Nat sat at her bar drumming her fingers on the surface of the counter.

There was girl in the corner booth, several drinks into a miserable time. Nat couldn't help but stare. She was gorgeous, with dark hair and deep hazel eyes, and Nat knew that the tears that streamed down her face only made her prettier.

Nat vaguely remembered her name started with an A. She hardly ever talked unless to order her favorite drink—a Bloody Mary.

She'd been coming here for the past two years, always sitting in her corner scribbling something on her notebook.

"You should go over," Nik said, lighting up a cigarette.

"You should mind your own business." She plucked the cigarette from his mouth and put it out in the ashtray. "No smoking in my bar. You know the rules."

Nik was unperturbed. He leaned forward, his eyes glinting. "Do you know what you need, my dearest sister?"

"A life?" she intoned.

"Yes, that too." He glanced at the girl who was in the booth, having a miserable time. "You need to get laid."

"Ugh."

"No, no!" Nik said, wagging his finger. "Hear me out. Either you find someone or mom will hook you up with a daughter of one of her socialite friends. Do you really want to endure that?"

Damn him. He was right.

Now that Ivan and Meera were going to officially tie the knot, their mother had turned her size gaze upon them.

"Ah, fuck!" She hissed. She grabbed a bottle from the top shelf and poured herself a shot.

"Hey, what about me?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Freeloaders don't get anything."

Nat downed a shot, hoping the liquid luck would actually help her this time and walked over to the girl.

"Hey." She said, sitting down across from her.

The girl looked up, her mascara running down her face. "Hey?"

"Look," Nat picked up a napkin and brought out her pen. "I'm a disaster, you're gorgeous. Here's my number. Call me."

She placed the napkin down in front of the bewildered girl. Nat opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. Her face burning as she sat down on the barstool.

She wanted another shot.

"Hey," the girl greeted her. She pushed her glasses up her nose. "You should probably ask somebody their name before you ask them out."

Nat held out her hand. "I'm Nat."

She smiled. "Alicia."

Nat recovered as she placed a Bloody Mary in front of her. "Look, I'm sorry. That was a bit brunt. I have a wedding this weekend—Not mine but a friends! Would you like to come with me?"

Alicia blinked, fiddling with her straw. "As a...friend?"

Nik was flapping his hands in the air behind her, silently telling her not to fuck this up. Nat shot him a glare and then dropped it remembering that Alicia was there.

She couldn't afford to fuck this up.

"No," she said, picking up a glass and pretending to clean it. She hoped she looked cool. "Actually I wanted you to be my plus one."

"Oh."

"So...Will you be my date?" Nat asked hopefully.

—

Ivan was smiling in that 'I'm-so-proud-of-you' big brother way which made her want to punch him. Of course Meera wouldn't allow that to happen but it was nice to imagine.

"Don't," she hissed at him.

"I didn't say anything."

Nat rolled her eyes and placed his gift on the table. "It's just a casual thing."

He adjusted his tie. "Oh, of course." He said. "I thought you staring at her from across the room was totally normal."

She was half tempted to take her gift back when Nik pushed her out of the room. Punching the groom on his wedding day would earn her Meera's wrath.

The ceremony was short and sweet. For a moment it looked as if Ivan would cry tears of joy.

Meera looked breathtaking in her dress. For a moment, Nat was floored.

There were a lot of tears when those two kissed, mostly from Don Roma and her mother.

The reception was held in a hotel that the Farewell family owed.

Alicia pulled Nat onto the dance floor.

"Relax," she said.

"I am."

She gave her a knowing smile and spun her around as she led them. "Stop focusing on everyone else. Who cares what they think?"

Nat laughed when Alicia dipped her. "I don't." She said. "Not even a little bit."

Alicia winked. "Good."

"Hey," Nat brushed a strand of hair out of her face "Why did you say yes to me? I thought I fucked it up when I asked you out?"

"Well..." Alicia contemplated as she pulled her into a spin. "I've had my eye on you for a while. You asked me before I could muster up the courage to say something."

Huh.

Nat caught the sight of Meera and Ivan dancing. His hand was pressed against the small of her back and he smiled so brightly that it felt blinding. Meera couldn't look away from him even if she tried.

She wanted a love like that.

She wanted someone she could feel safe with.

Maybe Alicia could be that person.

Nat let Alicia pull her along before pulled her away from the dance floor.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

Nat needed some air and somewhere quiet. She knew just the place.

"My place."

"And then?"

Nat smiled. "Honey, I'll take you anywhere you want."