His words brought a much-needed smile to Maria's lips. "Can't a girl have a minute alone on the beach?"

Mitch stepped closer, his blonde hair and strong jaw standing out in the moonlight.

"Don't take Tom's speech to heart. His first time in Samet, he wanted to replace his ex. A few drinks later, he found someone, but the next night he caught her making out with another guy, and it crushed him."

Maria's eyes widened. Poor Tom. A second betrayal would devastate her. "What happened after?"

"Shawn, Daniel, and I calmed him down as he described what a bitch she was for hours. The poor woman didn't deserve to be the subject of his rants—not like a bar hook-up means anything—but it was pretty obvious he was talking more about his ex than her."

"That's sweet of you to stick with him."

Mitch laughed. "We thought we could turn it around but had no luck. I don't think Tom's been back to the island since that ordeal, so don't take his words personally." While running a hand through his hair, he kept his gaze on Maria.

She swallowed. "Thanks. So, did you follow me to make yourself look heroic or...?"

"We're heading to the first bar."

"They have this wild technology called a text message—"

He crossed his arms over his black t-shirt. "Okay, smartass, show me your phone."

When she ran her hands over her pockets, she came back empty-handed. Even her purse was at the restaurant. He extended her phone and bag.

"Thanks."

"We should go back. I told Tom you went the opposite way, and he'll be pissed when he figures out I lied."

Maria swatted Mitch playfully on the shoulder as they strolled to the road. "You're awful. No wonder he has a low opinion of you."

"This is his fault, and he needs time to reflect on it." Mitch's broad chest rose and fell with each breath.

She suppressed her laugh. "Teacher Mitch stepping in after hours."

"How else is Tom going to learn?"

"It wasn't just him who upset me." She gazed out at the dark sea and sky, with only fishing boats' hazy lights dotting the horizon. "But tonight is supposed to be fun. Where's Party Mitch?"

"He'll show up at the bar."

Maria's lips curled into a smile, which she turned away to shield. As they arrived at the dirt road, she slipped her flip-flops on and peered at the ocean once more. The familiar restaurant reappeared in minutes along with everyone but Tom. She and Mitch sat alongside their friends at a table with nearly empty glasses and plates.

"Look at you two." Emma tilted her head to him. "Disappearing together, and the night hasn't even started."

"It's not like that," Maria muttered.

After paying their bills, the group wandered to a bar in the opposite direction of her beach stroll. Tom joined them partway there, finding her straight away.

"I'm sorry I upset you." Tom attempted to make eye contact at the expense of stumbling over ruts in the dirt road. "I didn't mean you when I was talking, and I forgot about your ex being judgmental. I need to think before I speak."

Maria smiled weakly. "It's okay, Tom."

"No, it's not." The creases in his forehead deepened. "You wanted to enjoy Samet, and I'm ruining it by bringing up painful memories. It's like my first trip here."

"I'd rather not dwell on it."

Tom kept quiet until they reached a bar with a boxing ring. The others said it was for Muay Thai fighting, although the staff didn't discourage drunken brawls. Glow-paint graffiti lit up the back wall and pillars of the open-style venue.

"Can I buy you a drink?" Tom asked.

Maria sighed. Leading him on would make everything awkward.

"As an apology," he added.

After she nodded, Tom took her and Emma's drink orders. His shoulders slumped as he trudged to the bar. Mitch stood with Shawn as they chatted at a table and glanced at groups of women. When Mitch met Maria's gaze, he grinned and winked before she could look away. Her curious eyes darted back, and he smiled.

"If you weren't so adamant about not being ready for a new man, I'd say you're into him," Emma said.

"We talked about this." Maria tapped her fingers on the wooden table.

"It was cute how he searched for you."

Maria fought the urge to glance at Mitch. "So did Tom."

"Yeah, but Tom was the jerk who drove you away. Mitch just wanted to find you."

After Tom returned with drinks, Maria sipped on her vodka-seven while people migrated to dance in the middle of the venue. The DJ's song choices weren't overly inspired, but a few patrons bobbed around. After twenty minutes and two drinks, she grew restless, but the music comprised snippets of songs with little beat. She visited the Thai DJ, who spent as much time on his phone as he did mixing tracks. He had a decent collection of Reggaeton music, so she requested some.

On her way back, Mitch called her over to his table where they had shots waiting. He handed one to her and Shawn.

"To new adventures," Mitch said.

After they clinked glasses, she downed her shot. Her head felt woozy for a moment, so she declined the second one.

"This is for the pretty Philippines girl." The DJ pointed a finger gun in her direction.

"You're making friends already," Mitch teased and nudged her shoulder with his before he took another shot.

"I need a good beat to dance."

Shawn laughed. "This place has better drinks than music at this hour, but we could dance to this." He held out his hand, and his gaze drifted past Maria to her earlier table. She turned and waved Emma and Tom over before she, Shawn, and Mitch approached the dance floor.

Shawn moved with more fluidity and spontaneity than Mitch. Matching Shawn's energy, Maria came up with steps to compliment or outshine his. It'd been a while since she'd danced like this with a partner, and she missed it. By the end of the song, Maria's top clung to her back with sweat.

"In some ways, you're nothing like Sunshine, and in others, it's as if she never left," Mitch whispered before he strode to the bar.

