Chapter 110

Aháva tried t o take long strides t o get t o the bar as quickly as possible. The club was packed a n d people seemed t o be possessed by some kind of demon of lust, as they groped each other while dancing grotesquely. The blonde looked at the couple o n her right a n d couldn't help but shudder. Could it be that they did not know about the existence of hotels? God! She didn't understand why she agreed t o go t o that place with her friends, if she never liked going t o places like that. She was more of mountains, rivers a n d beaches. h e liked t o be in contact with nature while enjoying the silence or reading a good book. I had known Lauren, Jessica, a n d Alicia since I was eight years old. h e had just moved with his parents t o California. They lived in the same neighborhood a n d went t o the same school. Since then they were inseparable friends.

Aháva was about t o turn nineteen a n d college was just around the corner. h e would study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world a n d achieve his greatest dream; be a doctor

She received the acceptance letter two months ago a n d told her parents the news. Samantha a n d Dominik were very emotional a n d celebrated with their daughter at a luxurious dinner. Then her mother gave her a n  envelope with four tickets t o travel through the main cities of the United States with her friends. The four girls traveled the country from east t o west a n d from north t o south, visiting the most amazing places in the country. Central Park, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls a n d the Empire State Building in New York; Memorial Park, the Smithsonian Institution a n d the White House in Washington; Navy Pier in Chicago; Mount Rushmore in South Dakota; the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona (just t o mention a few places). But it was the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee a n d the beautiful beaches of Maui where Aháva felt like she was in Eden itself. They were in Las Vegas because their friends dreamed of getting t o know the city. Aháva would have preferred t o go t o Cape Cod a n d enjoy the Naukabot Music Festival while the beautiful lighthouses o n the peninsula at dusk delighted her vision.

Instead of Yellowstone National Park or Jackson Hole, the four friends decided t o spend the last week of their summer vacation in Sin City. a n d not by unanimous decision. It was a three t o one vote.

He continued walking towards the bar, while a lot of questions began t o arise in his head. What will college be like? Would you meet interesting people t o hang out with? Would she find the boy of her dreams there? Would it be a law student or would it be a classmate? The truth i s that she was very afraid of going t o live alone in a place she did not know, far from her parents. In two weeks, his life would be turned upside down. She wouldn't see her friends for a long time, so she made a decision for everyone's sake. h e would try t o enjoy the night t o the fullest a n d for that h e didn't need t o get drunk.

He made a sign with his hand t o the boy who tended the bar a n d h e immediately approached him.

"Tell me, precious... What can I serve you?" Asked a burly man of about thirty years of age, black eyes a n d brunette skin. h e was very handsome a n d Aháva thought she saw a hint of coquetry in the subject's smile.

"I want water or a soda." a n ything but no alcohol,” the cute blonde said.

"Are you sure, baby?" I make the best mojitos in town.” The man winked at her.

-Thanks but no. I'm sure. I want t o drink something without alcohol.

"As the fair lady wishes," h e said, a n d went o n t o find a glass, poured some ice into it, a n d filled it with water.

"How much do I owe you?" Aháva inquired after taking a long sip.

"For water?" The bartender laughed. The House invites.

She smiled a n d nodded. She turned without noticing that a woman was coming towards her, like a soul from the devil. She wasn't quick enough t o dodge it, a n d as she bumped into it, the drink spilled o n her, making her white chiffon blouse show through over the cream lace bra she was wearing.

Aháva cursed under her breath as she tried t o brush her blouse off with her hands. She shot a quick glance at the woman who had just bumped into her a n d glared at her back. It unnerved him t o see that the aforementioned didn't even bother t o look back a n d apologize.

-Cool! the blonde muttered.

"I'm terribly sorry," h e heard a voice behind him. I apologize o n her behalf. The poor thing left in a rage because of me.

Aháva turned in the direction of the male voice speaking t o her. h e was a tall man with light brown hair. h e was wearing a black shirt unbuttoned at the neck, which gave him a certain nonchalant air. h e had a very pleasing face t o look at, with high cheekbones, thin lips, a n d a square jaw. The color of the eyes could not be detailed because of the play of lights o n the dance floor.

"Here," the man continued, handing over a white cloth handkerchief h e had just taken out of his shirt pocket. It must dry. I could catch a cold.

Aháva reluctantly took the handkerchief a n d muttered a thank you, though she really wanted t o tell him something else. Surely it was one more idiot of the lot a n d surely the cause of the water spilling o n him was his girlfriend, who perhaps caught him in the arms of a n other woman. Either way, h e wasn't going t o stick around t o find out. She turned around ready t o go back t o her friends.

"Hey! My handkerchief,” the man behind her stopped. It has great sentimental value,” h e added.

Aháva stopped a n d looked at the piece of cloth in her hands. The edges were sewn with gold thread a n d embroidered with initials. A. G. S. accompanied by a phrase: "With love, mom." She couldn't help but smile when she saw such a nice detail. h e turned a n d handed it t o her, flashing her a n  embarrassed little smile. h e turned around t o leave.

"Allow me, please, t o buy you a n other drink of…" The blond spoke a n d stared at the empty glass in Aháva's hand. Vodka? Tequila?

"No thanks," she said. I don't drink liquor.

"And what did you drink then?" h e inquired.

-Water.