I don't think I reached for my phone once all night. Not even when it lit up with a notif, or to check the hour, or even answer a call from Shay. I was too enveloped in conversation after conversation with Lincoln.
It was so nice to finally put a name to this face. Finally he wasn't just the tall man who saved me. He was Lincoln, the tall man who'd save me!
We laughed and laughed, sharing silly stories of sessions and morning afters. Just recalling all my best memories to someone who wasn't there, leaving it to him to try and visualize through my eyes the nights getting pissed in the streets and having a grand ole time! It felt like a long time since I'd really shared so much with someone.
"Well miss Aerie, you seem to lead a very fulfilled life thus far," he said, swigging the last of his beer.
I stirred the straw in my cocktail, looking down. "I used to, not so much these days," I said, immediately regretting my words.
"Why's that?" he asked, as I feared he would.
"Just not as keen," I lied. He nodded, and I was happy that I wouldn't have to delve into the dark corner of my mind.
"So why do you let your friends-" he put his hands up and did air quotes. "Drag you around to those shitty clubs?"
I sat up straighter. "Well, what were you doing there?"
He smirked. "Checkmate."
I looked on intently, and he caught my eye, seeming confused.
"Oh, you actually want to know," he said. "Okay well, I... followed some of my friends who wanted to check out the place."
"So, what you're saying is..."
"I let my friends drag me to some shitty club, yes."
I laughed.
"Didn't stay long though, that's for sure."
I looked up at him. Suddenly the details flooded my mind once more. The three boys on the ground, and Lincoln left standing. Without having seen anything, too afraid and curled up on the wall, face buried behind hands to see just want had happened. Now was the chance. I could ask him. Though I knew the answer, he beat the daylights out of them. But deeper than that. How did he know I was out there? How did he know I was in trouble?
I turned and opened my mouth to talk, when all of sudden, a small bell chimed over everyone's conversations. I turned, catching a bartender reaching up ringing it. Lincoln frowned, turning to me.
"The hell's that?" he questioned.
"Last call," I answered.
Wait...
I snatched my phone up and gawked at the screen. "It's two-fifty!" I exclaimed.
"Time flies," he smiled.
"Shite," I cursed, combing my fingers through my hair. "I never phoned for a cab!"
"Well there's not a chance you're gettin' one now," he stated. I frowned. "All the drunk blokes are gonna be calling in to get home, and not to offend you but you don't seem like the fighting type."
He was right. How stupid of me. I felt like a complete eejit. I'd stolen him from his company entirely when he offered to wait for my cab with me. Now I'd have to wait even longer thanks to the crowd. I buried my face in my hands, shaking my head.
"I'm so sorry Lincoln," I muttered.
I turned back up, the guilt eating me alive, but he looked downright confused.
