Page 26 of Craved By You (Dark Desires Duet #1)

Astrid

One Month Later…

The neon glow of Karaoke Cavern pulsed through the crowded bar, casting shadows over the sticky tables and boisterous patrons.

I slowly nursed a whiskey-heavy Crown and Coke while Haileigh was on her third glass of chardonnay.

“I am so excited for girls' night!” Haileigh held her glass of wine up and waited patiently for me to notice so we could cheers tonight's celebration. “You’re out of your apartment, you got all dolled up, surely you are going to catch the eyes of some hunk.”

I rolled my eyes as she wiggled her eyebrows up and down, smiling at her attempt to cheer me up.

The truth was, I hadn’t been able to get Colt to stop running through my mind like a hamster on a wheel.

After everything had happened, Haileigh insisted that I take a couple of weeks off.

During those two weeks, I began meditating and asking for guidance over what I was supposed to do, hoping that by some miracle I would hear the answer that was best for me.

Even amidst the flashing lights and off-key singing, I couldn’t stop thinking about him, and a feeling of regret panged inside me.

Why didn’t I let him explain? I could have picked up the phone and called or texted him many times.

There were days when I would go to the coffee shop and just sit and wait for him to come.

He never did. All of it left me emotionally exhausted.

Haileigh cut into my thoughts, keeping me from taking the leap down the rabbit hole as I chased the white rabbit. “Isn’t this fun?”

“ It’s sure… something.” I mustered up a weak smile.

“ Come on. Loosen up a little, would ya?” She nudged me playfully. “One more drink and you’ll be up there belting out some power ballad. In fact, I’ll sign you up!”

I grabbed for her as she ran off to go track down the sign-up sheet.

I couldn’t sing worth a damn and I wasn’t looking forward to hearing what song she selected for me.

On the other hand, she made tonight happen, she had been super cool and understanding.

I supposed that I did technically owe her one song.

I threw back the rest of my drink, accepting my fate.

“Another, please.” I motioned at the bartender who had a heavy-handed pour.

It had been a few minutes since Haileigh had disappeared and I knew it shouldn’t have taken her that long to sign us up for karaoke.

Great, she’s been kidnapped. It was the only clear thought that crossed my mind as everything started to feel jumbled.

I glanced up and down the bar and couldn’t see her anywhere.

With no other option, I gave up my prime seat at the bar in the attempt to hobble around and find her.

Shit, maybe I shouldn’t have slammed that last drink.

Soon, I heard the obnoxious laughter over the music and I knew there was only one person who would be able to laugh over the bass.

I followed the sound until I noticed other voices laughing along with her, for a moment I thought I might even recognize them.

As soon as she came into view, I saw Chris and Ryder, who had both still been vying for her attention, to either side of her.

What were the chances that they just so happened to be at the same Karaoke bar as us, at the same time?

“ Hey boys. I’m surprised to see you here at our girls' night.” I tried to be nice, but part of me was annoyed that Haileigh most likely had something to do with them randomly showing up.

It wasn’t like they had anything to do with what happened between Colt and I, but if they were here, it was only a matter of time before he showed up, too.

“ Can I get Astrid Alexander to the stage?” the announcer called out over the crowd.

Damnit, Haileigh, I thought as I finished off my drink and made my way toward the stage. “It better be a good song!” I called back to her just before she was out of earshot.

As soon as I was on the stage, I grasped the microphone and pulled it from the stand, my hands were shaky and panic began to flare in my chest. There’s no way I will be able to sing in front of all these people , I thought, I’m not a rockstar.

My mind went blank as soon as the song Taking Over Me by Evanescence began to play and I looked over in Haileigh’s general direction. Not only had she chosen a song full of passion, but now I was going to also be butchering the ever so talented stylings of Amy Lee? Great.

I began to sing, my voice quivering as I kept my eyes fixated on the karaoke screen to help keep my nerves down. At least I did until movement across the back of the room distracted me and my curiosity got the best of me. I looked up and there he stood.

Colt.

As soon as our eyes met, I couldn’t look away.

