Page 108 of Stronger Than Fate

»—I can’t believe what you’re telling me —she said, shaking her head.

I watched her attentively as a thousand thoughts invaded my mind, all related to Henry. If his friend was calling, it was because he had something to do with Niky’s concern.

»—…

»—What should I do?

»—…

»—Perfect, send me the address by message and I’ll head there right away. Thank you for taking care of him, Waylon —she said with conviction, and looked at me with desperation.

—Dali, I apologize, but I’m going to have to leave.

—Something happened with Henry —I stated.

—Yes; but don’t worry —she said, while gathering her things as I followed her.

—Niky, tell me if something happened to him, please. Can I help? —I asked anxiously, I couldn’t stay calm knowing something had happened to him.

—My brother emptied all the bottles at the bar and is monumentally drunk. Waylon can’t convince him to leave and asked me for help. I’m going to go and I swear I’m going to kill him myself.

—Do you want me to come with you? —I offered, knowing it wasn’t the best idea, but I felt I couldn’t leave Niky alone, or at least that was the excuse I gave myself.

—Would you? Because honestly, I don’t like the idea of going alone. Besides, I assure you that if he’s in the state Waylon described, he probably won’t even remember you were with me.

—Give me a few minutes to put on some jeans and we’ll go —I said, convinced.

Niky’s face lit up with a smile. I went to the bedroom and changed my shorts for pants.

We went in Niky’s car and arrived in twenty minutes. The place was a dance pub and was packed with people. Waylon had explained where they were located and we headed there. When I saw him, I couldn’t believe the pitiful state he was in. He was sitting on a couch, arguing with Waylon because he wanted to stand up and Waylon wouldn’t let him, nor would he allow him to grab any of the glasses with drinks. He was wearing jeans and a shirt, but the shirt was untucked and dirty—I don’t know if he had vomited or spilled a drink on himself. His hair, which was normally neatly combed, looked like it had been pulled upward and was completely disheveled, plus he had a couple days’ worth of beard growth. He was unrecognizable.

—My God! —exclaimed Niky, and approached immediately, while I stayed a bit back.

—I didn’t let him drink anymore, but I can’t convince him to leave and he can barely walk —Waylon informed, looking at Niky seriously.

—Waylon, this is Dalina —she said, pointing at me.

Waylon looked at me with surprise, then approached.

—Dalina, a pleasure to meet you. I have to apologize because I know that the problem you had with Henry was partly my fault.

—It wasn’t your fault, you didn’t know me and had no way of knowing that person wasn’t me.

—I should have realized she wasn’t the type of woman Henry would date. You have nothing in common with her.

—Let me disagree, I think Henry dates any type of woman —I stated.

—Waylon, can you help me? —asked Niky, who was talking to Henry, but he seemed to be in another world.

Waylon approached, took his face in his hands, and spoke loudly.

“Brother, stop being stupid and behave yourself. Dalina is here.”

When he said this, Henry looked at him seriously and then let out a loud laugh. Niky looked at me with concern, and I remained standing in the same spot, almost two meters away from where he was.

“Don’t laugh, I’m being serious. Dalina is here,” Waylon said.

“Dalinaaaaaaa, nooooo. She doesn’t wa-nt to talk to me any-mooore,” he said, slurring his words in the language of drunks and completely lacking lucidity, while smiling as if nothing mattered.