27

The last few days flew by. Today was said Thursday. My family, except for Alejandro, still didn't speak a single word to me. I once tried to get my papá to talk to me, but he ignored me as if I were nothing. Adriana was there the day before yesterday and tried to get my mind off things, but nothing helped. Again and again Domenico buzzed around in my head. It was like it was a virus that I couldn't get rid of.

I fervently hoped that after several days, my feelings for him would fade and I would be able to hate him wholeheartedly. But my heart gave me a huge spanner in the works. Despite everything, my heart wanted Domenico. It still beat for him despite the shit he pulled. And it hurt.

Last night I looked through my gallery and cried at least two liters of tears looking at all the photos with him. And I couldn't bring myself to delete them. I don't know why, but something in me really urged me not to do it.

I snorted and let my head fall onto my pillow. I'm bored. Normally I would annoy my siblings now, but that's bad if they don't talk to you. Alejandro wasn't at home. Adriana was my last hope. When she picked up my call after a short ring, a completely different face appeared. I looked perplexed.

"Hola hermana," Alejandro grinned mischievously at the camera. I looked at him confused. "Why do you answer when I call my best friend?" I asked. Great, that meant she didn't have time. Argh.

"Mhh, maybe because I'm spending time with my pretty girlfriend?" he replied in a questioning tone while grinning crookedly. "You creep!" I heard Adriana laugh before she took the phone away from him. "Are you okay?" she asked worried.

She probably thinks I want to cry all over her again. For the past few days I've been calling her and crying all over her and telling her how miserable I feel. And how stupid I am. And and and.

"Yes," I sighed, sitting properly. "I just wanted to ask you if we want to do something," I said, looking disgustedly at the camera. "But you're busy with something else now," I said, disgusted. I'm getting used to the fact that my best friend is dating my brother, but it's still gross. Not that she's telling me how good sex is with him.

I quickly shook my head to dismiss that thought. Because if there was one thing I wasn't using at the moment, it was a head cinema.

"Oh, we can do something tomorrow or something," she said apologetically. "Si," I nodded. "Have fun then," I said quickly and hung up.

I dropped my phone on my bed and thought. What could I do but cry and look at old pictures with Domenico?

Maybe I should forget about him for a night and have some fun. That's it! I quickly jumped up from my bed and darted into my closet. And what better way to forget than drinking and dancing? I wanted to forget Domenico, at least for a night. I wanted to get rid of that unbearable pain in my chest when I thought about him, at least for one night.

-

I pondered my appearance in the mirror. I wore a burgundy dress that reached mid-thigh, paired with black high heels. I curled my hair and put on a little makeup on my face. "Well you hottie!", I said to my reflection. "Okay, that's weird!" I mumbled and turned away. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my cell phone from my dressing table and called Rodrigo. "Miss Fernández, what can I do for you?" he replied. "Where are you?" I asked while putting on some more perfume. "In the foyer, Miss." "Fine, stay there!" I said and hung up. I grabbed my bag, which contained everything I needed, and made my way downstairs.

Rodrigo and another security guard were standing there. I really wondered how they can always be so serious. "Rodrigo, I want you to drive me into town," I demanded. Normally I would have driven myself, but I didn't know how much I would drink today. Or how much I have to drink to forget Domenico. "Miss Fernández, I don't know if your dad-" "How old am I?" I snapped seriously. "Excuse me?" he asked confused. "Rodrigo, you've been working for my family for so long before I was even born. So I ask you: how old am I? And I hate to repeat myself." I didn't mean to come across as snotty, but it just pissed me off that everyone sees me as a little kid. This had to stop!

"You're 22, miss," he answered me. "Exactly Rodrigo, I'm 22 years old. That means I'm an adult. So nobody has that say about me anymore. Not my father and neither my brothers, so I would kindly ask them to do their job now which they also get paid to drive me into town," I smiled. He swallowed perplexed, as if he hadn't expected it, but he slowly began to nod.

His gaze slid to the other. "Call Pablo and tell him to cover for me while I drive Miss Fernández," he told the other. He nodded and immediately pulled his phone out of his pocket.

-

"When should I pick you up again?" Rodrigo asked when we stopped in front of a club. "I don't know yet if I'm going to sleep at home at all, maybe I'll sleep in one of my apartments. And if not, then I'll call you," I said and got out without another word.

I ran towards the entrance in quick steps, with one goal. To get drunk. With a nod of welcome, the bouncer let me in. The beat of the loud music immediately pounded into my ears and the all-too-familiar club scent hit me.

I headed straight for the bar and sank onto a stool with a contented sigh. "What would you like for the beautiful woman?" the bartender wanted to know with a friendly smile. "A vodka."

"Hey you! Come over here," I slurred, gesturing with my index finger for the bartender to come over. Laughing, he came to me and supported himself with both elbows on the counter. "Do you want another one?" he asked, laughing. "Yes," I smirked and pushed my shot glass towards him.

"Don't bartenders always talk to people and listen to their problems?" I asked dreamily. The alcohol was really tough. He pushed my glass towards me and eyed me for a moment before answering. "Occasionally," he replied, leaning back on the counter. I took the glass in my hand and drained it in one gulp, like the others before me. After 8 I stopped counting. "What's your name?" I mumbled curiously.

