Cassie Salazar is a waitress/bartender who performs with her band, The Loyal, at a bar in
Oceanside, California. Diagnosed with
type 1 diabetes six months earlier, she struggles to afford
insulin, working multiple jobs to survive. One night, Cassie serves a group of
Marines about to be deployed to
Iraq. One of them, Luke Morrow, flirts with her, but she rejects his advances. He has his own problems: he became an addict after his mom's death, and although two years clean, he still owes $15,000 to his dealer, Johnno. Estranged from his retired Marine dad, Luke asks his brother for help, but is declined. Cassie asks Frankie, a childhood friend and Luke's bunkmate, to marry her for the health insurance benefits granted to military spouses, but he already has plans to marry his sweetheart Riley. Luke overhears, and although he initially advises against a fraudulent marriage, he realizes they could both benefit financially; Luke would earn more money and Cassie would have healthcare. They agree to marry immediately, and after a year file for divorce. Frankie, the wedding witness, gives Cassie the ring he will marry Riley with, asking her to keep it safe. After, the newlyweds join their fellow Marines at a bar. Cassie argues with one over "hunting down
Arabs", causing an argument with Luke, but they pretend to make amends. That night, he admits he is scared of both the marriage and Iraq. Cassie comforts him and they sleep together. The next morning, the Marines are deployed. Before getting on the bus to leave, Luke gives Cassie his brother's contact information as he is his next of kin. The two start sending emails and video calls to one another to keep up the ruse and grow close. Cassie performs an original song, "Come Back Home," for the Marines, uplifting their spirits after a rough day. The song goes viral, and Cassie admits Luke might be her muse. Later, she learns that he has been severely injured by an
IED explosion and is returning to recover. Cassie accidentally contacts Luke's father instead of his brother, angering Luke, as the retired
MP would report them if he knew. Frankie was killed in action so, at his funeral, Cassie gives Riley the ring. Luke moves into Cassie's apartment after his hospital discharge. He makes a wedding ring out of his dog tag chain for Cassie and they re-decorate her apartment to showcase their marriage for his father, who takes him to
physical therapy. Cassie adopts golden retriever Peaches, to aid in Luke's recovery. His rehab and their cohabitation inspire Cassie's "I Hate the Way," which she performs at the
Whisky a Go Go. It captures the attention of record companies. Still seeking his money, Johnno breaks into Cassie's mother's house to antagonise Luke. That night, Cassie goes into
hypoglycemic shock as her sugar level drops. Luke helps her recover and they kiss. The next day, Luke beats Johnno up, pays him off and demanding he stay away. Instead, Johnno informs Cassie's mother about Luke's past. When Cassie confronts Luke, he confesses he had stolen his father's car to sell but crashed it, so he borrowed money from Johnno to pay his dad back. She demands a divorce and that he leave her apartment by the next day. When Luke returns home from a run, the
MPs detain him, as Johnno reported their fraudulent marriage. Luke's father calls Cassie about the charges and the impending
court-martial. Luke pleads guilty, taking full responsibility and insisting Cassie was unaware she violated
U.S. military law to shield her from criminal charges. He is sentenced to six months in the
brig after which he will receive a
Bad Conduct Discharge. Cassie's band is signed to a label and are opening for
Florence and the Machine at the
Hollywood Bowl. She sings her newest Luke-inspired song, "I Didn't Know," which she wrote while awaiting Luke's trial. Then she rushes to confess her love for Luke before he is imprisoned. He gives her his wedding ring and tells her "It's real now." As the credits roll, six months later Luke is released from prison, Luke and Cassie are a happily married couple at the beach where they are enjoying a picnic with Peaches. == Cast ==