Chapter 9

Friday March 22

I arrived in Miami Friday night Celia and abuela were at the airport waiting.

Saturday, I spent most of the day just chilling with the guys at the beach, catching up on everything that's happened over the past few years.

'Dios, I forgot how ridiculously hot it gets down here!' I said to Jose. Later, we rolled over to Jose's brother Jace's bachelor party at the Deuce.

I was really excited to catch up with Jace again. He's a few years older, but we used to be close friends; it's been ages since I saw him after moving back to Newark.

Jace joined the Navy right after high school and became a SEAL, so I was definitely planning to ask him about that and give him some shit about being in the Navy instead of the Army. There were a bunch of Jace's Navy buddies there, plus more of the guys we hung out with back in high school.

'I thought you were all done with the Navy SEAL gig, ' Ramon 'Rooster' said, giving his buddy a slap on the back .

'Yeah, I thought so too,' Jace 'Hawk' laughed. 'But honestly, I'm not so sure I'm out of the game just yet. There are still a lot of bad guys out there to handle. A lot of terrorists left. '

Rooster nodded. 'that's true.'

'So when are you planning to leave the military?' Hawk asked.

'Not until I hit my twenty years,' Rooster said, looking around the bar at the guys who felt like family. 'Honestly, I love being a SEAL. Where else can you mess around with guns, get paid to stay in shape, and go after the bad guys?'

Hawk's lips twisted into a smirk. 'It's a great life, but someday you'll want to marry and settle down.' Rooster frowned. 'Why would I want to do that? You know this life—it's not made for marriage.' Hawk grinned. 'True. I can't believe I'm getting married on Saturday.'

I walked up and said 'You still have time to change your mind, I can have you out of here in a nanosecond.'

'No way, what's she doing here' Hawk said as he stared at the entrance of the Duece.

A smile spread across his face. 'Do you see that woman?' He nodded toward the exotic lady with long, wavy black hair who was walking through the door.

I nodded. 'She's a woman. There are plenty of women out there. You could have a new one every night of the week.'

'That's exhausting. No, Jenny's the one for me.' Hawk smiled and tipped his head toward her. She returned his smile and held up a finger. 'I never thought I'd fall for someone as hard as I fell for Jenny. I know it sounds corny, but she completes me.'

I don't understand. 'How can one woman have that effect on a man?'

'She's amazing,' Hawk said. 'I've never met a woman like her. I can't wait to marry her and make her a permanent part of my life.' At that moment, Jenny Martinez turned to speak to someone coming into the bar behind her. A smaller woman with straight, dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail rushed,.

I walked over to Hawk, 'What are they doing here and who's the other woman?' I asked.

'What are they doing?' I asked.

It seems they're crashing our party. That's Rachel, Jenny's little sister. She and Jenny planned this whole event. The rest are bridesmaids, I think,' Hawk said with a grin.

I raised an eyebrow, looking at the petite brunette and feeling impressed by Rachel's attributes. Pretty, curvy, and sexy were the three adjectives that Carlos thought to himself.

'Jenny wants our wedding to be perfect,' Hawk sighed. 'It'll be perfect once Jenny says 'I do' and I get that ring on her finger.'

I shook my head. 'Seems like a lot of hassle for a single day.'

'Maybe, but if it makes Jenny happy...?' Hawk shrugged. 'I'm okay with it. I just want to get it done and move on to our honeymoon.'

'What are they doing here, anyway? This is your party.'

'I don't know why Jenny's here,' Hawk said, his brow furrowing. 'This is supposed to be my bachelor party.'

'No females allowed,' Rooster added, nodding.

Jenny started toward them, with Rachel and the others in tow. When she reached Hawk, she leaned up on her toes and brushed her lips against his.

'What's that all about?' Hawk asked, pulling her into his arms and deepening the kiss. When he set her back at arm's length, he grinned down at her. 'That's more like it.'

'You might want to save some of that for after the wedding,' Carlos snorted.

Jenny turned toward him. 'Who are you?' she asked.

