Thirty. Thirty years old and all I have to show for it is this drink and a lifetime of bad decisions.

I gulp down to the ice as he watches me, waiting for approval. He did buy me a drink after all. After the bartender accused me of lying about my age.

Who would lie about being thirty?

“Thanks for making this birthday a little less forgettable.” I raise my glass.

“I can make it unforgettable,” he whispers. His accent is laced with something exotic, dark and dangerous…

It wouldn’t be my thirtieth without one more bad decision from my twenties.

—Nortina

The A to Z Challenge is back, and this year, I’m giving you 26 drabbles (~100-word stories) using some of my favorite unused or underused tags.

Today’s tag is “bad decisions,” and for a blog that’s known for its twisted love stories and other peculiar tales, you’d think I’d have more stories about bad decision-making on this blog. I have a feeling there are more bad decisions in store for this couple…

Stay tuned for “C” tomorrow.