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Clamor—music, laughter, and clinking glasses— is carrying right through the door before Adrik even opens it. I look at his grin as he grabs the handle, swinging it towards us and ushering me in with his hand. Despite everything in me not wanting to do this, I suck it up and push myself forward. On the inside it’s how I’d imagine a place like this in a town so quaint, to be. Completely and totally crowded, dimly lit, torches everywhere. Long wooden tables, a fireplace in the back. I feel like I’m about to go on a quest to another kingdom and this is where I’m meant to meet some fairy who has the power to heal the land.
Unfortunately, that’s not the story I’m in. If anything, I’m more like Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Instead of being on a mystical quest, I’m trapped in the Beast’s clutches, waiting for Vince to rescue me. I’m not even in a story where I can save myself, I’m not the hero, I’m the stupid damsel in distress. And Adrik truly does distress me. Not just because we’re complete opposites, but because he’s such an asshole that he can’t see past his own reflection.
He points to the bartender with a large black beard and thick framed glasses that make his eyes look huge. The man perks up like he recognizes us and waves a thick hairy hand in our direction.
“That’s Kuznetsov.”
“Kuznit—Ku—“
“Let’s just let me do the talking. Kay?” He pats me on the head patronizingly and I furrow my brows up at him as we approach the bar.
“Ivan Ivanov!” The thick Russian accent comes through as the man chuckles at nothing in particular.
“Mircolin Kuznetsov!”
“It’s been long time,tovarishch!”
“Too long!” Adrik agrees. I’m completely confused, but despite Adrik telling me to keep my mouth shut, I stick out my hand to the man.
“I’m—“
Adrik quickly cuts me off. “This is my wife, Nina Ivanova.” I slowly turn my eyes towards him, confused. The bar tender chuckles deeply and nods.
“Nice to meet you,dorogoy.” The crinkles in his pink cheeks deepen, and I nod gently. “Please, find a seat! Enjoy.” He motions to the tables and Adrik nods with a grin, saying something to him in Russian that I can’t decipher, and then we find a seat by the fireplace at the end of a long table.
We sit in silence for a while, listening to a violinist play stance folksy songs and watching the fire dance to them. Adrik’s eyes don’t falter from me. I can tell he’s watching intently, and I’m nearly done with it. Why pick now to show an interest in me?
It’s just as Vince said, he’s a flirt, a seducer. I just need to stick to my guns and keep playing along.
“You want a drink?” He calls over the noise of the pub, and I turn my head to him, resting my chin in my hand.
“Sure.” I shrug, and he looks down at my lips then back to my eyes. He doesn’t break that dazed deep stare into my soul. I wonder how many girls that works for. Probably a lot, considering his reputation.
“What do you want? Some frilly drink? Something sweet?” He sarcastically gasps, fingertips to chest. “Oh, I know, a cosmopolitan!” I lower my brows, lips parted in shock by how quickly he can become his usual annoying self.
“I’ll take an IPA.” I blink, and he blinks right back, cocking his head to the side in amusement.
“A beer?”
“Yes.”
“You want a beer?”
The crease between my brows deepens. “Yes. That’s what I just said.”
“Okay.” He tilts his head suggestively and stands to his feet. “She wants a beer.” I hear him say to himself as he walks away with an amused grin. I roll my eyes and settle more into my seat, looking back at the fire and admiring its beauty. As incredible as it is– resting by the fire like this– I know that what it is, is dangerous. I couldn’t reach for it, or it’d burn me, couldn’t match its heat even if I wanted to.
Some things are just like that— beautiful to look at, but never to touch.
He comes back with our drinks rather quickly, considering the growing crowd, and I reach for mine as he sits back down. He pulls it away from me in response, and I cock my head in question.
“Is that not my drink?”
“Not yet.”
I shake my head. “You actually can’t go more than an hour without getting under my skin.”
He tilts his chin and I hate that I find it so hot. “It’s too much fun not to.”
