"Tonight is therapy."
As they reached the bar, Steph slapped her palms down the counter.
"Two shots of tequila and the good kind, please." Isabel groaned
"I can't start with shots,Steph."
"You will." Steph shoved one into her hand. Isabel sighed and lifted a glass.
"One."
"Two." Steph tapped hers against Isabel's.
"Three!" The drinks burnt her throat instantly. Steph ordered two more before Isabel could protest.
"Steph—" "Shhh," Steph said, handing her another shot. "Drink and let tonight breathe."
Isabel sighed; she took the second shot, then the third and by the time they made it to the dance floor, Isabel felt the alcohol running through her bloodstream and loosening everything—her shoulders, her worries and the constant weight of trying to save her family's dying firm. They moved together with laughter blending with the music. Isabel let the rhythm take her. She swayed her body following the flow of the music. People watched her but she didn't care because for once she wasn't Isabel Reeves the architect, she was just Isabel.She was just being herself. Steph turned her close and said
"I'm getting another drink! want anything!"
"No!" Isabel laughed, "I think… I think I'm good," and then Steph disappeared and crossed out into the crowd. Isabel took a breath, steadying herself more slightly. The tequila worked really fast. She turned and tried to make her way to a quieter corner but the moment she moved, her heel slipped. She stumbled forward and slammed into a solid wall of something. A man's chest.
"Whoa," a deep voice said with his steady hands catching her before she could fall. Isabel blinked up with her eyes blurred.
"I–I'm sorry," she mumbled, trying so hard to stand on her feet.
"Someone–Someone pushed me."
"No one pushed you." He sounded amused.
"You're drunk." She tried to straighten herself.
"I'm– I'm perfectly fine."
"Really?" His hand slid away slowly to her lower waist. She leaned forward and would have fallen again if he hadn't something crossed out her waist.
"See?" he murmured. Isabel glared at the outline of the man. He is tall and has broad shoulders, wears an expensive suit and is handsome,definitely handsome but annoying at the same time.
"Let go of me."she said, pushing his chest lightly but he didn't budge at all.
"careful," he said with his smooth and deep voice "you are going to fall."
"Then let's me fall."Isabel muttered "I don't need… need some.. some stranger catching me."
He huffed a quiet laugh "you really are a drunk."
"I'm not." she said and then hiccuped loudly.
"oh right."he said while smirking. Isabel squinted up at him again and she knew something about him felt familiar,the way he carried himself shows confidence bordering with arrogance. She pointed at his chest.
"You…you are very…very tall."
" I would take that as a compliment,"he said, raising his brows.
"Don't take it as one, you're annoying."She said flatly.
Isabel swayed again and his hand returned to her waist steadying her like she weighed nothing.
"Seriously. you should sit down." he said while leaning slightly so she could hear him over the music.
" I don't want to sit. Steph…. I need to find Steph."Isabel murmured while turning her head as if searching Steph.
" I think Steph needs to find you."He said.
Isabel made a frustrated sound and tried to step away but her heels caught again making her stumble and he caught her again this time with his arm around her waist pulling her fully against him to keep her upright.
"You are determined to make this difficult."he said quietly.
"And you are determined to…. to stand in my way." Isabel shots back.
" I was standing still and you bumped into me,"he said.
"You are big and it's basically the same thing." Isabel said again.
His mouth twitched with half amusement and half belief.
"What's your name?."He finally asked.
"No,"Isabel shook her head."stranger danger."
He exhaled slowly and said "You're unbelievable." Isabel opened her mouth to talk again but Steph appeared.
"There you are." Steph grabbed Isabel's arm as her eyes widened at seeing the man holding her.
"Oh my God,did she fall on you?"
"Almost,"he said. Isabel shot him a glare.
"I didn't fall."
"You actually fell three times,"he corrected.
Steph smacked her forehead."Girl, you had just two shots.
"Three."the man corrected again. Steph gasped .
"Isabel!" Isabel pointed dramatically at the stranger.
"He keeps…keeps catching me." The man huffed a soft laugh stepping back but not taking his eyes off her.
"We should go."Steph said softly while pulling Isabel close.
"You need water and probably sleep."
"I'm sorry about her." she said while turning to the man barely seeing his face because it's quite dim at the club.
"No wo
rries."he said as he watched them turn and leave the clubhouse with Isabel looking back once being confused and dizzy, unaware of who he had just collided with.