Maria's stomach turned. Was that why he found her intriguing? Was she a substitute to live out a dream he had about her cousin?

Tom stayed to the side with a vacant stare and stiff shoulders but smiled when their eyes met. He moved off-beat to the music. As Shawn danced with Emma, Maria slipped away and stood next to Tom. Mitch's story about him finding his rebound girl with another man was on her mind. Perhaps she could cheer him up and get her dance fix at the same time.

"Want to dance?" she asked.

"I'm not much of a dancer."

Maria shrugged and surveyed the crowd of tourists swaying. "Most of these people aren't either. Can't improve if you don't try."

Tom removed his hands from his pockets. "Good point."

He continued to move like his muscles were in pain while Maria rolled her hips and body to the beat. As the alcohol crept through her system, her hands smoothed over Tom's biceps and shoulders. He tensed further.

"You seem so nervous," she said.

"It's intimidating dancing with you, imagining how awkward I—"

She ran a hand over his chest. "Relax and move with me."

As she looped her arms around his neck, his hands found her hips and he swayed with her.

"There, you've got it now," she said.

When she smiled, he grinned back. "This isn't so awful with you."

Tom lasted a few more songs before he offered to buy her another drink. She followed, not for the liquor but for a water bottle. He led them to the raised wooden platforms on the sand, which had bamboo mats and cushions. A breeze rolled in off the ocean, a short walk and drop away.

"Where did you learn to dance?" he asked.

"Fooling around with my cousins and their friends. My lola, or grandmother, would teach me too." Sand from her bare feet stuck to her thighs as she sat on her legs.

He took a sip of his water. "Hard to imagine an old woman doing what we did."

"My lola has moves. She probably could."

Tom laughed with her. "No wonder you wanted to come here tonight. You're impressive out there. I didn't expect to enjoy much about this place, but you and dance... it's really something."

Maria drank more water. Her cheeks were sore from smiling. "Thanks."

Emma and Shawn ran over with a container of orange glow paint and wide grins. Both had designs on their arms and chests.

After nudging Tom on the shoulder, she passed him the bucket of glow paint. "C'mon, it's no fun if Maria paints herself."

Tom looked from the brush to Maria, and she nodded. The cool bristles created a palm tree and sun on her arm. In return, she drew animals and shapes on his bicep as his gaze followed her hand. None turned out overly clear, but Tom still complimented them.

She handed the paint to Emma. "What happened to Mitch?"

"He's occupied," Shawn said.

Emma's eyes flickered to the dance floor where Mitch's hands and mouth explored a tall, slim brunette they didn't know. Maria's stomach clenched even though she shouldn't be surprised. This was his normal behaviour. She'd misread his kindness, falling into the trap he'd warned her about.

"That's Mitch for you." Tom rubbed circles on her back with a warm hand. Her body felt numb.

Emma's gaze followed a Thai man in a yellow trucker hat as he passed by and strutted toward the bar. As she scurried in the same direction to 'return the paint', Shawn shook his head and sighed.

"I wouldn't keep getting your hopes up," Tom said to Shawn. "Emma has more in common with your buddy than hair colour."

When she greeted the Thai man with an enthusiastic hug, he lifted her up and spun her around, closing the greeting with a kiss on the lips.

Maria chewed her lip. Her flirty neighbour didn't shun her feelings and needs as Adrian did, but he embodied the unfaithful attribute. If she'd learned anything from her relationship's wreckage, it was guys like Tom were far more reliable than the Adrian's and Mitch's of the world. A stable man could give her the future she wanted, although a new romance would only upset her fragile mind.

After more drinking and dancing, Tom and Maria were ready to call it quits. Emma whispered she wasn't returning to the room tonight and gave Maria the key. Some time ago, Mitch had left with his brunette while Shawn and the others headed to the gay bar for cheeseburgers and for more partying.

As Maria ran her fingers over the wooden keychain, Tom offered to walk her to the hotel. With the help of a few motorcyclists, they found the right path and strolled further inland until the cabins looked rustic. Thai arguments drifted through the thin walls until they located cabin seven.

"So here is our 'charming' place." She hurried into the room to tidy up the clothes and Emma's empty bottles. When Maria entered the bathroom, something furry brushed past her leg and toward the toilet, causing her to scream before she could turn on the lights.

Tom flipped on the light. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, but there's an animal in here."

He raised an eyebrow. "A gecko?"

"No fuzzier and bigger."

He frowned. After backing out, Maria searched the table where Emma had left snacks. Bite marks and holes lined the edges of all but one bag.

"Do you want to stay here without Emma?" Tom asked. "I don't think anyone else from our group is out this far."

Maria ran her palms over her cold arms. "I should be fine."

"My room has two large separate beds, and I don't mind. I wouldn't want to stay here alone, but you might."

Emma's return time was a mystery as was their morning meet-up spot. Instead of bugging Tom later or getting lost, she could go with him now. He wasn't the sort of guy who'd take advantage of her. He was trying to be nice. The brick scraped across the bathroom floor. What the hell was in there?

"Yeah, I think I might take you up on that, thanks."

Maria gathered up her belongings and put Emma's up higher, so the rodents sharing their room wouldn't get into them, then she left with Tom. Hopefully, his actions would be as innocent as she thought.