And, she added, having Timberlake on hand meant they both could hit the dance floor … Marine style. “The whole night was extremely … bringing sexy back, I guess you could say,” she said, quoting the name of a Timberlake hit and offering up a grin. “We were on the dance floor and had a good time at the table joking and laughing, so it was altogether really great.”

As for advice for fellow Marine, Sgt. Scott Moore, who has asked Mila Kunis to his own Marine Corps Ball this Friday, De Santis said he didn’t need it. “He seems very confident. And I’m confident that he’ll have a great time, just like I did!”