He stepped out of his car and slammed the door shut. His friend, who was leaning against the hood of another car, raised an eyebrow.
"Dude, what the hell happened to you?"
The man looked down at his shirt, still stained with dried coffee. "Some woman threw her drink at me," he said flatly. "A prostitute, I think."
his friend chuckled, trying not to laugh. "Wait, what? Seriously?"
The man shot him a glare. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, man," his friend said, still trying to hold back his laugh. "Guess you must've really pissed her off."
"She started it first," he muttered and brushed past him, heading for the house.
Inside, he tossed his keys on the counter and went straight to the shower. The hot water ran down his skin, washing away the stickiness, but not the memory. Her face wouldn't leave his mind. The way she glared at him. The anger in her voice.
He let out a frustrated sigh and pressed his palms against the shower wall.
''Fuck!" he muttered under his breath. "Why can't I stop thinking about her?"
''Our words carried us to a cruel fate''
Arianna arrived at the wedding venue, where the decorators were still setting up flowers and arranging tables. She spotted Otto near the archway and walked up to him with a bright smile.
"Hey, Otto," she said, wrapping her arms around him.
"Hey, Anna," he greeted warmly, his hand resting on her waist. "Why are you late?"
Arianna hesitated for a second. She didn't want to tell him what really happened earlier. "Oh, um… traffic jam," she said quickly.
Otto nodded, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "You should try to be five minutes early next time, okay? By the way, where's your coffee? You said you were getting some."
Arianna rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "Oh, I already finished it while waiting in traffic."
He raised an eyebrow but chuckled. "You and your coffee. You really can't live without it, huh?"
Arianna laughed softly. Otto laced his fingers with hers and guided her toward the main setup.
"So, what do you think of the decorations?" he asked, looking around proudly.
Arianna's eyes lit up as she took in the soft lights, the white roses, and the flowing drapes swaying in the breeze. "I love it. I can't wait to marry you," she said with a wide smile.
Otto smiled back. "Me too. I can't wait to see that beautiful smile every morning, to hold you close, to have you beside me. My bed won't feel lonely anymore."
Arianna's cheeks flushed, her excitement bubbling up. "You really know how to make me blush," she said, laughing.
Otto chuckled. "Well, only for my favorite girl."
Arianna squeezed his hand and looked around once more. "An outdoor wedding," she said softly. "You really do know my taste."
He leaned closer and kissed her forehead. "Of course I do," he said. "You're my everything, Anna."
10 P.M.
Garrett kept his eyes on the road. He glanced at his friend. "Still pissed about the girl who threw coffee at you?" he asked, clearing his throat.
"Tanner, just forget it. Later you'll stop thinking about it," Garrett said.
"She embarrassed me. What a slut!" Tanner barked
"How do you know she's a slut or a prostitute?" Garrett shot back. "Just because she was rude to you doesn't mean you can call her that."
"Oh, shut up, Gar," Tanner snapped. Garrett sighed and kept driving.
They pulled up outside a nightclub. Garrett and Tanner stepped out and walked inside, where Alexis and Matthew were already waiting. The club was loud and pulsing, a wash of light and bass.
Alexis looked at Tanner. He sat down without touching his drink. "What's wrong with Tanner?" Alexis whispered to Garrett.
"Pissed off about some girl," Garrett replied.
Alexis nodded and didn't ask more. Garrett and Matthew fell into conversation, but Tanner stayed silent, lost in his thoughts. After a while, he turned toward Alexis.
"Alex, I need you to do something for me," Tanner said.
Alexis set down his drink and looked at him. "What is it?"
"Get me information on that girl," Tanner said. "There's a café by the barber shop. If you see a woman with long dark hair, take a picture of her and do something that makes her talk to you."
Alexis stared at him for a moment, his expression unreadable. The noise of the club seemed to fade around them.
"Tanner," he said finally, "what the hell are you planning?"
Tanner leaned back, his eyes cold. "Just find her. I'll handle the rest."
Alexis blinked, the question hanging between them for a moment. Around them the club beat on, indifferent to Tanner's plan.
To be continued…