After Alec agreed to a meeting, we quickly agreed that it should take place on neutral ground. I suggested that we meet at Hunters Moon the next evening and have a casual drink and talk. Alec lives in a small flat across town with his brother. So it took him a while to get to my neighbourhood. I used this time to get a good seat at the Moon. A table sheltered in an alcove, away from unwanted listeners and intrusive stares.

I'm not exactly keen on the whole town finding out about our drunken wedding and the consequences that come with it. But my fears about this were unfounded. Alec entered Hunters Moon and looked around searchingly. I had just come from the toilet when I saw him standing at the entrance, attracting everyone's attention. It had started to rain and his hair was dripping wet. The white shirt stuck to his body and left little room for imagination.

I closed my eyes for a moment and walked towards him, beaming with joy. I tried to cover the fact that my smile was fake. He looked forbiddenly sexy with the drops of water on his skin and those bright eyes. After a curt greeting, I gave him the keys to my house and asked him to take a quick shower and get some dry clothes. Water was already collecting on the floor of the Hunters Moon, dripping from his hair and clothes.

Luke silently handed me a mop and I set to work removing the traces of Alec's appearance. Afterwards I silently took a shot and looked at Luke's amused face. Raphael, Andrew, yours truly and even Ragnor are regulars at Luke's. The Hunters Moon is only a five-minute walk from my home and welcomes each guest with its warmth and the smell of family and sanctuary.

"Do you want to talk about it?", asks Luke with a sly smile on his face. He was a guest at the almost wedding with Julian just like my friends. And of course he saw my exit and Julian's tears. I haven't been back to Hunters Moon since that day. Not because I was afraid of the confrontation with Luke. More because of him, Julian. Because Julian works at Hunters on the weekends. Since it's the middle of the week, he's off today and my second living room is free of any surprises. Except for a dripping wet Alec in a tight-fitting translucent shirt.

I quickly shoo that thought away and grab the two glasses of whiskey Luke just set on the counter.

"Not now. I have some things to take care of first. Thanks Luke." With that, I walk over to the small table in the alcove and wait for Alec. Time is slipping away and my thoughts are circling around yesterday. I really acted like an ass and feel slightly guilty towards Alec. The few times we met, twice to be exact, he was always nice and polite to me. Me, on the other hand, dismissive and cold. Ragnor is right. He is a nice young man and doesn't deserve to be treated like that.

"Hello Magnus." Alec suddenly stands beside me. I must have been very deep in thought because I didn't notice at all that he was back. My smile is genuine this time, not fake and put on. Alec also smiles slightly and he sits down on the chair opposite me. But unlike me, his smile seems fake.

"Nice shirt", I say and Alec frowns.

"It's yours?" A sarcastic question in response. Great. And before I can respond, he follows it up with a reply that makes me swallow hard.

"The shirt was in your house, your bedroom, your wardrobe. Unless you unknowingly married another man within a day and he's already moved in with you. Then I guess I'm wearing a strange guy's shirt right now."

Wow. I didn't expect that now. He seems mad about something.

"Are you mad?", I ask straightforwardly, watching Alec's eyes form into narrow slits.

"What do you want Magnus?"

"To talk to you. And drink." I quickly raise my glass and am about to toast him when a movement beside me interrupts my action.

"Hi guys. Luke was wondering if you wanted something to eat." Heidi has been working for Luke forever. She's a petite little blonde, but appearances are deceiving. She can send any sailor to the mat in two seconds, and she can do it in high heels and blindfolded. She is a tough woman and I like her a lot. So as always when we see each other, I pull Heidi into a tight hug and breathe a kiss on her cheek.

"Hello my sweet", I greet her and her cheeks turn slightly red.

"Nachos with cheese sauce?", I ask Alec. The look he gives me sends an unpleasant shiver down my spine. His aura makes the temperature around us drop a few degrees and suddenly I feel slightly cold. He has his arms crossed in front of his chest and from his pupils small arcs shoot their pointed arrows straight into my heart. Fuck what's going on? Alec shakes his head slightly, I turn back to Heidi and there is a clear message in her gaze too. She also has small bows, but instead of pointed arrows there are lots of little red hearts. Heidi has a fable for the dark type of man. It should be the bad boy. And it is precisely this type that is evident in Alec's gestures. Yet I'm pretty sure he's anything but the Bad Boy.

"Thank you dear. We'll be fine", I say and Heidi leaves us alone again. Alec is still looking at me and his facial expressions tell me absolutely nothing. Open book, my ass.

I clear my throat and pick up the glass again.

"Let's start again Alec", I say, holding my glass out to him for a toast.

Alec raises an eyebrow and bites his lower lip hard. I lower my glass and take one deep breath.

"Say it."

"You think that's a good idea? The two of us in a bar and alcohol? You know where this ends."