What would you do if you felt your life slipping between your fingers?
I stared into the dregs of the beer mug sitting in front of me. My distorted reflection glared back, looking pissed at the fact she was trapped in a dirty mug of cheap beer. I almost envied her.
"Shot of whiskey," A deep voice said next to me, "And something better for her."
I looked up to see a rather handsome imp seated on the barstool next to me. In my foul mood, I felt insulted by the gesture. But despite my glare, he grinned as though I had just told some sort of fantastic joke. Rolling my eyes, I looked pointedly away.
The bartender looked between us as he set the ordered drinks down with a clink. I took my beer and tipped it to my lips, surprised to find the pleasant taste of some imported brand.
"I knew you would come around," The stranger next to me chuckled. I thought of a million and one things I could say but decided on just keeping my mouth shut.
After a moment, he continued, "This isn't exactly the kind of dive women come to if they want to be alone. So what's your story?"
"Look," I finally said, turning to him, "I've been a regular here for years. I'm well aware of the risks. I don't need a knight in shining armor."
"She speaks," The imp grinned, a gold tooth glinting in the dim light. Offering his hand for me to shake, he added, "The name's Striker."
Against my better judgment, I shook his hand, "(Y/N)."
Striker looked me up and down, leaning back in his chair, "Then at the risk of making even more of a fool of myself, can I ask you for a dance?"
I thought about it for a second. All things considered, he hadn't been an absolute pig. With a sigh, I replied, "Fine. One dance. But nothing more."
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Nowhere But Up | A Striker x Reader Story
RomanceWhen you hit rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up. And sometimes, you have the opportunity to meet that special someone along the way.