'I'm Jose's friend, Carlos. We all went to school together.'

Jenny turned to Ramon. 'And you must be Ramon. Hawk's told me all about you.' She held out her hand and gave him a direct look.

Ramon took her hand and received a firm handshake. 'I hope he didn't tell you all my secrets.'

Her lips tipped upward. 'He told me enough. He mentioned you're not keen on weddings or marriage. I get that. But...' her eyes narrowed, 'as his best man, you have two jobs. I'm counting on you to keep him out of trouble at this bachelor party and get him to the church on time. I'm only doing this once. I want it done right the first time. There will not be a second chance.'

'We'll get it done,' Rachel said.

Then she looked up at me and held out her hand. 'I'm Rachel, sister and wedding planner.'

'Pleasure to meet you, Rachel, sister and wedding planner,' I replied.

Ramon turned to Jenny and asked, 'What's going on?'

'We're crashing your party isn't it obvious, what are you doing?'

'Ahhh, just shooting pool, drinking you know the usual' Ramon said.

'Oh so no entertainment planned, no strippers, lap dances?' Jenny asked slyly.

'Umm, no?' Ramon said thinking how to rework the rest of the party.

'Just kidding.' Jenny said, have fun shoot pool whatever, I'll take care of Hawk later. Maybe he can get a lap dance after all.' she snickered.

'Okay, well we're heading out'. Jenny said.

'Where are you going' I asked.

'We are going clubbing, see you boys later,' Rachel, Jenny and the rest of the bridesmaids were leaving.

'The bachelor party begins now' Ramon said.

Hawk, Ramon and the rest of the guys headed to the pool tables.

'I'm following the girls' I said, 'Who's with me'

They all changed direction, and we all headed out clubbing.

'Anyone know which direction they went?' Rooster asked.

'The clubs are that way.' Hawk pointed south.

'I think I heard Club m2 mania.' I said.

Rachel POV

It's been a long week, after my last class finished all I wanted to do was go home and chill out, but nooo I can't do that. It's my sister's bachelette party tonight.
Since I planned it, I've got to be there.

We're meeting up at The Deuce, the oldest bar in Miami Beach. The plan? Simple—just some clubbing for one last night of freedom for her.
Now I'm in a taxi, on my way to meet everyone. My phone buzzes with a message from Jenny: 'Where you at?'
'5 minutes away,' I text back.
'Good. Plenty of nice ass here tonight for you!'
I chuckle as the taxi pulls up.
Once I step inside, I'm hit with the smell of booze and sweaty people. The loud music and everyone shouting make my ears ache already. I find Jenny at the bar, dishing out drinks to our friends.
'Finally!' she yells as I walk over.
'Sorry, got held up at school,' I say, and she pulls me in for a hug.
"Never mind! Here, drink this. You're way behind," she insists, handing me a shot of what I assume is tequila. I take it, smell it—yep, tequila. I wince as it burns my throat and slam the glass on the table. My friends cheer, and just like that, my lateness is forgotten as another shot is handed to me. A few shots and a vodka and coke later, I'm definitely more relaxed and ready to hit the dance floor.
Then I spot this super hot guy at the end of the bar. He looks a bit bored, standing with a guy named Hawk and some others. He's rocking tight dark jeans and a light blue polo shirt that really shows off his muscles. Man, he's a fine specimen! He catches me staring.
I nudge Jenny. 'Look, there's Hawk,' I say. 'Let's crash their party.'

nearly tripping over my feet as she rushes over to Hawk.
Jenny started running toward him, we all followed. I nearly tripped on my own two feet trying to keep up. When she reached Hawk, she leaned up on her toes and kissed him.

'What's that all about?' Hawk asked, pulling her into his arms and deepening the kiss.

'You might want to save some of that for after the wedding,' Carlos snorted.
'Hey, do you guys think they might follow us?' Rachel said.

'I hope so.' Jenny said.

'Let's slow down so they can see us.' I said.

'Club m2 mania here we come.'

.*Next up Ranger and Rachel.