The bar was packed, and the smell of alcohol mixed with the music only made me feel worse.
I stared at my glass for the third or maybe the fourth time, and heard my friend half-shouting with her tongue slurring the words.
"He's an asshole, Elara," Mara said, voice dragging, finger raised. "A corporate… suit-and-tie… asshole."
"I know," I answered, downing the rest of my drink. "But he was my asshole."
She laughed loudly, though in all that noise, no one even turned to look.
"Your asshole dumped you for a pharmacy Barbie, remember? Blonde, acrylic nails, designer purse, and probably the IQ of a slice of bread."
I laughed through a hiccup.
"He said he was at work." I gripped the glass, anger starting to rise again. "Work, Mara. On my birthday."
"And you believed him?" She slammed her glass on the table. "Five years and you still think that idiot's husband material?"
"I saw him…" my voice trembled "...with her. At the Solarium Hotel. If I hadn't walked by there by chance…"
Mara stared at me for a moment before sighing.
"Oh, honey…"
"You know what's worse? What's worse," I went on, "is that he saw me too. And he just looked away, like… like I didn't even matter."
Mara tried to hug me but ended up knocking her purse to the floor and almost went with it.
"You deserve someone better," she gestured with her hands but couldn't quite form the words, "someone who looks at you like the world would end if they blinked."
I laughed at her effort.
"Great. Then I just need to find someone nearsighted."
She blinked, confused, then burst out laughing again before finishing her drink.
"I'm writing that down."
"Come on, let's dance."
Mara stood up, wobbling, and held onto my shoulders probably more to keep herself from falling than to help me up.
The bass thumped so deep I could feel it vibrate in my skull.
"I don't..."
"Oh yes, you do!" She yanked me by the wrist. "Five wasted years, Elara. You deserve at least one night of revenge."
"Revenge?" I repeated, half-laughing. "I don't even know how to flirt, Mara."
"So what? Tonight you burn the receipts." She raised her glass high. "To hell with Riven! Screw all the assholes!"
People around us glanced over, and we actually got a few cheers.
Mara looked like she'd just won an award, waving and blowing kisses at strangers.
I just thought maybe the alcohol had finally melted away whatever pride I had left.
Resigned, I stood too.
The dance floor felt like a parallel universe. Purple lights spun overhead, and the crowd moved like waves.
Before I knew it, Mara was vanishing among the lights and bodies, yelling something about "death to the jerks."
I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
I forced myself not to think about that idiot and closed my eyes, letting the music take over.
Then I felt a hand slide around my waist.
I opened my eyes, still dizzy from the drinks, and turned.
A tall guy with his shirt slightly open, showing off a well-defined chest, winked at me.
"You here alone?" he asked, leaning in too close.
"I'm dancing," I said flatly.
He chuckled, as if I'd said something cute.
"Then dance with me."
"No, thanks." I gave him a half-smile, trying to stay polite.
But he didn't take the hint.
"Come on… just one song." He grabbed my arm, gently but insistently. "Promise I don't bite."
I looked at him calmly, trying not to lose my temper.
"And I promise I do, if you don't let go."
He laughed again and leaned even closer, the smell of alcohol and something else making my stomach turn.
"Relax, gorgeous. It's just for fun. Or are you waiting for someone?"
I tried to step back, but the crowd made it hard.
"Waiting for your common sense to come back. Let go."
"Tough," he said with a smile that mixed arrogance and charm. "You've got my attention now."
I rolled my eyes.
"And I'm giving it back." I pulled free sharply and stepped away.
He lifted his hands like he was apologizing, but there wasn't a hint of remorse.
"Hey, relax. I was just trying to be nice."
"Try that with someone else," I said, turning my back on him.
I left him standing there and fought my way through the dancing crowd until I reached the bar.
The bartender looked at me before asking,
"What'll it be, miss?"
I leaned my elbows on the counter, feeling the cool wood against my skin.
"I want a mix," I slurred a little.
"What kind of mix?" he asked, hesitant. "We've got..."
"No." I shook my head with a faint smile before he could finish. "I'll make my own."
He studied me for a second, deciding if it was worth arguing.
"Alright… what do you want in it?"
I glanced at the bottles behind him, rows of colored glass like a tiny liquid universe reds, blues, and golds.
Pointing one by one, I decided:
"A little vodka… a touch of coffee liqueur… rum, just enough to taste it… and… and a lemon, so I can pretend there's still something fresh left in me."
The bartender blinked, surprised, then chuckled awkwardly as he watched me swaying against the counter.
"That's gonna be strong. Sure you can handle it all by yourself?"
"What are you talking about… look at me… of course I can."
Then a voice warm, smooth, thick as honey came from beside me.
"I don't think you should drink that."
I turned toward the sound.
He was leaning against the counter, his black suit jacket draped over the chair, sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
Dark, slightly messy hair gave him a dangerous sort of charm, and his amber eyes both warm and cold cut straight through me.
My heart skipped.
"Who asked you?" I said, tongue slightly heavy. "It's none of your business."
Damn. Too handsome. Too calm.
And for some reason, he reminded me of Riven, even though they had nothing in common.
I tried to ignore him, but I could feel his eyes on me like heat.
The bartender came back with the glass. The mix shimmered gold and violet.
That gold reminded me of Riven's hair, and anger flared again. Screw it.
Before I could take a sip, a hand moved faster.
He took the glass from me smooth, deliberate. It felt like a challenge.
He was standing even closer now, a faint smile on his lips.
"I think you've had enough."
"What's that got to do with you?" I snapped. "You gonna lecture me now? Play the hero of the night?"
He just smiled, signaling the bartender to take the drink away.
"You're drunk," he said evenly. "There are better ways to forget the past."
His words cut right through me.
"You don't know anything." I hissed and grabbed his collar. "Nothing!"
He didn't react—just looked at me, calm, amber eyes locked on mine.
He gently loosened my grip, then let his fingers trace down to my waist, slow and controlled, as if the whole world had shrunk to that single moment.
"You came here to forget," he murmured, voice low, almost a promise. "Guess what? So did I."
I should've pushed him away.
Should've said something.
Maybe it was the alcohol, but I didn't.
The warmth of his hand on my waist burned through the fabric of my dress.
"Let go," I whispered, but my voice was weak, unconvincing.
He didn't answer.
He just tilted his head, that half-smile fading slowly, those amber eyes too dangerous… yet somehow intoxicating.
"You looked like easy prey when you were dancing," he said softly. "Look, that guy's still watching you."
I turned despite myself. The same man from before was still staring from the dance floor.
Kael's breath brushed my ear.
"I don't blame him. I was trying not to fall under your spell too… but somehow, I couldn't ignore it."
I looked away, feeling my face heat, but I didn't step back. My body was betraying every intention I had.
"I don't know what you're talking about…"
He laughed quietly, a sound rough and velvety.
"You came here to forget. So forget. Let's live tonight and forget tomorrow."
Before I could think of a response, he closed the distance between us and the world went silent.