Page 279 of When We Fall: Part Two
I went back to the bar after dancing through multiple songs, feeling a little glum, ordered another drink, and downed it before asking for a shot of whiskey.
“Uh, hi,” a deep voice said from beside me. I looked over at the owner and took in a tall, muscular, handsome man with loads of tattoos peeking out from his shirt on his chest and neck. Even his face had tattoos. Dark, messy hair. Dark eyes. Leather jacket.
He screamed red flag.
“Hi.”
He smiled. “Whiskey your drink of choice?”
“No.” I shook my head. “It reminds me of someone.”
“Ah, drinking to remember,” he said, gesturing for the bartender to bring him something.
“Not really.”
“Then drinking to forget. I’ve been there.”
I eyed him. He caught me looking and smiled.
“My name is Malachi.” He offered me a tatted hand.
I cleared my throat and slid my palm against his. “Rosalie.”
“Pretty name. They call you Rose for short?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Not usually.”
“Too bad. Missed opportunity. I’m sure someone will someday, though.”
I shrugged and swallowed down the whiskey. “Maybe.”
“Are you here with anyone?” he asked. He nodded to the bartender again, and this time, he brought me a drink that the guy had ordered.
I hesitated.
“Either you are or you’re not, dollface. If I sit here long enough, I’m sure to find out.”
“I-I’m not. I’m meeting someone later, though. Here. He’s going to meet me, uh, here.” I was babbling.
He inclined his head and took a drink of his beer. “Good to know. I won’t bother you. Have a nice night. Enjoy your drink. Stay away from the dark corners. Shit gets creepy in these parts.”
“Good to know,” I said. I watched him saunter through the crowd only to disappear into a dark corner.
I turned back to the bar, wondering if every guy was that weird here. Didn’t matter. I’d head back to Klaus’s. I’d decided that if he didn’t show up tonight, I’d pack up in the morning and head to the hotel. I didn’t want to cause any awkwardness or inconvenience to anyone.
I sat for quite some time at the bar, nursing the drink Malachi ordered me, my head fuzzy and my body buzzing.
Warm hands rested on my waist, and I turned to see who was touching me.
“Klaus?” I couldn’t believe he was here.
“Hello, hummingbird.”
“H-How did you know where I was?”
“It wasn’t hard. This is the best place in town that we don’t own. It’s where I’d go.”
I got up and threw my arms around his neck, not caring that the crowd was jostling us.
