Chapter 9 #2
We arrived at the place and, judging by the long line to get in, this club was a very popular and trendy spot. Niky dragged me to the entrance and, showing the wristband that served as our ticket and showed we were VIP guests, we entered without having to wait.
The place was packed with people, but Niky continued to drag me along until we ended up in a reserved area where some of her friends were waiting—two guys and a girl—and she introduced me to them naturally.
I was a bit surprised because she hadn't mentioned she would be meeting these friends, but I assumed she had kept it to herself so I wouldn't refuse to accompany her.
Her friends were very friendly and we immediately struck up a conversation, though one of them wouldn't stop flirting with me. They were drinking beer and I joined in, managing to loosen up a bit.
“Nacho really likes you,” Niky whispered in my ear. “He’s a good guy and you can’t deny he’s handsome.”
And I couldn’t deny it. Nacho was about 28 or 30 years old, tall, with an athletic build and very lively, almond-shaped brown eyes.
“I don’t deny it, but I didn’t come with that intention. I just came to have a fun time with you,” I replied, trying to make her understand that I wasn’t interested in hooking up.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“You haven’t, but please don’t push it. I can chat and even dance with him or others, but it won’t go beyond that.”
“You’re not going to leave, are you?” she asked, concerned.
“No, I promise.”
“Dalina, would you like to dance?” Nacho asked, interrupting my conversation with Niky.
“Yes, of course, let’s dance,” I replied, giving Niky a look so she would understand that I was willing to have fun dancing, but nothing more.
“We’ll join you in a few minutes,” Niky said.
Nacho took my hand and led me to the dance floor. At that moment, “The Rhythm of the Night” by Corona was playing.
When we positioned ourselves on the dance floor, he didn’t let go of my hand and we began moving to the rhythm of the music. Nacho was a very good dancer and, every so often, he would lean in and say something in my ear, often gently brushing my hair aside.
“Are you having fun?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m having a great time,” I replied, moving a bit away from him.
“Have you known Niky for long?”
“We met recently on a trip we both took to Mykonos.”
“I remember when Niky took that trip,” he said, smiling. “I was about to go with the group of friends, but couldn’t because of work. What a shame! But the important thing is that I got to meet you anyway.”
“I’m happy to meet people and make new friends,” I said, emphasizing “friends” to make things clear, and I think Nacho got the hint because he smiled and didn’t say anything else for a few minutes.
Although I wasn’t closed to the idea of dating someone, at that moment I couldn’t—I still had the memory of Henry in my mind, my body, and my heart.
A few minutes later, Niky, along with her other friends, Gael and Laia, joined us on the dance floor. I took advantage of their arrival to let go of Nacho’s hand and dance in a circle with everyone. At that moment, “New Rules” by Dua Lipa was playing.
“I’m going to the bar to get something because I’m really thirsty,” I told Niky.
“Should I come with you?” she asked.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be right back. Do you want anything?”
“No thanks,” my friend replied, and continued dancing.
When I turned to leave the dance floor, Nacho grabbed my arm and stopped me.
“Are you leaving?” he asked.
“I’m going to get a drink.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said without hesitation.
“It’s not necessary for you to come with me. Besides, I’m going to stop by the bathroom first.”
“Alright, I’ll wait for you here,” he said, releasing my arm.
I headed toward the bar, knowing I was going to take a few minutes before returning to the dance floor.
I approached, trying to catch the bartender’s attention to order a drink, but as soon as I spotted a certain person at the other end of the bar, I froze.
With his back to me and leaning his back and elbows against the bar was Henry—unmistakable to me.
The thing is, he wasn’t alone; a very striking woman was hanging from his neck and seductively whispering in his ear.
“Probably a woman his age with whom he gets along much better than with me,” I thought, remembering his words.
Even though I still had his harsh words in mind and had tried to convince myself that what we had was now part of the past, my heart sank and I had to sit down on one of the stools there because I was sure my legs would give out at any moment.
One thing was to imagine it and quite another to see it with my own eyes.
