The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Ella

The following morning, I pulled out the napkin with Molly’s number and typed it into my phone. But as I began to write a message to her, my fingers hesitated over the keyboard.

Was I really going to do this? Just text her out of the blue and ask to hang out? It felt so… normal. So much unlike the sheltered life I’d been living all these years.

Fuck it, I thought. I was dying anyway, wasn’t I? Might as well live a little first.

“Hey Molly, it’s Ella. Had so much fun catching up last night. When are you free to hang out?”

I hit send before I could talk myself out of it. My phone pinged within two minutes.

“Tonight! I’m off work at 8. Ever been to The Howling Moon downtown? It’s karaoke night!”

I bit my lip. A bar. Karaoke. Two things I’d never experienced before. I thought back to the party at my parents‘ house, when my cousin Tara had invited me out. I’d declined then, choosing to stay with Alexander instead.

Fat lot of good that did me.

Without second guessing myself, I told Molly I would meet her there at nine–thirty. After that, I spent most of the day in a state of nervous anticipation. Liam was busy with council matters, so it would just be Molly and me. What would I do? What would I drink? What would I wear?

By the time eight o’clock rolled around, I found myself standing in front of my closet, hair already curled, makeup done, trying to decide what to wear. I wasn’t sure if I had anything suitable for a place like The Howling Moon, which was a dive

bar downtown.

༠

My eyes landed on the black dress from the store–the one that had made Alexander’s phone slip from his fingers.

No, too fancy for a bar. But maybe…

I pulled out a short black skirt I’d bought years ago but never had the courage to wear. Paired with a deep red top that showed just enough cleavage to be daring, and some black ankle boots I’d never worn, it might just work.

I slipped into the outfit and studied myself in the mirror. I barely recognized myself. My eyes were lined with black, my lips painted red, my curls wild and free. I looked confident, sexy.

Smiling faintly, I grabbed my purse and headed out, thankful that Alexander and Gabriel were nowhere to be found. The last thing I needed was to explain where was going or who I was meeting.

looked unassuming–a simple brick building with a neon sign showing a wolf howling at a crescent moon. Music poured out every time the door opened, along with bursts of laughter and chatter.

a bar alone?

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08:06 Thu, 21 Aug

Chapter 44

“There you are!”

ripped jeans and a cropped

circling me. “The Luna’s got legs

but

too much.” Molly linked her arm through mine. “Ready to pop your bar

around a small stage where a young and very drunk male was currently butchering a pop song into a microphone. The air smelled like beer, sweat,

the bar, “we need to buy a round of drinks. Something strong to get the night

I really only ever drink at events, so it’s normally champagne or wine. And I only started doing that

a Luna

smiled at us and leaned on the bar as we approached. “What

friend here has never been to a bar before,” Molly announced, causing

The bartender turned to me with a grin.

“I have no

what. I’ll make you some samples. On the house. It’s not every day we get to introduce someone to the

could count. Some burned my throat, others were sickeningly sweet, and

was disgusting,” I gasped after

patting my back. “Yeah, that

then the bartender slid a bright blue cocktail in front of me. “Try this one. Blue Hawaiian. Coconut rum, blue liqueur, and pineapple

but felt my eyes widen as the cocktail slid down my throat. It was sweet but not too sweet, with a tropical

like we found a winner,” the bartender

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Chapter 44

everything Molly said and everything outside the bar seemed to no longer exist. The space had filled up, and the karaoke had shifted from awful to hilariously awful, with everyone

close, “how’s married life treating

my inhibitions, and before I knew it, I was spilling everything–how cold Alexander had been for years,

been married for five years,” I slurred, swirling my straw in my fourth drink,

never…”

are you saying you’re

I’m twenty–two years old, married,

giving it a squeeze. Her fingers were soft and warm. “That’s fucking sad. He’s your