TINA'

a?" I asked, my voice steady de

ped tumbler. He poured the golden liquid expertly in

murmured, tak

, letting the liquor roll across my tongue before swallowing. The smooth start gave way to a sharp burn at the

ch. It was seven minutes

would be almost impossible. Looks like I'll be stuck her

Just

he other, the glasses emptied until I was on my fourth. The world

r, probably because I was drunk or high through most of it. Taylor didn't discover my habit until after high school when she caught me chugging down a bottle of vodka afte

er, the caretaker, and the mom. She begged me countless times to get a job, but who would hire someone a high schoo

is would've been her burden if I hadn't begged for that stupid costume. If I'd just listened to Mom instea

of the owners. I remember sitting by the door, waiting for Dad to come home with the perfect costume. I knew he'd get the prettiest

e so I could have one. And I've never forgiven myself for it. Every year, the guilt gnaws at me, reminding me of the life Tay

tap was persistently intruding on my privacy which got me pissed. I turned sharply in the direction of where

t held liquor. "The man over there," he began, pointing to the far corner of the room wh

t if he wants to buy me a drink, he should be bold enough to approach me himself? T

my nose. Instinctively, my head turned toward the source of the scent. My eyes met the most beautiful man I had ever s

A chiseled jawline dotted with stubble stretched from below his left earlobe to bene

ace me. "Sorry for earlier. I didn't mean to come off as r

nfusion. "How does what

y, thus inviting her to y

ng mistaken for a h

a bit tipsy," I admitted. "You know, comments like that might work sometimes-mainly

n it that way. I promise I didn't think you were a hooker-not that you couldn't be one if you wanted to!" He groaned a

nervous energy. "Your first time at

.. a guy who could easily pass as a club regular, the type t

ted into a scowl. "What d

Maybe he felt like I wa

It was rude of me to snap lik

tina H

lted into a soft smile.

what finally brings you to the club t

ck trousers creasing slightly. "Well, I followed my younger

"And now you want to buy me a dr

uickly. "I've been watching yo

and creepy, but I promise you, I mean you no harm. Fingers crossed." He raised his hands

t would say that too," I sa

just a guy who finds the lady in front of him attractive." He met my gaz

ach into his pocket, but I raised my hand. "Wai

no choice. I'm a Doctor. I work for a very famous hospital. You must have he

ded.

pade Medical Institute. You should find a

n my bag, and I'm too wasted to dig it out

Valentina, why are y

that is my life," I said wi

e, we fell into awkward silence and I

nt to stress myself thinking about where I had

name was Ac

h