𝗔𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀

Four.

Eve, a radiant woman in her late thirties, possessed a captivating warmth that could instantly brighten any room. Grinning mischievously, she generously declared, "On the house," as if she had uncovered everyone's little secret.

Marco couldn't resist making a wisecrack in response to her offer. "Aren't they always?"

She was slightly taken aback by Marco's drunken humor, noting that it wasn't every day she saw him this happy. "Only on my good days," she replied with a nod and a warm smile, swiftly moving on to attend to another customer vying for her attention.

Observing Eve's immense popularity, Rebecca took a sip of her drink and commented, "She's quite busy, isn't she?"

Marco wholeheartedly agreed, leaning closer to Rebecca. "She's one of our best. Everyone adores her," he praised, genuine admiration evident in his voice.

Curious, Rebecca shifted her gaze towards the end of the bar, fixating on the vacant spot where the bartender, Frank, whom Marco had yelled at earlier, used to stand. Breaking the silence, she inquired, "What about the other guy, Frank, right?"

"He's just one of my dad's employees, you know? I never really warmed up to the guy," he replied, his expression clouding with disapproval momentarily before he swiftly changed the subject. "Speaking of complicated relationships, have you always been skeptical about marriage proposals?"

Rebecca rolled her eyes and took another sip of her drink. "Well, it's not like I'm totally against the idea of marriage. It's just that I don't believe it's essential to prove a relationship. Plus, the pressure to tie the knot can sometimes mess up a perfectly good thing."

"Let me guess," curious, Marco prodded, "he cheated on you?"

Rebecca paused, her mind grappling with the decision to reveal her personal life, but eventually, she found solace in opening up to Marco.

"No, I mean not exactly. He's a great guy, I do love him," she hesitated, twirling the ice in her drink, "but something's missing. It's just hard to put into words..." Finally, she let out a sigh, relieved that she had unburdened herself to someone.

"Let me guess," Marco nodded in agreement, a smile playing on his lips, "It's kinda like you're surfing with the waves, but sometimes you just wanna float. "

"Yeah," she mused, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Marco chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of self-reflection.  "I've had my fair share of crappy relationships. It's about knowing your worth and not settling for less. You deserve to be with someone who makes you happy and fulfills you in every way. Not just for convenience."

"You must be a fucking genius when sober," Rebecca couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Not to sound too cocky, but, yeah I am," Marco said, nodding confidently.  "Besides, I think this makes us even suppose," lifting his glass for a toast.

"Even for what?"Rebecca queried, a curious expression on her face.

"For curing my gold-digger's syndrome."  As the light hit the swirling amber liquid, it cast a warm and inviting glow on Marco's face. The buzz of conversation around them faded into the background, leaving only the clinking of glasses and the gentle hum of music. Rebecca couldn't help but be captivated by the way the light played on Marco's features, accentuating his jawline and the warmth in his eyes.

With a soft smile, she raised her own glass to meet his. The cool touch of the glass against her fingertips brought a refreshing sensation, and she felt an immediate bond with Marco. Despite their previous challenges, they had discovered a moment of understanding and connection.

"To crappy relationships?" Rebecca murmured, her voice low and sincere.

Marco lifted his glass, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Here's to the never-ending train wreck we call love," he proclaimed, clinking his glass against hers. The sound reverberated through the air, a melodic toast to the boundless potential that lies ahead.

As the night unfolded, they delved deeper into the labyrinth of their past love affairs, swapping tales of triumph and tribulation.

"I once dated this guy who was so clingy," Rebecca said, rolling her eyes. "He would call me every five minutes and get mad if I didn't answer. I felt like I was dating a stalker."

Intrigued, Marco leaned in, eager for the juicy details. "And then what happened?" he inquired, a playful grin on his face.

Rebecca's lips curved into a wry smile. "Well, my dad took matters into his own hands," she confessed. "He had the guy arrested for some bullshit charges I didn't even know existed. "

Marco couldn't contain his laughter. "I once dated a girl who had a fascination with my hair," he revealed, his voice laced with amusement. "She'd constantly fuss over it, treating me like her personal troll doll or something."

Their shared laughter filled the air, forging a bond between them as they continued to navigate the unpredictable maze of love and its curious idiosyncrasies.

"What happened to her?"

"Same. My father handled it."

Rebecca burst into laughter, finding his comment strangely hilarious. "You know what's not funny though? Dealing with someone who has zero understanding of personal space. It's like, why do some people think it's cool to invade your bubble?"

Marco leaned in a mischievous sparkle in his eye. "Maybe they just want a whiff of your hair," he teased.

Rebecca chuckled, playfully swatting at Marco's arm. "No thanks, I'll stick to folks who respect my boundaries."

"Good call," Marco agreed, taking a sip of his drink. "But sometimes it's tricky to spot the clingy types. My ex, ex, ex...three exs-ago, yeah. She seemed perfectly normal at first, you know. It wasn't until we started exclusively dating that she turned into a full-blown diva. Like where did this monster emerge from?"

Rebecca let out a long sigh. "It's like they're completely different people. It's such a letdown when that happens."

Marco nodded in understanding. "It's like they're wearing a disguise, and once you get close enough, they take it off and reveal their true colors."

Rebecca grimaced in agreement. "I know, right? I can't stand that feeling."

"But you know what? We learned from those experiences," Marco said, raising his glass for a toast. "We now know exactly what we want and what we don't want in a relationship."

Rebecca burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. "Another toast? Really?"

Marco's grin grew wider. "Fuck it, why not?"

As the night progressed, their playful banter carried on, accompanied by the influx of more people into the bar. The ambiance crackled with excitement, filled with the clinks of glasses and animated conversations. Neon lights adorned the ceiling, enveloping the room in a cozy, inviting glow that painted a vibrant aura over the crowd.

However, Rebecca's attention was abruptly snatched back by Marco's piercing gaze, bringing her right back into the present moment.

*****
*****