She was an hour early. Again.

Her and the girls were supposed to meet at 7, like they did every Wednesday night, but Feyre had gotten out of work early, and she didn't want to have to go to her tiny apartment, because she knew she wouldn't be able to muster the energy to get out again if she did. It had been that way since she moved into the place two months ago, after a rather stormy break up with her ex-boyfriend (and would be fiance if he had had a say in the matter, the very reason of their heated break-up), Tamlin. She was happy about her new found independence, although her small salary as a freelance illustrator for a publishing company didn't allow her to live in anything bigger than this tiny studio above an Indian restaurant. she couldn't afford anything to grand. But even though she was enjoying her freedom after a year of a rather toxic relationship, she sometimes found it hard to get out of the house, and she didn't want to risk missing what precious time she had with her friends.

Anyways, now she was at the pub an hour early and would have to wait for her friends to arrive. Sighing, Feyre took in the pub and decided to sit at the bar and maybe order a drink while waiting for them. She took a seat at the very far corner, so that she could have a good view of the entrance and not miss her friends arrival. There was a man already sitting beside her, but he seemed too absorbed in his book to notice her. Sitting, she ordered a beer and called Alis quickly, but got her voicemail directly.

"Hey Alis ! I just wanted to let you know that I got to the pub early, but don't worry, I'm just waiting for you at the bar. See you at seven." She hung up, knowing very well that there was a chance that Alis would get here later, since she had to deal with her nephews' babysitter first. Her beer arrived, and she took a look at the clientele of the pub while enjoying her first sip. Her eyes fell on the man beside her, and she blinked. He was extremely handsome, even if she only saw his profile. He appeared to be very tall, and with short blue-black hair - the color of raven feathers, thought Feyre - that matched perfectly his tanned skin. Hints of a tattoo were visible from the rolled sleeves of his black shirt, a shirt doing very little to hide his muscular arms and chest. Feyre was still watching the little glimpse of tattoo when he talked :

"Hi."

Her eyes shot up to meet his face, and she felt heat creep up her cheeks. He was smiling slightly at her, and even though his smile was attractive, it was his eyes that made Feyre hold her breath for a second longer. Based on his hair and skin, she had imagined his eyes to be some shade of brown. But they were a deep shade of blue, so deep they seemed to be violet, with flecks of silver that made her think of starlight. His grin intensified, and she realized that she had been staring at him and not answering for about 10 seconds. She blushed a bit more and finally talked :

"Oh, hello. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you."

"Oh that's quite alright, I don't mind being bothered by such a beautiful woman."

She smiled slightly, trying to control her blush - gods, she must look like a freaking teenager with all her blushing and staring.

"That's very kind of you."

"It's very true. Plus, my book was becoming a little boring, so i don't mind the distraction." His smile was more gentle, and he seemed to be watching her as if he indeed find her to be beautiful. Feyre ruffled her hair, not really knowing what to say. Fortunately for her, he spoke again.

"I'm Rhys, by the way. Well, Rhysand, but all my friends call me Rhys."

"Feyre."

"Well, Feyre Darling, it's very nice to meet you. Might I offer you a drink?"

Feyre, that had been half lost in his violet eyes, straightened her thoughts. He was handsome, yes, but she couldn't let him buy her a drink when she very well knew it would lead them nowhere. She was far from ready to start dating again, more so after the harsh way her last relationship ended.

"Thank you but, I'm waiting for some friends and they should arrive soon."

"I thought I heard you say 7, and it's only 6:05. I think that gives you plenty of time to finish that beer, don't you think ?"

"Well… to be honest Rhysand, I don't want you to buy me a drink because buying me a drink implies that you expect to gain something out of it, and I already know I won't give you my phone number."

"Oh. Well how about that : I guarantee you that I only want to pay for your beer because you seem like a nice woman to be talking to for the next hour. And to express my good faith, I'm going to make you a promise. I promise that I will not ask for your phone number when you'll go join your friends, however well the next hour might go."

She looked at him, and… damn her, he seemed so sincere that she heard herself answering :

"Alright then."

