Unveiling Destiny

Chapter 3: Griffin

Pulling the angel in front of me into my arms, I lead us around the dance floor, greedily keeping her closer than I normally would when dancing with a stranger.

She glances up at me shyly, and I drink her in. My gaze roams over her piercing blue eyes and the small smattering of freckles splashed across her nose and cheeks. My eyes land on her plump and glossy lips, begging me to meet them with my own.

She's even more stunning up close.

"So, we never really had a proper introduction," I say, breaking the silence. "My name's Griffin."

I focus to keep my eyes trained on hers instead of staring at her lips as she offers me her name in return. "Aria."

"Aria," I say, testing her name on my lips. "I have to admit, I think our little meet-cute is the most unique way I've ever asked someone to dance."

"Sorry." She flushes, embarrassed. "You didn't have to step in."

I stare down at her, my eyebrows high on my forehead. "I ‌did. He had no right to touch you."

He's actually lucky I didn't break his arm for grabbing her the way he did, but she doesn't need to know that.

"Anyway, I don't regret my actions, so there's no reason to be sorry. Plus, stepping in not only allowed me to put a true asshat in his place, but I also got to meet the most beautiful girl in the bar while doing so." Spinning her around, I pull her close again and continue. "Otherwise, I'm not sure I would have even been able to get close to you. I would have had to fight through every other guy in the bar after your performance on stage earlier. Stepping in was a win-win. "

She snorts. "That's not even close to true. No one paid me any attention outside of the reason that I have a half decent voice."

I'm sorry... What?

Does she really not know how ridiculously gorgeous she is?

"Aria. Believe me, you did not go unnoticed. Pretty sure every dude in the bar had their eyes on you."

"You're exaggerating," she says with an eye roll.

"I'm not," I say. And, because I apparently have no control over my mouth, I continue. "My friends ‌told me to pick my jaw up off the table and make my move before someone else did. Sure enough, when I looked around, there wasn't a single set of eyes that wasn't glued to you."

She pulls away from my chest, sending my heart into an uneven beat as she tilts her head, her brilliant blue eyes searching mine. Wondering if I said too much, I anxiously wait for her to speak.

"You're serious," she finally says.

She still seems unsure, making me wonder what asshole committed the crime of fucking with her so much that she doesn't realize she's an eleven out of ten.

Whoever it is should do jail time.

I smile gently at her, trying to make her believe me. "A straight knockout walks out on stage and has an amazing voice to top it off. How could anyone not stare?"

She chuckles slightly, shaking her head. "You're winning yourself brownie points. I'll give you that."

I give her a wicked grin, enjoying the way she fits against me as we move together, until the song eventually ends. I lead her off the floor and back to her table, where a few of her friends wait.

She smiles sweetly at me as we near her seat. "Thank you. I had fun."

Her smile sends a shot through me, and I realize there's no way I'll be dancing with anyone else tonight. More than that, I don't want anyone else to put their hands on her tonight.

Taking a chance, I push for more.

"Me too. Care to be my dance partner for the night? I hate social dancing. You just never know who you're getting."

I wait on bated breath for her answer, wondering if she feels the energy between us, too. For a hellish moment, she looks torn, but then her face clears and she shoots me a bright smile.

"Sounds like a deal to me. This way, I don't have to worry about getting dropped."

I forget about the fact that I broke up with my ex less than a few hours ago. Standing in front of Aria, all I can think is that my night just got a hell of a lot better with that answer.

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A shorter chapter for y'all this time! The next chapter is the last one at the Barrel and then we will have a new setting, I promise! I think the details of their first meeting are super important, and it's important to know where each of them are coming from as they meet for the first time.

What do we think so far? Thoughts on their meet cute? On their chemistry?

XOXO,

Aly

P.S. The next part will be up on Aug 2nd in the evening!