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I looked at Stella’s left hand and found it ringless. All the women seemed to be single if their naked ring fingers were any indication.

“I don’t need a man, but I would be happy to get laid by someone who knows what they’re doing,” Stella practically yelled.

I nearly spit my food out at her declaration. Even though it was strictly against the rules, I wouldn’t mind showing her a good time.

Ophelia was definitely making the drinks tonight. Halfway through her margarita and Stella was finally starting to let loose. Her cheeks were flushed from alcohol, and she couldn’t stop her deep brown eyes from landing on me every few seconds, only to then look away.

Even though it wasn’t smart, I couldn’t take my gaze off Stella. She was gorgeous with her big brown eyes with long eyelashes that fanned her freckled cheeks. Plush pink lips that I couldn’t stop imagining wrapped around my thick cock.

There was an uncomfortable silence when everyone was done with their plate and was waiting for dessert. Wanting to give the stew girls a little more time before the guests started to complain, I asked. “Where do you all live?”

“We all live in LA, well, Stella doesn’t live there yet, but will soon,” Zelda answered for all of them.

“If you don’t live in LA, where do you live?” I asked Stella.

She rolled her lips before she answered. “In Oasis.”

Was I supposed to know where that was?

“It’s a small town in the desert a couple of hours away from LA. It’s where I grew up, but as soon as I find a place to live in LA, I’m getting away from there. Where do you live?”

I shrugged because I didn’t really live anywhere. “On boats.”

“Do you work year-round?” she asked sweetly.

“No, but close. When I’m not working, which isn’t often, I stay with family or friends. There’s no point in me paying rent or a mortgage on someplace I’m never at.”

Sitting up taller in her chair, Stella nodded. “Makes sense. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?”

“As crazy as it might seem since I’m on the water so much, I’d want to live by the ocean. I don’t mean to be picky. I’d live by any water. A lake, the gulf, or the ocean.”

With each word I spoke, Stella’s face lit up. “I love the water. Maybe I should live on the beach.”

“Yes!” Penelope clapped. “That would be perfect. When I need a break from the city, I’ll come and stay with you.”

“It’s decided.” Stella jumped in her seat.

Maybe making life-changing decisions while drinking wasn’t the best idea, but what did I know about their lives.

“Oh, I have the best real estate agent. When we get back, I’ll hook you up.” Zelda wagged her eyebrows at Stella, and for some reason, I didn’t like the implication of Zelda trying to hook up Stella with that guy.

“Have you ever thought about living in California?” Penelope asked me with a smirk on her face.

“I’m not opposed to it.” I couldn’t be a bosun for the rest of my life, and I didn’t see ever wanting to be a captain, so eventually, I needed to decide what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Until then, I wanted something to keep my mind off my days of being a Marine, and to make some good money, so once I decided on what I wanted to do with my life, I could find a place to rest my head.

“You should think about it.” Penelope nodded like it was a done deal. Was she crazy? I guess she loved living in California, but I hadn’t even visited the state. “Where do you come from?”

Stella nudged her with her elbow. “Geez, Pen, what’s with all the questions?”

“I’m just trying to get to know our very good-looking dinner guest.”

I could feel my cheeks heat up with all their eyes on me. “It’s okay, I don’t mind. If I don’t want to answer, I won’t.” Like about my days in the military. “I grew up in a small town in Florida. We lived about two hours away from the gulf.”

I missed my dad waking me up early. We’d arrive at the water right as the sun started to rise over the water and fish until noon. Those were the days.

“Did everyone know everyone’s business where you grew up?” Stella asked with a bite. I wondered what had happened to her to make her want to leave where she’d always lived.

“You can’t sneeze without the people on the other side of town saying, ‘bless you.’” Everyone knowing everything that happened every second of your life was what made me not want to go home.