Dazed and Mysteries.
ARABELLA’S POV
I felt like I was trapped inside a bubble, too afraid to breathe too hard in case it burst. Alvise had gone back to the booth a few minutes ago, but I was still sitting at the bar, trying to pull myself together.
Once again, he’d managed to confuse me. I couldn’t understand it. I was supposed to be angry with him. He’d told me was dead to him. So why the hell had he just left me feeling hot all over?
“You’ve been here for quite some time.” The voice came from behind me. I turned to find a man who looked to be in hilate twenties staring down at me.”
He looked… different. It wasn’t just because he was covered in tattoos. There was something about him that simply didn’t fit in.
I forced a smile. “I haven’t been here that long.”
He shrugged. “A lady shouldn’t have to get her own drinks. Especially one as pretty as you.”
He had a distinct accent. I tilted my head. “Oh? Do you say that to every girl you meet?” I asked cautiously.
He raised both hands defensively. “Only you.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and turned back on my stool so I could see everyone in our section. My brother was back at the booth, but he still seemed to be having a rather heated conversation with Francesca.
The man beside me whom I’d mentally nicknamed Tattoo Lord, settled onto the stool next to mine. “May I have the honor of knowing your name?”
I groaned inwardly but forced out a reply. “Ella.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “So… can I take you home, Ella?”
I frowned. “Excuse me?”
His expression remained unfazed. “Can I take you home and fuck you?”
I glared at him. “Go learn some manners, brute,” I snapped. “Maybe then you’ll learn to stop harassing women.”
“Oh, please. Don’t start that shit with me.” He gestured toward the booths. “I saw you and Valerio earlier. The way he was all over you.” He pointed at me. “I want a piece of that too.”
I furrowed my brows, wondering who he was talking about before remembering that Valerio was Alvise’s surname. I still couldn’t understand why he addressed him by his last name.
My nostrils flared. “Don’t speak about things you know nothing about.”
Annoyed, I turned my attention back to our booth. I froze. Alvise was already staring straight at me. Slowly, his gaze shifted to the man sitting beside me before one of his brows arched. I didn’t know why., but I didn’t like what I saw in his eyes.
Without thinking, I slowly shook my head, silently trying to tell him that whatever he was assuming… He was wrong. Gradually, I watched the hardness in his expression soften. Only slightly.
The game started after that, and, as expected, it quickly spiraled into dares, inappropriate confessions, and far too much kissing. At some point, a few girls from another section joined in, making things even worse.
I had to mentally check out. I genuinely wasn’t built to watch that many people making out. There was even a moment when I nearly gagged after watching my brother lock lips with Francesca. I’d need bleach to scrub that memory from my brain.
“Girl, this is the best night of my life” Sierra squealed excitedly, grabbing my hands as we watched Archie’s friend, Kelvin, receive a lap dance from one of the dancers.
“You’re such a freak,” I whispered before I grinning mischievously. “I can see why we’re friends.”
We burst into laughter, immediately drawing everyone’s attention. Sierra and I exchanged sheepish glances, mumbled quiet apologies and quickly shut up.
A few moments later, Alvise stood and picked up his now–broken phone from the table. “Where are you off to?” Archie asked after noticing his best friend finish the last of his drink.
Alvise held up his phone. “I need to find out whether I need a new one,” he said before walking away.
As I watched his retreating back, my brows slowly furrowed. A realization struck me so suddenly that it made my stomach twist. Alvise had told me he’d spent that night repeatedly calling my phone before, the accident…
But I’d blocked his number four years ago.
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