Luna For Hire

Chapter 4 I might have to change that habit

　　He had dark, gleaming hair and a self-confident air about him. He was incredibly handsome. Even in the dim lights of the club, Ava could see that he was quite attractive. He seemed to exude strength and self-assurance that she had hardly ever seen in such a long time- dignity, control, restraint it was almost regal.

　　There was something about him. Ava wanted to turn away and forget she even saw him...but his eyes were on her.

　　"f**k. Lady killer..." Ava said under her breath.

　　"I'm sorry, what?" Brandon turned to Ava mid-talking and Ava realized that she had asked him to talk about something. She didn't quite remember now.

　　"Oh no, go on," Ava said, turning to Brandon. "Very interesting conversation we're having."

　　Kayla eyed her suspiciously. She turned back to see what Ava had been staring at and gave Ava a knowing grin when she turned back to her. Ava kicked her feet under the table and Kayla gave an exaggerated whine on impact.

　　Ava rolled her eyes. Friends were the worst, she thought.

　　Brandon looked genuinely worried. He turned to Kayla. "Is something the matter?"

　　Kayla swallowed her whine. "I'm fine. I think I hit my foot against the table. No worries."

　　"Should I take a look at it for you?" Ava asked then.

　　"Are you a doctor now?" Kayla asked her back, mildly annoyed. "I'm fine."

　　Ava laughed. "I'm sure you are."

　　Kayla gave her the finger.

　　Ava smiled. "Where on earth did I find you?" She said under her breath.

　　Kayla and her had had such a nice friendship, she sometimes wondered what her life would be without her bestfriend in it. As it was, she did not have many friends. She must be lucky to have Kayla even though she hadn't initiated the friendship in the first place.

　　"Let me buy you a drink," Ava said to Kayla. "And also give you two lovebirds sometime to yourself. See you in the next hour or so."

　　Brandon looked embarrassed at Ava's directness.

　　Kayla looked apologetic. "I'm sorry," she told Brandon. "Ava...Ava is just so like this."

　　"Well...she's not wrong. Except you have an objection, that is," Brandon said. "Will you like to go out with me on Monday after work?"

　　Kayla looked shocked. Ava smiled at her. She was sure Kayla would be forgiving her very soon for that kick in the shins.

　　"Say yes, dummy," Ava whispered inside Kayla's ears as she made her way towards the bar area.

　　While at the bar, Ava took in a deep breath as she waited for her drink. She actually needed this. At least here, the dark-haired man's gaze was not on her. She should be significantly far away from his gaze. Or he must have turned his gaze on to something else hopefully.

　　She felt something weird when she looked at him. It was attraction all right- because yes, he was attractive- but still there was something about him that made her want to avoid him.

　　Of course she should be looking for ways to attract a man's attention and see where it went- the basis to this night's outing- but with this man, as hot as he was, she wanted to stay far away.

　　She watched Kayla and Brandon talk, now that she was gone. With the way Kayla blushed at his words and curled a lock of her hair on her finger, Ava had to mentally pat herself in the back for her being instrumental in her friend getting a date tonight.

　　Ah...How fulfilling was playing cupid? Very, she answered herself in thought.

　　She turned to pick her glass and take a sip when she saw that Kayla and Brandon were getting up to leave. They headed for the doors.

　　That wasn't a problem. The problem was two-pronged.

　　One, the dark-haired man was now in Ava's sights and he was staring straight at her.

　　Two, Ava hoped Kayla was not taking her car over to wherever on earth she was going with Brandon. They had both come in Kayla's car and if Kayla was going to leave, she had better had another means of transporting herself and her lover boy, else Ava might have a bit of walking to do when she decided to go home.

　　Or she could take a taxi. But it was quite late, she might have to wait for a really long time which led to the first scenario: walking.

　　Her apartment was at a bit of a distance and she was tipsy and wearing three-inch heels.

　　Ava pulled out her phone and stared at the blurring recently contacted list of her phone, realizing that it was a bad idea to have drunk every booze that came her way that night.

　　She finally found Kayla's contact details and dialled. It rung and rung but Kayla did not pick up. Ava tried it again. Same result.

　　Ava wanted to curse under her breath.

　　"Kay..." Ava said through her teeth.

　　She should have broken through their little love bubble earlier and straight-out asked Kayla to take her home first. But her better judgement had asked her to give them space.

　　Ava left the bar table and went outside to the street. As expected, Kayla's car was not there. The illuminated street had a few cars, but they were not Kayla's. Ava told herself then that she should have brought her own car.

　　And why hadn't Brandon brought his car? Ava wondered. She was beginning to like him less and less now.

　　Ava went back inside to her former perch to think her options through. She met her drink still where she kept it, but experience had taught her not to taste a drink she hadn't personally supervised. Plus, if walking back would be her fate tonight, then she should start her sober-ization process now itself.

　　She raised her head from her glass to look up at someone who joined the bar, sitting on another bar stool close to hers.

　　"I don't usually visits clubs, but I might have to change that habit," the man said.

　　Ava snapped her head quickly to him. It was the dark-haired man that she had been flustered about.

　　Crap, Ava thought. What was he doing here?

　　"I'm sorry, have we met?" Ava asked.

　　"No," came his smooth voice. "I'm Adrian by the way."

　　"Ava," she replied.

　　Up close she could see why she had felt something different about him. She could almost feel it-either by her constant experience with supernaturals or some other reason- but she knew he was a werewolf. A powerful one at that.