Chapter 7 #2
I wait for Lilah to begin calling numbers before turning my full attention to the witch. “You used magic to manipulate the prize.” It is not a question.
Nor does she take it as one. “You’re welcome.”
“I did not request this. I would not.”
“Consider it a gift.” Leaning back, she subtly motions toward the other females at the table. “From all of us.”
“I do not understand.”
“Men. So thick in the head,” Lexi says, letting her head fall back, then tilting it to squint at me. “Demons especially.”
“It is how we were created. Solid.”
Beside the witch, Dauphine lowers her head, cradling it in both palms.
Next to her, Holly leans forward enough to draw my attention.
“Just escort Lilah home after bingo ends, okay? She thinks I’m going to walk with her, but I’m going to bail so that you can step in.
Then, before you say goodnight, I know she would love the prize that you won. She’ll be so happy, trust me.”
“I don’t think he gets it,” Lexi says, when I do not respond to the fox shifter. “Do you get it?” She continues staring at my motionless face. “The plan? The endgame?”
“Escort Lilah home. Bring her happiness with the prize I did not win fairly.”
Lexi nods, picks up her dabbing tool, then turns her attention to Lilah and the game, as do the other females.
They are satisfied with my answer and comprehension of their plan.
Though why they would believe it necessary to magically manipulate the circumstances of a game, rather than simply gift Lilah with a free meal or request I escort her home, I do not know.
LILAH
During the short intermission halfway through the inaugural bingo night, my friends did a switcheroo at their table.
Amazra didn’t change seats. He didn’t even get up from his chair while everyone else stretched their legs and did a bit of socializing.
No big surprise there, since his physiology doesn’t require any of the maintenance that mortal bodies do, and he’s not inclined to socialize with anyone but me.
And that’s only because I’ve inserted myself into his life.
It’s honestly surprising he stuck around tonight. The intermission would’ve been an easy opportunity for him to duck out, either so he could go back to the bakery, where he puts in a lot of after-hours work, or simply to escape the onslaught of face time he’s had to endure, especially from Lexi.
Lexi is smart, quick-witted, outrageous, and hilarious, but also genuine and kind. I adore her and I’m so happy I get to call her a friend. However, I can see how her exuberance might be overwhelming for a serious, solitary hell demon with more-basic emotions and minimal social experience.
So, I wasn’t surprised when my group of wonderful new friends changed their seating order after the break. For Amazra’s sake, because they’re all equally kind and they know this is a whole new environment for him. Though I would’ve expected Lexi to swap places with Dauphine, not Holly.
That was my thought process until a few minutes ago, when Holly won the second-to-last game of the evening.
After pulling her prize from the draw bag, she instructed me to take a seat instead of calling the next game.
She even asked the small crowd assembled if they agreed that I should get to play the last round, since I’d organized such a fun event for the town to enjoy.
The answer was a resounding yes, of course. Everyone here is so nice. So inclusive.
Maybe giving me an opportunity to play bingo was part of Holly’s reasoning. But only part.
In the short time I’ve known her, Holly has become the best best friend I’ve ever had. After the setup at the salmonberry patch, I’m without-a-doubt positive she sent me to the table so I could sit next to Amazra. Even if it was just for one game.
The same as every other time I’ve been near him, there’s no contact. Zero. After standing aside so I could wiggle through to Holly’s seat, he even shifted his chair farther away, closer to the outside aisle.
The old insecurities reared their ugly heads when he did that.
But only for a split second. I know he didn’t give me extra space because of my body shape or size.
He told me in one of our earliest conversations that my form is pleasing, and since hell demons are always honest, sometimes to a fault, I know he meant it.
More important, though, is that I’m happy with myself again. The inside and the outside.
The journey has been easier than I thought. Being part of an amazing community and surrounded by great friends has been a big part of it.
Another thing that’s happened more easily than I thought possible—being ready for a relationship.
The immediate attraction to Amazra I felt the moment I met him has grown more powerful every day, and I’m so ready to explore it in a physical way.
I want more than the sex part with him, a lot more, but a broken heart isn’t on my personal bingo card.
Still, I’d take whatever he offered because I know it’d be all he can offer.
Of course, that’d require him offering something. Anything more than short daily interactions in the bakery and longer conversations when I not-so-accidentally encounter him every Sunday in the fields between our cabins.
We’ve learned a lot about each other while looking up at the sky together. It took some gentle persuasion, but he even told me a little, just the barest outline, of his duties in the hell realm. I’m sure he expected me to get up and run away that day.
