Did I just... make out with a famous VIP?!
The handsome VIP looks at me with a questioning glare, and I quickly try to offer some kind of justification.
“I-I’m so sorry!” I stutter out, taking several steps back. “I… I just…” I flounder for a moment. How the hell would I be able to explain myself? Nobody normally kisses random strangers because of a stupid dare! I decide to just lie, hoping I don’t slur my words and come across as some kind of drunk sleaze.
“I just thought you were someone else!” I squeak out. “It’s dim in here, I-I didn’t realize…”
The VIP just raises a singular eyebrow, and the gesture alone takes my breath away. Now that I can see him clearer, it's plain to see just how unfairly handsome he is. His expression shifts to one of disdain.
“Right,” he begins, and his voice demands attention from everyone around us. He looks to the bar owner, who still has my arm in his grasp. “Do you normally allow this kind of behavior in your establishment?”
“No! Of course not Mr. Avarise.” The bar owner clearly wants to impress the guy. Mr. Avarise gives a faint nod to me, as if I’m nothing more than dirt on his shoe.
“Then I suggest you get rid of the problem.” He says offhandedly. I feel like I should be offended for only a moment before the more rational side of my brain takes over. It was kind of a dick move to kiss him without permission, I think, and my shame grows even further.
“Certainly, certainly.” The bar owner begins to drag me off, and I stumble in his grasp. The VIP, Mr. Avarise, just gives a curt note and walks on, giving me one last piercing stare before he leaves to go towards the upstairs of the bar, followed by the blond man and his entire entourage. They’re probably going to the exclusive VIP area on the upper floor, I realize.
Once they leave, the bar owner lets go of me, and I see Bella walk up to where I am. It’s right about now I notice just how many people were looking at this entire scene. This just keeps getting worse and worse! I internally scream.
“Okay, so, I can’t really kick you out over something like that, but…” The bar owner sighs, and holds up some strange looking clips of paper. “Here are some free vouchers. If I give these to you, could I close your tab early and see you out?”
“Of course!” Bella interrupts, grabbing the vouchers out of his hand. “We were just leaving anyway!” I feel myself nodding along. I am way too embarrassed by that entire affair to be sitting around the people who just saw me do that.
Bella takes over closing the tab, and I cannot wait to get out of there. It's clear the other patrons were watching the entire scene, and all of my attention is focused on trying to leave. As soon as we walk out into the cool night air, Bella lets out a high, shrill laugh.
“Woooow! I didn’t know you had that in you!” She hollers, and I just put my face into my hands.
“That’s probably the boldest thing you’ve ever done, Aria! I’m so proud, they grow up so fast!!” Bella chimes in cheerily, looping her arm in mine as we start our drunk walk home.
“I’m never doing something like that again.” I vow. “Seriously, it's just my luck he ended up being some big shot, huh!”
“I know! What are the odds! It’s a shame he didn’t seem to appreciate your attention.” Bella shakes her head. “You could’ve probably gotten his number if he had less of a stick up his ass!”
“Yeah, right. Anyone normal would do the same thing if a random person kissed them out of nowhere.” I assert. “I was the asshole there, if anything.”
“I dunno, that kiss did seem really passionate, though.” Bella sighs wistfully, but I can tell she’s trying to be funny. “Perhaps in another life…. I can see it now! Aria, the rich CEO’s doting wife!”
“Oh, stop.” I scoff, shoving her playfully. “If you’re done telling jokes, let’s focus on getting home. I’d rather not hear about whatever daydream fantasy you have in your head about my love life.”
I wake up the next morning to a piercing headache and a lingering feeling of shame. A typical Monday morning, all things considered.
I slowly go through my morning routine, rolling out of bed, getting dressed, cursing myself for not drinking enough water the night before. It’s only when I brush my teeth in the mirror that I remember everything that happened last night, and I let out a weary groan of suffering.
I am the worst human alive, I think, shoving my head into my hands. I am never going to drink tequila with Bella on Sundays ever again!!
As my headache dissipates (thank you, painkillers), I notice that another part of my body seems to be smarting as well. I peel back my shirt collar to reveal a strange looking mark. It looks almost like a burn, my skin raised red in the shape of crescent around my collarbone.
When did I get that? I wonder. Probably something I did last night and forgot about. I write it off, vowing to pick up some kind of ointment for it while I’m out, and continue my morning routine.
I dress pretty casually for today, partially because I’m taking care of a large amount of dogs for today and partially because I am way too hungover to wear something cute but uncomfortable. I slip on some shades and head out the door to begin my walking route, picking up the dogs I need to walk along the way.
Being a dog walker isn't glamorous, it's true, but it's something fun to do to make money along with my other part time jobs. Besides, my neighbors’ dogs are unfairly adorable, and they need someone to walk them while everyone else is away at work. I’ve always been a dog lover, so I don’t really mind the simplicity of the job.
I walk along with the various dogs, feeling a bit better as my headache lessons with every step. Seeing as it's a nice day, I decide to swing by the park.
All five of the dogs seem excited to play in the wide space today, so I quicken my pace to keep up with them.
That is, until all of the dogs in my care suddenly come to a dead stop. Each one of them is looking forward, ears high and on alert. I’m a bit confused by the behavior, I’ve been walking them for a while and they’ve never done anything like this.
I try to determine what has them on alert, and that's when I notice an extremely large dog bounding toward us.
The dog appears to be a husky, but it's huge, much larger than any husky I’ve seen. I could almost confuse it for a wolf, until it gets closer and begins to try and sniff at me.
My other dogs seem scared of it, moving out of its way and whimpering, trying to be still. These dogs are never still, so I exercise caution when I put my hand out for the husky to sniff.
It nuzzles my hand, and it doesn't look aggressive in any way. It doesn't really seem all too dangerous… I think. I decide to bury my hands in its soft fur, giving it a few long head scratches. The wolf, no, husky, seems happy to be given attention.
“Who is your owner, little guy?” I say offhandedly, not really expecting a response.
“Sorry, that would be me.” I’m startled by the shout of a deep, familiar male voice. I quickly remove my attention from the dog and spin around, coming face to face with that same handsome guy from last night running up to me.
He isn’t dressed as sharply as he was last night, but he is still a sight to behold. Broad shoulders under a clean white button down, dark long pants which are somehow free of any dog hair.
His long black hair is tied up, revealing graying sideburns. The sun reveals that the dim lightning in the bar didn't hide anything, he really was just as handsome as I remembered!
“O-Oh, sorry, he’s, uh, pretty friendly, huh?” Shit! Just my luck! I inwardly panic, pulling myself away from his husky. I hope he doesnt recognize me!
He narrows his gray eyes at me, and I’m once again captivated by that lingering stare. The hope of me remaining unrecognizable dies in my throat at his words.
“Oh. Why is it you again?”
