Page 66 of Stronger Than Fate

“What’s the strongest drink you can offer me?” I asked, looking at him seriously. I needed something that would make me forget the scene in front of me.

—For a beauty like you, I'll make whatever you ask for.

I gave him an unfriendly look and he quickly clarified:

—I recommend a “Margarita” or a “Cosmopolitan” —he said, trying to be seductive.

—A “Margarita” is fine —I specified, because I wasn’t planning to run away from there; in fact, I was going to return to the dance floor and keep dancing as if he wasn’t even there.

—A “Margarita” for the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life —shouted the bartender.

At that moment Henry turned around smiling, but when his eyes met mine, the smile instantly vanished from his face. I held his gaze defiantly; I wasn’t going to appear affected. He could do whatever he wanted with his life. For a few seconds we challenged each other with our eyes, but his companion took his face in her hands and made him turn to look at her.

“Damn the fate that put him in my path and doesn’t seem to want to remove him from it,”I told myself.

A few minutes later the bartender approached with my drink. I took it and thanked him. Calmly, I turned and went back to the dance floor; there was no chance of staying alone there anymore. On the way, I drank the entire beverage in one gulp and placed the glass on some random table. When I reached the dance floor, I approached Niky to tell her about her brother’s presence.

—Your brother is here —I whispered in her ear.

Niky stopped dancing and looked at me in surprise.

—Are you serious? Are you sure?

—I saw him at the bar with a woman —I assured her.

—I can’t believe it! He’s such an idiot! What are you going to do? —she asked, concerned.

—I’m going to pretend he’s not here and continue having fun. Your brother doesn’t deserve to see me distressed over this situation —I stated, though I noticed that what I’d drunk had already affected me because I was feeling a bit dizzy.

—That’s perfect! Dance with Nacho and have fun with him. He may be my brother, but he’s a jerk! And damn it, he drives me crazy! —Niky exploded.

—Calm down. I won’t lie to you, seeing him didn’t do me any good, but I know I have to get over it, and running away won’t accomplish anything. It would only make him think I’m a coward who can’t face him, and I’m not going to give him that satisfaction.

—Girls, everything okay? —Nacho asked.

—Dali was telling me she’s feeling a bit hot. I was going to accompany her to sit down for a while —Niky said, but I realized she said it with the intention of having Nacho accompany me instead.

—I’ll go with you —he said immediately—, I need to sit down for a bit too.

—Go ahead, go ahead —Niky repeated—, I’m going to stay and dance a little longer.

Nacho took my hand again and guided me to the reserved area where the couches with our things were. I was grateful he was holding my hand because by that point the alcohol had taken effect and I already felt like I was walking unsteadily. As we were walking, I once again caught Henry’s eyes as he was dancing with that woman. He looked at me with a seriousness that could intimidate any mortal, except me. His furious glances didn’t move me one bit, especially not at that moment when the drinks I’d consumed during the night had liberated me and I was feeling brave and... dizzy, quite dizzy. I looked away and kept walking.

When we reached the couches, Nacho sat next to me and I let him keep my hand intertwined with his.

—Should we order something to drink? —he whispered, very close to my face.

—I’d like that —I responded with a smile, determined to forget about Henry Woollard even if I had to leave the bartender without any alcohol stock.

Nacho signaled to a waiter who was approaching and ordered two drinks, but I couldn’t hear which ones.

—If I told you I’d like to see you again, what would you say? —he asked, looking into my eyes.

—I would say that we could see each other again —I said, though I noticed I was slurring my words a bit when speaking; it was evident I was drunk.

—That’s good, because I fully intend to keep seeing you and go out with you —he whispered against my lips—. And if I told you I’d like to kiss you, what would you say?

—Do I have to answer? —I asked.