My confidence began to grow as I continued the song, stammering over the words, unable to take my eyes off him.

There was something different about Colt that I couldn’t place.

He looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in weeks.

I didn’t even notice when my song ended and the announcer was coaxing me off the stage as the crowd cheered and applauded. Had I even finished the song?

When I exited the stage, I kept my eyes on him as he remained frozen in place. His expression was unreadable, but it didn’t seem like he had any intention of being the one to approach me. Quickly, I made my way back to Haileigh. “I thought you couldn’t sing?” she teased. “You were fantastic!”

“ He’s here.” Those were the only words that I could say.

Haileigh softened her voice and excused herself from Chris and Ryder. “You okay?”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly feeling dry and my brain feeling sober. “Yeah, fine.” I was far from being fine. “Did you plan this?”

Haileigh paused and looked down toward her feet.

“ We planned it.” She gestured toward Chris and Ryder.

“ Why would you-”

Haileigh cut me off, clearing her throat like she was getting ready to give me the biggest lecture of my entire life.

“I have watched you moping around for weeks. I have listened to you vent. I have made sure you were eating. But not once did you ever do yourself a favor and communicate with Colt.” She paused.

“What he did is foul and gross and all the things that you and I will never understand, but I don’t believe that is the person you got to know.

I believe that the person you know is the one who would do literally anything for you if you would just hear him out.

So yeah, we planned this and you’re not leaving until the two of you talk. ”

I stood there, staring blankly as I processed what she had just told me. What started as a simple girls night had taken a turn and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to bolt or stay. The palms of my hands began to sweat as my nerves skyrocketed. What if he hates me? “ Did he know about the plan?”

Laughing, Haileigh placed her hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. “Do you think a karaoke bar is Colt’s go-to when he is hanging with the guys?”

A sigh of relief washed over me. I was happy to know he was also unaware of our friends' devious plans, but one question still lingered in the back of my mind... What if he hates me? I didn’t want to believe that one fight - even if it was a big one - and a month apart could wash away our connection.

I also knew that amidst the hurt I was feeling, I had caused him pain, too.

It didn’t take long before I could feel the presence of someone tall hovering over me. Haileigh gestured for me to turn around and when I did, there he stood.

Colt.

There was a hurt in his eyes that he was trying to hide; always having to be mister tough guy in front of the boys instead of admitting that he also had feelings.

“ Hey.” I raised my hand in a half-assed wave but he just pursed his lips together and nodded.

Okay. I mouthed the words as I turned and looked back at Haileigh and the boys.

They all gestured for me to make the first move, which was so annoying.

Part of me had hoped that Colt would take the lead on this one, but I knew that with the way I had treated him that it was my turn to show him that I was ready and willing to listen.

“ Do you want to find someplace quiet to talk?” I offered, gesturing toward an open booth that caught my eye in the back corner.

Colt looked around. “In this place?” He shook his head. “I don’t think we’re gonna find much quiet.”

“ Humor me,” I said, slightly annoyed at his nonchalant demeanor.

“ That spot looks great.” He took me by the hand, I assumed so that he wouldn’t lose me in the crowd, but I felt more like a child being dragged out of the store by a parent. “Let’s sit.”

I slid into one side of the booth and he slid in next to me. “You don’t want to sit across from me?” I offered.

“ Do you want to have a conversation or act things out like a mime?” Colt didn’t seem like he even wanted to be here.

“ This is fine.” I looked down at the table, where tiny grains of salt were scattered from the previous inhabitants. “Tell me everything?”

“ Everything about what?” Colt retorted. “Everything about what you didn’t want to listen to a month ago?”

“ Colt I-”

“ No, Astrid.” He cut me off. “I’m sorry. I wish things could have been different.”

“ They can be,” I stressed, unsure of at what point I became okay with all of this. “Tell me your story.”

As Colt began to talk I couldn’t help but sit there and ask myself, how is this man a murderer? I suppose that’s probably pretty common though, a lot of murderers tend to shock the people closest to them.