Dragon Mate

Drinks with a Familiar Stranger

"I'll take another burbon please. And another one of whatever the girl is drinking." The voice that came from just next to her was pleasantly deep and soothing. Ailia looked up surprised as the drink appeared suddenly before her. The man standing next to her was breathtakingly sexy. He was tall with a muscular frame. His distinctive chissled jaw line was lined with dark stubble as if he had missed shaving that morning, but it suited him well. His lips were plump and kissable and his bright green-blue eyes popped in contrast to the dark hair that framed his face in gentle waves. Ailia felt soothed by the man's pressure and mistrusted the feeling instantly.

Having left the house of her cheating husband just hours previous, the last thing Ailia wanted was to be hit on by strangers in a bar, regardless of how sexy they may be. "I don't need your drink, thank you. I'm not in the mood to humor men trying to get in my pants right at this very moment."

"Tell me who is trying to get in your pants and I'll tell them to f*ck right on off then." The man smiled as he replied, unphased by Ailia's snap. "In all honesty, it just looked like you could use another drink. No strings attached. If you get tired of drinking alone though, I'll be in that booth over there. Feel free to come chat. You look like you could use a listening ear." And with that the man turned and walked away, confident in his every movement.

Ailia watched him as he left, absentmindedly appreciating the sight of his butt barely contained by the denim jeans. When she realized what she was doing she gave herself a firm shake and looked away. She was not lying when she'd said she was in no mood to humor men hitting on her at the moment. Ailia sipped her drink, continuing to put her plan together. She had her own bank account with the money she'd made stashed in it safe from Tom. She could get a hotel for the night and then get a plane ticket to.. where? Ailia's family had fallen out of touch with her years ago thanks to Tom. He had taken every opportunity he could to alienate her from her loved ones. How would they feel if she called them now and asked them for help after all she'd done to them in the past?

No, going to her family was not an option at the moment. So then what? She could get a hotel for the night and look for a house or apartment to rent the next day. That could work, only it would take time and while she was doing that there was a divorce cost, down payment on the house, and more to consider like the potential need for roommates, furniture, and all the costs that came with starting over. Maybe that wasn't the best option.

While Ailia thought about her choices, the strange man kept popping into her mind. She would chase thoughts of him away and refocus on her current struggle, only for him to reappear in her head seconds later. Some small voice in the back of her mind whispered "talk to him". With a frustrated sigh, Ailia finally caved into the thoughts. She walked to the booth. The strange man sat watching her coming, a guarded smile on his face.

"Couldn't stay away?"

"You said you had listening ears for me. No strings attached?"

"Of course. Have a seat and tell me your woes. Maybe I can help."

Ailia took the seat across from the man and started her tale. She told the man about her husband, about her alienation from her family, and the options she was thinking over. As she talked, he listened patiently, nodding where appropriate and taking it all in.

"Sounds like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place."

"You are telling me." Ailia felt better, having voiced what was happening. Though she still didn't have a solution, she at least wasn't alone.

"You are not going to believe me, but I may have a solution for you that could save you a lot of grief and heart ache."

"Oh? What is that?"

"Why not start over again?"

"What do you mean?"

"Go back to the start and live this life differently than you did. Knowing everything you do now, I'm sure you'd make different choices. Maybe it would work out for the better." The man looked absolutely serious as he said this and Ailia couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculous notion. Start over again? As if.

"If only I could. But unfortunately, life doesn't work that way." Ailia shook her head as she said it. But the man fixed her with a stare as if he could see into her very soul.

"For you, it could."

"What do you mean? That is ridiculous."

"Normally you'd be right. Normally, it would be ridiculous. But for you..." Ailia fixed the man with a bewildered gaze as he let the sentence hang there. Was she really going to humor this ridiculous notion? But what if she really could go back and live again... would she? She didn't see how it was possible. This man was obviously insane. But the voice was back telling her to trust him and Ailia almost wanted to know how she could achieve this miraculous feat.