Page 72 of Fated

I shrugged as Joe poured two drinks, sliding them over. Ash watched me intently as he took a sip, and I mirrored him, bringing the glass to my lips. The burn was immediate, the fieryliquid racing down my throat, and it made me cough, sputtering in surprise.

“That’s disgusting!” My face scrunched in a look of pure disgust.

Joe and Ash both tipped their heads back, laughing loudly. I tried to glare at them but the sight of Ash laughing so freely with a friend brought nothing but a bright smile to my face.

“Why on earth do you drink that? It’s positively awful!”

“You ordered it,” Ash said through his laughter.

“I didn’t know what I was ordering!” I shot back, still trying to recover from the burn. “I’ve never had alcohol before,” I sheepishly admitted.

Joe chuckled, sliding my drink over to Ash. “Then let me make you something you’ll like.”

I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to try something else, but Joe seemed determined as he turned his back, mixing something new. When he turned back around, he set a fancy-looking glass filled with pink liquid in front of me, a slice of watermelon perched on the rim.

I eyed the drink warily before lifting it to my nose for a quick sniff.

It smelled sweet, so I cautiously took a sip.

“Mmm, this tastes amazing!” My eyes widened in surprise.

The faint alcohol taste blended perfectly beneath the sweet burst of watermelon flavor.

Joe leaned back, wearing a smug grin as I took a much larger sip.

“Easy, princess,” Ash said, amusement glinting in his eyes. I blushed under his gaze.

“Can I get you two some food?” Joe asked.

Ash turned to me, waiting for my answer. With the settling happening in only a few hours, I didn’t want to risk upsetting my stomach, so I shook my head.

“We’re going to grab a seat somewhere more private, Joe,” Ash said, picking up both glasses and turning away from the bar.

“Let me know if you need anything at all,” Joe called out.

I followed Ash to a secluded booth tucked away in the corner and scooted in across from him.

“How do you feel?” Ash asked, his gaze on me.

I frowned in confusion.

“About tonight?” he clarified, leaning in slightly.

“Oh,” I stammered, shifting in my seat. “Fine, I guess. I haven’t thought about it too much.” I hesitated. “I think I’m more worried about you.”

Ash’s brow furrowed slightly. “Me?”

“I mean,” I began, biting my lip. “What if I’m not as powerful as Madam Pearl expects me to be? What if I can’t heal you, and you never get your memories back?”

My voice trembled slightly as anxiety crept back in.

Ash tilted his head, his expression softening. “Then I don’t get them back, and we go from there.”

“But you—” I started.

“Areya, you’ve already given me enough.”

“I don’t understand.”

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