3: I Kissed A Stranger And He Liked It
1143 Words
Ava Gobson’s POV
By the time I arrived at the hotel, I was soaked in sweat, despite the icy cold weather, but thankfully, I had lost the stranger.
‘And the child?’
I was still unable to shake the strong feeling from my head. The looks, soft voice, silky hair… Jeez!
‘Is Bella really dead?’
At this point, my head was going to explode. I clasped it, blocking out the crazy thoughts. I couldn't. I buried Bella. I watched them pour sand on her stiff body.
That isn't Bella!
‘Then she is your missing twin…’
The loud rattling sound as a thick glass slammed against the surface of something, jerked me to reality. I touched my racing heart and looked at the goofy grin of a bartender. Again, I had walked absent-mindedly and didn't know how I got to the bar.
“Ice or water? Merry Full Moon.” She grinned.
I swallowed my curse words and sat on a stool. “Ice is uhm… liquor.”
“Nah, soda.” She cackled. “Of course, it's liquor. You must be a novice. You shouldn't drink…”
“I'm not!” I responded as if it were my ticket to drink. “Give me your best mix. Three shots. You know what, make it five.”
Her lips pursed, eyes squinted as if sizing me. “Sure you can handle it?”
“Don't you think your business is to serve?”
“Ouu…” She scoffed and blinked. “Don't be rude.” She walked back to her counter and did a whole lot of mixing and swinging.
Colors twirled, bubbles evoked from the glass, and the strong mix of vodka and harsh liquor squeezed my lungs.
Then she returned with a tray of five small mug shots and set it down, careful not to spill any. Her smile was retained.
Now, I notice her blonde hair, much darker unlike my shiny ones, her chubby frame trapped in her apron…
“I’ve always suspected pretty girls love taboo.”
Her words made me blush with embarrassment. I looked down at my mug and took the first gulp.
Hell!!!
It burned my throat!
It shook my head till my brains almost fell off, and messed with my mind!
I bite down to suck in cold air and hold back a cry.
“I guess no one warned you.” She teased me. “Anyway, you did well. It's weird sipping liquor, always swallow.” Then she raised her hand in my face. “$50.”
“What?” I gasped, almost choking on it. “For… For this? Never mind.” I pulled out my purse and took a few notes then stuffed it in her palm.
She grinned and slipped it into her wallet.
I felt cheated.
“If you need company, it's gonna cost you a few bucks. But,” she lifted her finger. “I can do it for free.”
I ignored her and took the second shot!
It felt like my organs turned liquid and I would stool them out.
Oh, god!
The yapping bartender’s face became cartoonish. She looked weird. My eyes made everything fat and ugly. Her luck.
I thought alcohol made you forget? So why was I remembering everything like it was still happening?
Bella’s cry.
The nasty sound of Charlotte’s lips as he kissed Harry.
My ex-mate’s raw words…
“So, tell me, what’s your wish for tonight?” Her voice messes with my thoughts. “Get dicked down so bad or get laid? Either way, you get f****d…”
“Enough!” It was my turn to slam the glass. Turned out I wasn't lucky enough as it shattered and sliced my finger.
Blood rushed out.
I could mirror the bartender’s fear, but I didn't stop.
“Enough of everyone thinking they know me!” I half-yelled. “Need an introduction? Then let’s have it!”
I ignored my bleeding hand and took the third gulp!
I swear, it feels like I would pass out.
“I’m Ava Gobson! A failed mother and wife!” I cackled and spread out my arms in a ‘yay’ way. “Today is my birthday! And f**k Christmas, I lost my precious. Little. Girl!” I broke into a sob.
No, I wasn't going to cry.
I sulked it in and grabbed the fourth shot!
Now, everything was spinning.
The bartender looked scared to death. You can't blame her.
“And my ex-mate got cake, not to celebrate me, but to mark his forbidden affair with his mistress!” I grabbed the edges of the bar to steady myself. My eyes grew bigger on their terms. “So, what do you think I wish for Christmas?”
“True love.” A sultry baritone that commanded everyone who listened, spoke. It was surprisingly familiar. “But most especially, revenge.”
I paused.
My heart did this silly racing thing again.
When I reached for the fifth glass, a steady hand slipped past my side and grabbed my wrist. It was firm, I would be a fool to fight it.
I could feel his broad figure hover behind me.
His oddly dominating presence stilled my broken soul.
The strong scent that haunted me down here.
‘No. It's my mind messing with me.’ I fought myself again.
“You’ve had enough.” He loosened my fingers from the glass. “And you’re bleeding.”
“And you care?”
“Well, I’m not your ex.” He was blunt. Rudely blunt.
The bartender rolled her eyes as if I had been slaughtered and excused us. My ego was bruised.
“It's wrong to eavesdrop,” I said the first words that came to my head.
He simply pushed the tray aside, spilling my expensive liquor! Then he took my hand and laid it on my lap, accidentally grazing my bare knee!
I shiver!
Not from the cold.
Nor alcohol…
It was something weird. Something I could place. Something I’ve only felt once in my lifetime.
“You were unavoidably loud.” He responded. “Let’s get you home.”
No. Not him also thinking he knows what I need.
“That's the problem with ugly men who think they rule the world!”
Someone else chuckled from beside me.
My senses spiked. I wasn't surrounded?!
Immediately, I spun to face the cocky stranger and froze on my toes.
Staring into the most cool green eyes like the wild, a stern aristocratic jawline, small kissable lips like a bow, my eyes were fixed on the world’s perfect face.
But it didn't belong to just anyone.
It was the stranger. The one whose presence haunted me!
“Are you… Are you stalking me?”
He sighed, still cocky. “No darling, it's you always calling me.”
- Writer
