Page 23 of Stronger Than Fate
—Alexandre Dumas
We arrived at the “Hot Dance” club and I was impressed by the place. It was contemporary and eye-catching, creating an atmosphere full of color. We settled at a table surrounded by LED sofas that rotated through different colors. We had a privileged spot from where we could perfectly see the dance floor changing colors. We were on the ground floor, which played dance music, but there was also an upper floor that played ballads and was used by couples. That night we had no intention of climbing even one step of the staircase that led to the upper floor. This club was famous for its themed nights, and on this occasion, they were celebrating “Retro Night,” so they would only be playing music from past decades.
We ordered drinks and, while enjoying tasty cocktails, we couldn’t help but tap our feet as the music invited us to dance. At that moment, “Rhythm is a Dancer” by Snap! was playing. Sol stood up, made us put our glasses down on the table, and dragged us to the dance floor. The three of us danced, laughing and moving to the rhythm of the music. The floor was packed with people dancing and having fun. Then “What Is Love” by Haddaway started playing and the crowd went wild. Every time a new song began, everyone shouted and jumped to the beat. We were having a great time. Just as “All That She Wants” by Ace of Base began playing, some guys positioned themselves in frontof us as an invitation to dance, and we continued dancing with them. After dancing to a couple more songs, during which time the guys introduced themselves and we managed to chat a little, though it was difficult with the volume of the music, we decided to get something cool to drink and sit down for a while, except for Sol who stayed on the dance floor with one of them.
“Dali, I need to tell you something important,” said Niky, looking a bit embarrassed.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, concerned, while the guys took seats next to us.
“My brother sent me a message asking where we were, and I told him. I know he didn’t ask to check on me, and I want you to know that I hope everything works out,” she said, taking my hand.
Good thing we were sitting because I felt my stomach flip and my legs go weak. Did Niky know what had happened with Henry? Also, if she had told him where we were, he would probably show up. Nerves took over as I just stared at her while my brain worked through the consequences of this information. The guys had asked us something, but we didn’t respond, absorbed in reading each other’s expressions.
“Dali, are you angry? I don’t know what’s going on between you and Henry, but I know something is happening. Just because I act clueless doesn’t mean I don’t notice things, and if it’s what I think it is, I hope you two can work it out. I’m sure you would be really good for my brother.”
“I’m not angry, Niky. I won’t deny what you’ve said, but I assure you we’re not dating, just trying to get to know each other, nothing more. Did he say if he was planning to come?”
At that moment, one of the guys, tired of us not paying attention to them, sat between us, and we couldn’t continue our conversation.
“Ladies, would you like to go dance to some ballads?”
“No,” I responded immediately, “I prefer to stay here.”
“Me neither,” said Niky.
“Then let’s order some drinks,” said the one sitting across from me. “Will you come with me?” he asked, looking at Niky.
“Yes, of course,” she replied, leaving me alone with the other guy.
He was sitting next to me and, as soon as Niky and his friend left, he moved closer and put his arm behind me, resting it on the back of the sofa.
“I’d love to go upstairs and dance to romantic music. Are you sure you don’t want to?” he insisted.
“I’m sure.”
“I think we could really enjoy dancing to those songs, don’t you think?”
“I don’t think so,” said a deep, powerful, and very sensual voice, though at that moment it sounded altered and annoyed.
I looked up and found Henry staring seriously at my companion. The guy looked back at him but didn’t seem intimidated. My body trembled and my stomach no longer felt like a nest of butterflies, but like a rodeo where a wild stallion was being tamed, because his presence there implied many things, including continuing what we had started in my suite.
“And you are...” he said, trying to get Henry to explain his presence.
“I’m her partner and the one who’s going to dance with her, and take your arm off her shoulders because I don’t like peopletouching my woman,” he stated with a seriousness that could intimidate anyone.
His partner? His woman? While hearing him say that gave me hope of possibly having a relationship, with him everything was still up in the air.
“Henry,” I greeted him.
“Do you know him?” the guy asked.
“Yes,” I answered, without giving more explanations because the reality was that I couldn’t add anything else, I wouldn’t dare say I was his partner, much less his woman.
The guy stood up and faced Henry, who was more than half a head taller, looked at him seriously and said something that I wasn’t expecting, and it seemed neither was he.
“You’re lucky, man. Frankly, I envy you. Nice to meet you, Dalina.” He looked at me and left.
Henry sat down next to me and moved very close to my face.
