VOH,
Me again...lol.
So Kelli was a frequenter turning into a regular.
Nick was at the bar all the time.
But yet you say you were shocked to see him at the bar with a female.
Well they have been at the bar on the same occasion before I am assuming, i mean really. So I have this sneaking suspicion that Kelli was not there with him as her DD. That is why the bar tab had his name on it. That is why he was her go to guy when she was ready to go home. And that would be why there would be no other friends there. Kelly was with him, but....in her eyes it was a developing friendship, not a date. But this was evidently a very rare thing for Nick, hence to him it was probably a date. She left without paying her tab, so that gives me the idea she felt it was covered. Nick does not sound wealthy to me, for him to pay for her night, I am taking this as a big deal to him. It is obvious for one reason or another Nick noticed her, he took interest, heck he asked her if she was married. I think her tiny stature might sadly have been the attraction to her. Plus she sounds from all accounts, playful, silly, and I bet although a mature soldier, when she cut loose she was probably a blast.
Makes complete sense. BTW - your name reminds me of my dad because he loved portabella mushrooms. Just an FYI.