The bartender approached me to take my order, and I couldn’t speak. He looked at me and smiled seductively, and at that moment I snapped out of it—the last thing I needed was for this man to think I was smitten with him.
“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.
—I don’t think so —he said, smiling, and leaned in to kiss me, but at that moment the waiter returned with our drinks and Nacho had no choice but to pull back.
He handed me my glass, took his own, and made a toast.
—To meeting you —he said, and clinked his glass against mine.
I brought the glass to my lips and quickly drank everything in it.
—Dalina, slow down. Are you feeling okay?
—I’m just a liiittle diiizzy —I said, and let out a laugh. I felt like I was acting uninhibited, without the reservations that usually plagued me, and in a way I never had before.
—That’s because you drank too quickly.
—I’m going to the baaathroom and I’ll be right back —I said, making an effort to stand up without stumbling, but feeling cheerful and smiling for no reason, a sign that I was now completely drunk.
“I'll go with you,” he stated, and stood up from the couch.
“Howww are you going to accompaaany me to the ladies’ rooooom? You caaaan’t,” I said, laughing.
“I just don't think you'll make it there alone,” he affirmed, smiling. “I need to make sure you get there safely.”
“It’s not necessssaryyy,” I said, and turned around, but I couldn't take even one step because I crashed right into a man's hard chest, and if it weren't for his strong arms holding me up, I would have landed on my backside on the floor.
I looked up to see this wall of muscle who had also ended up being my savior, though I was in a fit of laughter and couldn't stop, but when my eyes focused on the person holding me, my laughter vanished. Henry was looking at me furiously, his eyes seemed to be shooting sparks.
“Let me go!” I said, and struggled a bit, but my body wasn't responding as it should.
“No,” he stated, holding me more tightly against him. “We're leaving right now. You're drunk!” he declared, and by his tone it sounded like a reproach.
“Let her go. Who are you?” asked Nacho, confronting Henry and pulling at me.
Henry looked at him with such fury that I assumed Nacho would back down.
I assumed wrong; he didn't back down one bit and continued holding onto my arm.
“Don't touch her! Take your hands off my woman!” Henry roared.
When I heard what he said, I couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. I couldn't stop laughing. Henry looked at me deadly serious.
“I…am…not…yourrr…womaaan, and stooop yelllling, you grumpy old man,” I said, still laughing and with complete abandon.
“Henry, what are you doing?” and that was Niky's voice.
“I can't believe you let her get drunk. Look at the state she's in. I'll talk to you later. I'm taking Dalina with me.”
“Who is he?” asked Nacho, completely bewildered.
“He's my brother,” Niky responded, and then looked at him and added: “Henry, Dalina came with us, and Nacho can take her back to the hotel.”
“Like hell he will! I'll take care of her.”
“Nikyyyyy, telllll him to let me gooooo and go back to his girlfrieeend.”
“I don't care if he's your brother, but Dalina doesn't want to go with him,” Nacho said to Niky, then looked seriously at Henry and added: “Let her go right now,” he threatened.
“Who the hell do you think you are, you idiot?!” Henry shouted.
At that moment, I found myself lifted up in the air by him and pressed against his chest.
“Nacho, it's better if we don't interfere. Let them work it out,” Niky requested, then looked at her brother. “Here, these are Dalina's things. Take care of her.”
I didn't hear anything else because the next second Henry was carrying me in his arms through the club to leave.
“I-told-you-to-put-me-dowwwn,” I said, separating the words and struggling with uncoordinated movements.
“Dalina, it would be better if you stop talking and stay still.”
“You're such a bossssy person!”
“Yes, I am.”
“I can't stand you.”
“Shhhh, silence,” he said, looking at me seriously.
We reached his car, he placed me in the passenger seat and fastened my seatbelt.
“You'd better not throw up because if you do, I'll get much angrier, and I assure you I'm already furious,” he stated.
“I haaate you.”
“I said stop talking.”
He walked around the car, got in and started it. My eyes were closing, so I let myself be carried away by sleep and lost consciousness.