Read Online In a Heartbeat (Heartbeat #1) by Teodora Kostova - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Teodora Kostova
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Thank God for the loud music in here!
Stella was so sick of over-thinking everything. She just wanted to stop thinking altogether and let loose. There was something about loud music and dim light that made people forget their problems and inhibitions – and that was exactly what she intended to do.
Lisa tugged on her hand and mouthed ‘Come on’ as she led her to the crowded dance floor, where Gia was already swaying rhythmically to the music. It was some kind of house mix, which was not what Stella would usually listen to, but for the night it was perfect. A few minutes later she had completely lost herself in dancing – the loud, monotonous music echoing through her body.
She felt Lisa’s hand on her upper arm and turned to face her cousin. There was no chance to hear what she wanted to say, so they resorted to gestures and lots of lip reading. She pointed towards their table and made a drinking motion with her hand and mouth. Stella nodded and they headed back to the table.
As they approached, they noticed that it wasn’t just Max and Beppe sitting there anymore. There was a pack of five more people – three girls and two guys – who were seated comfortably at their table and trying to talk to each other. It involved a lot of leaning and ear shouting, as well as animated gestures. It was quite funny to watch. Until Stella’s eyes fixed on a girl who was sitting so close to Max she was practically in his lap. They took turns to shout in each other’s ears, followed by smiling and nodding.
There was nothing funny about that.
Jealousy overcame Stella and drowned all other feelings and sounds. She wanted to go there, pull the bitch by the hair and drag her away. But she wasn’t going to do that. If she had learned anything in this life it was that careful calculation and smart action always won over blind anger.
She followed Lisa to the table and saw an unopened bottle of San Pellegrino aranciata . It must be for her, as everyone else was drinking cocktails and besides, it had been her drink of choice in the restaurant. It was too noisy to even try and ask someone if it was for her so she took it, unscrewed the cap and gulped half the bottle in one go. The cold liquid spread inside her body and it felt incredibly good against the heat in the club.
As she lowered her head and removed the bottle from her lips, she noticed Max watching her. His lady friend was saying something in his ear and he looked pleased. Way too pleased. Stella raised her bottle at him in a silent ‘Cheers’ and he mimicked her with his glass. The girl who had been so enthusiastic about her conversation with him a few seconds ago had pulled away from his ear, and now was watching him as if expecting a reply. He didn’t even realise she had stopped talking. Max had fixed Stella with his intense stare and she couldn’t make herself look away, even though she desperately wanted to. The girl frowned and pouted and looked between him and Stella, her frown deepening.
Just then, Beppe appeared at Stella’s side and, tugging on her hand, led her a few feet away. He placed her in front of a guy and left. This was probably the only method of introduction she was going to get in such a noisy environment. The guy leaned into her and said,
“Hi, I’m Ricardo,” in Italian. “You can call me Rico.” Even over the loud music, Stella could hear the ‘r’ rolling off his tongue.
“Stella,” she said, as she leaned into him in return. He smelled good and didn’t look so bad either. Not that she could see clearly in the dim light, but what she saw she approved of – he was tall, dressed nicely in dark designer jeans and a shirt, and had baby blue eyes that were noticeable even in the dark.
“Want to dance?” he asked, leaning in, but didn’t back away immediately. He lingered next to her ear a bit longer than necessary and Stella wasn’t sure how she felt about that. He seemed nice enough and he looked handsome but ...
But
Thank God for the loud music in here!
Stella was so sick of over-thinking everything. She just wanted to stop thinking altogether and let loose. There was something about loud music and dim light that made people forget their problems and inhibitions – and that was exactly what she intended to do.
Lisa tugged on her hand and mouthed ‘Come on’ as she led her to the crowded dance floor, where Gia was already swaying rhythmically to the music. It was some kind of house mix, which was not what Stella would usually listen to, but for the night it was perfect. A few minutes later she had completely lost herself in dancing – the loud, monotonous music echoing through her body.
She felt Lisa’s hand on her upper arm and turned to face her cousin. There was no chance to hear what she wanted to say, so they resorted to gestures and lots of lip reading. She pointed towards their table and made a drinking motion with her hand and mouth. Stella nodded and they headed back to the table.
As they approached, they noticed that it wasn’t just Max and Beppe sitting there anymore. There was a pack of five more people – three girls and two guys – who were seated comfortably at their table and trying to talk to each other. It involved a lot of leaning and ear shouting, as well as animated gestures. It was quite funny to watch. Until Stella’s eyes fixed on a girl who was sitting so close to Max she was practically in his lap. They took turns to shout in each other’s ears, followed by smiling and nodding.
There was nothing funny about that.
Jealousy overcame Stella and drowned all other feelings and sounds. She wanted to go there, pull the bitch by the hair and drag her away. But she wasn’t going to do that. If she had learned anything in this life it was that careful calculation and smart action always won over blind anger.
She followed Lisa to the table and saw an unopened bottle of San Pellegrino aranciata . It must be for her, as everyone else was drinking cocktails and besides, it had been her drink of choice in the restaurant. It was too noisy to even try and ask someone if it was for her so she took it, unscrewed the cap and gulped half the bottle in one go. The cold liquid spread inside her body and it felt incredibly good against the heat in the club.
As she lowered her head and removed the bottle from her lips, she noticed Max watching her. His lady friend was saying something in his ear and he looked pleased. Way too pleased. Stella raised her bottle at him in a silent ‘Cheers’ and he mimicked her with his glass. The girl who had been so enthusiastic about her conversation with him a few seconds ago had pulled away from his ear, and now was watching him as if expecting a reply. He didn’t even realise she had stopped talking. Max had fixed Stella with his intense stare and she couldn’t make herself look away, even though she desperately wanted to. The girl frowned and pouted and looked between him and Stella, her frown deepening.
Just then, Beppe appeared at Stella’s side and, tugging on her hand, led her a few feet away. He placed her in front of a guy and left. This was probably the only method of introduction she was going to get in such a noisy environment. The guy leaned into her and said,
“Hi, I’m Ricardo,” in Italian. “You can call me Rico.” Even over the loud music, Stella could hear the ‘r’ rolling off his tongue.
“Stella,” she said, as she leaned into him in return. He smelled good and didn’t look so bad either. Not that she could see clearly in the dim light, but what she saw she approved of – he was tall, dressed nicely in dark designer jeans and a shirt, and had baby blue eyes that were noticeable even in the dark.
“Want to dance?” he asked, leaning in, but didn’t back away immediately. He lingered next to her ear a bit longer than necessary and Stella wasn’t sure how she felt about that. He seemed nice enough and he looked handsome but ...
But
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