bought it 3 years ago. I stumbled upon it with my ex and found out they were going out of business and I bought it, because I fell in love with the place. I changed a few things but I left the previous owners to run it." I say smiling. As mat comes back with my southern. I take one drink and instantly relax into my chair. "Thanks mat." I say.

"Your welcome enjoy." He says and I turn back to Troy.

"Wow, so a physical therapy rehabilitation center and a bar, what else?" He asks.

"Nope you have to answer a question first." I say laughing at his frustrated face.

"Ok shoot." He says. I look at him calculating if I should ask the question I want to ask. "Just ask I know what you want to know." He says looking me in the eye.

"How did it happen?" I ask. Looking down not wanting to meet his eyes.

"Firefight....... I can't tell you where or the specifics of why we where there. But I can tell you what happened. If you really want to know." He says and I can feel his eyes staring at me. I watch his fist clench and unclench and I flinch away from him slightly and I meet his eyes.

And they change from pained to confused when he sees the fear refecting in my own. But I swallow it down. "I want to know." I whisper just loud enough for him to hear me over the roar of the crowd.

"My base was ambushed during the night and the firefight that followed killed most of our men and women. I shouldn't have survived." He says looking down and his eyes glazed over. I knew exactly what that ment and I grabbed his hand to pull him out of the memories.

He looks up at me eyes guarded and hurting. "I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry. And I'm sorry I asked." I say and I look down and see the tension in his arms and hands are they still clench and unclench. He stands up really fast and I jump back in my chair.

"Why did you jump? Why are you afraid?" He asks his hurt replaced by an emotion unknown to me.

"Nothing." I whisper. He brings his hand to my face quickly and I jump again.

"Bull shit someone hurt you." He says getting angry.

"Yea...." I whisper trying to forget. I feel him slowly sit down again and I look up before throwing back a lot of my drink feeling the lovely burn down the back of my neck. I feel his hand slowly reach up and touch my face and I flinch at first but let it lay there.

"Who?"

"My ex boyfriend Eric." I mumble.

"What is his full name?"

"Eric Cooper"

"What did he do?" He asks his voice soft and comforting.

"He became very abusive and one day and made me loose our...... our baby our daughter as I told you before." I mumble as the tears start to flow freely down my face. "I can't even go home because he waits outside my house for me. And he texts me all day trying to get me to talk to him let him back into my life and I can't. He hurt me so much." I say not even caring anymore that I'm pouring my heart out to a complete stranger.

"Where do you live?" He says pulling my chin up to look at me and I notice the fire burning behind his eyes as he brushes away my tears.

"Why?" I say hiccuping as I try to wipe away the moisture from my eyes.

"Because I'm going to make him leave you alone. " he says and he pulls me close and I stiffen up. But slowly relax.

"Troy leave it be. I don't want trouble." I say slowly pulling away.

"Oh your not gonna get trouble he is." He says placing money on the counter and grabbing my hand leading me out of my bar forwards the elevator.

"Troy seriously I will be fine."

"I'm not gonna let him harass you or hurt you." He says draging me our of the building to a cab outside.

"Were too?" I look at troy and he gives me the no bullshit look. I gulp down air.

"9312 N kings street." I whisper.