In hindsight, maybe that’s what he wanted. Not the reassurance and acceptance I gave. Maybe “more” just isn’t in the cards for us, and I should accept it and stop putting myself in his path.
“You have the number on your card.” Amazra’s deep voice snaps me out of my droning inner monologue.
“Oh. Which number was it?” I ask, taking advantage of this valid excuse to look at his face. “Sorry, I sort of zoned out for a few minutes.”
“B-12.”
“Thanks.” I dab the square and attempt to focus on Holly as she spins the bingo ball cage with enough gusto to make it shift position on the table.
“Fatigue is understandable and requires no apology. You have expended much energy creating this event for so many to enjoy.”
“Have you enjoyed it?” The question slips out before I get a block in place between my emotions and my mouth. The only saving grace? He’ll take the question at face value, without registering the neediness in my tone.
“I do not regret attending.”
“I guess I’ll take that as a small win.” Lightly shaking my head, I dab another square on my card. “Speaking of winning, I only need one more number. I’ve never had a card with this many numbers called so quickly. You must be a good luck charm.”
He makes a low, nonverbal rumbling sound. “I am not responsible for the outcome of this game or the others.”
“It’s just a phrase,” I say, smiling at him. “Another of the things we mortals say nonliterally.”
“G-50,” Holly calls.
Amazra’s gaze falls to my card, his eyes flickering when he meets mine again. “You have won.”
“I did?” Checking my card, I let out a squeal while popping up from my seat. “Bingo!”
Everyone in attendance cheers, my friends doing so the loudest. On my other side, Amazra rises and steps out of the way so I can go to the gazebo.
“I probably shouldn’t accept the prize since I’m the event organizer,” I tell him as I ease past him. “But there’s only one prize left in the bag and I know what it is. Something I’ve had my eye on for a while, so I’m not going to turn it down.”
“You deserve all joy bestowed on you, Lilah.”
The urge to touch him is strong. On the chest. A hand. His handsome face. Anywhere and everywhere. “Thank you,” I say instead, giving him a big smile before I bound away.
The moment I reach the top step of the gazebo, Holly pulls me in for a bestie hug. “Congratulations!” She plants a big kiss squarely on my cheek, with an accompanying “Mm-wua!” sound. “Tonight was so much fun! Thank you for all of your hard work,” she says after releasing me.
I’m greeted with cheers and applause by creatures I didn’t know existed a few months ago.
Now they’re my neighbors. My friends. “Thank you, everyone, for coming out for what I hope will be the first of many bingo nights, and for the incredible welcome to this amazing community I’m so happy I get to call home. ”
Dauphine, Lexi, and Flora are all clapping heartily and grinning widely. Flora’s fairy wings flutter at her back, lifting her off the ground by her aisle seat on the opposite end of the table from Amazra. Even his lips have a noticeable upward curve.
“Before we wrap things up,” Holly says when the applause tapers off, “let’s see what you’ve won.”
Reaching into the bag for the last piece of folded paper, I look into the crowd at Flora and give her an extra-large smile. I’ve made a point of making sure each business received a good shout-out for their donations, and the remaining prize is from her store, Fae-vorite Things.
Unfolding the thick cream paper, I draw a breath in preparation for announcing the beautiful pink notebook with gilded edges, gold embossing, and matching fountain pen.
But that’s not what’s written on the paper in my hands.
“What did you win?” someone calls when I stand there, silently staring at the words in front of me.
Words that can’t be right.
“Do you need more light to read it?” Holly asks. What should be a genuine, maybe even earnest, question is anything but, based on the twinkle in her eyes and knowing smile on her face.
Whatever this is, she’s in on it. A glance at the rest of my female friends tells me they’re all in on it. Lexi most of all, since there’s no way they pulled this off without magic.
Angling toward Holly, I whisper, “I can’t.”
“That’s okay, hon.” Supportive words, but she’s still smiling like a cat with a mouse as she relieves me of the paper. “Lilah is the very lucky winner of a deluxe demon dildo from Every Witch Way, courtesy of our fabulous Lexi Goodwin!”
Whooping, clapping, and whistling bombard my ears. Heat races to my cheeks, my neck, my armpits. Shielding my face with my hands, I squeeze my eyes closed, but I can’t hide forever. The sooner I face the crowd, the sooner this moment will end.
When I finally force my hands down and eyes open, it’s Amazra my gaze lands on as my comment to him replays in my head. “…there’s only one prize left in the bag and I know what is is. Something I’ve had my eye on for a while…”
Great. Just great.