Page 56 of Embriagado

Debating how to ask what I wanted, I bit my lip, fingers tapping on my empty glass. “Have you ever tried remembering something you forgot?”

“The hell you on about, babe?”

With my eyes locked on the glass, I sighed. “Someone told me something while I was dead-ass wasted, and I can’t remember what it was.”

“Tried asking them about it?”

I huffed, because yeah, I had, but the guy was a complete psycho.

“I can’t really ask him, so any suggestions?”

Finally looking at her, I hoped she’d have a legit idea because so far, I’d come up with nothing. And being unable to remember what he’d said was driving me nuts.

“Well…” She pursed her lips. “Maybe try meditation? Sometimes it helps.”

My brows creased into a frown. “Meditation?”

“Yeah. Like yoga.”

“Do I look like the type to do yoga?”

Narrowing her eyes at me, she gave me a once-over. “As a matter of fact, you do.”

“Fuck off,” I said and got up.

“Gladly,” she giggled.

“Thanks for the drink. Catch up later?”

“Sure, babe,” she said, already back at her work.

Knowing I should do the same, I walked outside, taking my sweet time. The hotel wasn’t at full capacity, which was nice, as it meant less noise and work. Maybe that was why I hadn’t seen Ariyan today. Thinking about it, he could have taken the day off. But then again, why did I care to begin with? The less I saw his face, the better.

“What the fuck?” I tensed after noticing the cactus wasn’t where I’d left it. Running over there, I hoped it was hiding behind a bush, although how could it be? It was a fucking plant.

“Fucking shit,” I hissed, seeing that it truly was gone. Brushing the sweat off my forehead, I looked around.

I’m so screwed.

Knowing better than to wait, I got my ass moving, searching for the damn cactus that hopefully hadn’t gone too far. Running around the hotel’s garden paths, I ended up in the back parking lot just in time to see two men loading the cactus into a van. Fuck, were they stealing it? Ready to charge at them, I took a deep breath.

“Hey, you sons of bitche⁠—”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Rivas.”

My eyes widened, and feeling as if a motherfuckin’ ghost came to haunt me, I flinched.

If only it were a ghost.

Pressing my lips together so I wouldn’t swear at him, I slowly turned around to see Ariyan right behind me.

“What were you just about to say?” he asked, stepping forward without meeting my stare.

Rubbing the back of my head, I forced a smile. “I have no clue what you mean.”

“Is that so?” He stopped ahead of me, his face toward the van, while I stared at his back. “Because to me, it sounded like you were about to swear.” He glanced at me over his shoulder, eyes narrowing. “Didn’t I say you’d have to learn to behave?”

Gripped by rage, I clenched my fists. But knowing he was doing it on purpose, I forced down my anger and said, “They were stealing the cactus.”