"Helmut," he grinned. "Nice to meet you, Helmut! I'm Cayetana," I babbled and held out my hand. "The pleasure is all mine, Cayetana," he laughed, shaking my hand.

"Where are you from? I've never heard that name before and I don't know your accent either," I questioned curiously, pointing to my glass, which meant something like: I want another one. Apparently he understood that and took my glass and refilled it with vodka. "From Germany," he replied, handing me my drink. "Oh how cool! I've always wanted to go to Germany!" I cheered happily. "Say hello to the Germans for me, Helmut," I slurred, laughing, and put my glass to my lips. "I will," he laughed.

Helmut looked at me questioningly. "Would you like to tell me about your problems, Cayetana?" he asked. I cocked my head in confusion. "What do you mean?" I babbled. "Well, you just asked me if bartenders always listen to people's problems. So I wanted to ask you if you would like to tell me about yours," he replied.

"How do you know I'm in trouble?" I slurred. "If you didn't have one, you certainly wouldn't get drunk all by yourself," he laughed. OK, that's right. I sighed and rested my head on my palms. "All my family doesn't talk to me anymore except my favorite brother," I sighed. "And my boyfriend was just kidding me the whole time," I whined, slurring. "Oh that's lousy," he said sympathetically. "I need another one," I said, pointing to my glass because Domenico was still not forgotten.

"Why doesn't your family, apart from your favorite brother, talk to you anymore?" Helmut wanted to know after he had put my glass, which was full again, in front of his nose. "Longeeeeeee story," I slurred, drawing out the e. Helmut laughed.

"But actually I came here to forget about Domenico, so distract me," I begged him. He laughed again. "Tell me about Germany! How is it there?" I asked him. "Some cities are really beautiful. Once you're there, you definitely have to go to Halle, Leipzig, Magdeburg or Berlin," he said. I nodded dreamily, although I'd probably already forgotten about tomorrow. "I was going to try my bes-" "Cayetana?" a familiar voice interrupted.

I turned to him, grinning. "Ángelinoooo!" I giggled and looked at Ángel. Today he looked particularly good again. Delighted, I turned back to Helmut. "Helmut, this is Ángel, my best friend's hot brother," I introduced him and pointed to Ángel, who eyed me with amusement. "Ángel, this is Helmut, the bartender." "So you think I'm hot, huh?" Ángel whispered in my ear. Goosebumps formed all over my body and I swallowed.

Then looked him in the face. "Well, you don't look like shit," I babbled, shrugging. Suddenly Ángel eyed me seriously. "How much have you been drinking, Tana?" he wanted to know. I shrugged, lost in thought. "I have noaaaaaaay idea," I giggled. "How much did she drink?" he asked Helmut. "I stopped counting on the 10th glass," he replied. "And what was she drinking?" he asked before placing two $100 bills on the counter. "Vodkaaaaa," I said proudly and grinned. Suddenly Ángel grabbed my bag from the counter and grabbed my arms. "Hey!" I complained. "I haven't even danced yet! Let me go," I scolded, slurring. "Cayetana, you're drunk I'm taking you out of here now!" he replied carelessly.

Like a stubborn toddler, I stood still. It was difficult to go against Ángel. "As you wish," he murmured, and the next second he was throwing me over his shoulder. "ÁNGEL!" I screamed and wriggled like crazy, but he didn't care. A little later we were already in the fresh air. "Ángel, I swear to you, if you don't let me down now, I'll castrate you!" I slurred angrily. Suddenly Ángel stopped dead in his tracks. "Dios, finally," I babbled. Moments passed and he still wouldn't let me down. "Hellooooo?" I slurred, punching his back. Suddenly he let me down.

My fingernails gripped his arm tightly as I almost lost my balance. "Say crazy-" And I couldn't finish my sentence, because suddenly he was in my field of vision.

Everything about me stiffened as I eyed Domenico. He looked at me and I couldn't read his expression. I didn't know what to say, the words literally stuck in my throat. "Cayetana..." he breathed. I couldn't react that fast when Ángel stormed towards him. I gasped audibly as he grabbed Domenico's collar and pressed against the club's facade. Domenico was by no means scared, but he put up with it. "Leave her alone! You've done enough already!" Ángel growled angrily. "Do you think your protective nature will win you over, López? We both know which of us she loves!" Domenico said provocatively. "It was my name she moaned through the night, not yours, Ángel." He pronounced the Ángel so disparagingly. "Ángel, stop it!" I slurred as I saw him grip his collar even tighter while I wobbled uncontrollably.

I cried out in shock when Ángel's fist suddenly landed in Domenico's face. Blood flowed from Domenico's nose. He groaned in pain and pinched his nose before leaning his head back slightly. "Don't go near her anymore du Bas-" "Ángel!" I hissed in a slurred voice, feeling my eyes starting to sting. I had one goal tonight. A single.

Why was luck never on my side?! Both of their eyes shot to me. Ángel shook out his hand and approached me. "Would you please take me away from here?" I asked as a tear rolled down my cheek. I felt Domenico's burning gaze on me. He shouldn't look at me. I really felt his closeness, but I didn't want that. Even though I've been longing for him so much these past few days.