He smiled broadly, and they stayed silenced for a few moments. Feyre realised now that she didn't exactly know what to say to him, and the silence stretched on until :

"So anyways, what are you doing sitting alone in a pub, reading a book, at 6 o'clock in the afternoon ?"

He smiled, and answered : "I'm waiting for my cousin to get off work. Her office is right down the street and we're going to dinner afterwards so I'm meeting her here. The book is just a way to keep the ladies away," he added, grinning and raising his eyebrows suggestively "although it doesn't seem to work as well as I thought."

She chuckled at that.

"And what are you doing here, Feyre ? Girls night out, is it ?"

Not really a question, considering he heard her make plans not ten minutes ago. But she answered anyway.

"Indeed. So enjoy what little time you have with me, because the second they enter this pub, I'm out of your sight!"

He barked out a laugh and looked her in the eyes : "I'll try to enjoy it to the fullest then."

"So Rhys, what book are you reading anyways ?"

—

They talked with ease for a long time, laughing and drinking as they shared their opinions, first about books, and then music, movies, series. Rhys had launched on a lively tirade about a series he'd just started watching when the front door of the pub opened.

"I mean, I can't believe you haven't heard of it, it's great ! It has cowboys, and robots, and conspiracies,..."

"Oh Rhys, my friends just got here."

He stopped talking and looked over his shoulder to discover three young women indeed standing near the entrance and looking for a free booth.

"Right."

The hour spent talking easily was suddenly gone and a more awkward kind of silence settled between them, as Feyre got up and grabbed her coat to move to the booth and her friends. He was watching with a sort of longing in his eyes, as if he was missing her already. She spoke quietly :

"Thank you for the drink, I had a lovely time."

"Me too, thank you for the company" he answered in an equally quiet voice. She stood there for a few more seconds, not yet ready to let him go. His eyes on her were so intense, she couldn't quite figure out what it meant.

"What are you thinking ?"

"I'm thinking that I'm very much regretting my promise to you about not asking your phone number."

her throat bobbed as she looked into his violet eyes one last time.

"Have a good evening Rhys."

"Likewise, Feyre Darling."

She turned around to her awaiting friends and forced herself not to look behind, even though she could feel his eyes following her as she crossed the pub.

"Hey Feyre, there you are !" Alis smiled at her from the booth, and Feyre smiled back, happy to see them.

—

Rhys was trying to keep reading his book while waiting for Mor - gods she was late, but it shouldn't really surprise him, she was probably changing to be "presentable" at the restaurant, even though he was sure she was just fine in her current clothes. He couldn't concentrate on his book though, not when his seat offered him a direct view of the booth were Feyre was seated, talking and laughing with her friends.

Feyre. When he had felt her eyes on him earlier, he'd started smiling to himself, ready to act all confident and smart to impress the woman ogling him. But when he turned to face her and ask if she saw anything she liked upon his bare forearms, he'd been stunned into silence for a few seconds. She was beautiful, probably the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, with her golden brown hair falling over her shoulders in light curls, her pale face covered in freckles, and exquisite blue-grey eyes that seemed to pierce through him easily. And instead of his flirty, cocky opening line, all he'd found himself saying was "Hi."

But the hour that followed had flown by as they talked about many different subjects. She was passionate about the things she liked, and it was such a delight debating with her, that he'd forgotten about her friends coming to join her until she had stopped him mid-sentence and had gotten up to join them.

It had been half an hour since then and he was still debating throwing his promise down the drain and go ask her for her phone number, when his own phone rang :

"Rhys I have a cab in front of the pub, are you coming ?"

"Hey Mor, yeah I'll be right there."

He went to the bathroom first, then grabbed his jacket to head outside, not without throwing one last disappointed looking to the woman seated with her friends, her back to him. He got out and embraced the chilly wind of the October weather, and greated Mor. As he reached into his pocket to find change for the cab, he felt a piece of paper tucked in there.

It wasn't a piece of paper, but a napkin from the pub. And on the napkin, written in black ink, was written :

I was also regretting your promise

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