Chapter 31
JADE
After a hair-raising ride back to Camden (note to self: never ever get in an Aston Martin with a devil!), we’re sitting at the kitchen table, drinking mugs of tea laced with bourbon that Ash found in the cupboard. ‘Good for shock,’ he said.
‘Well, that was a great concert, eh?’ says Sebastian conversationally to fill the silence as we sip and stare at the table. ‘Echo Ministry are the best!’
Rach cringes, and Ash doesn’t say anything. To be honest, I think everyone’s a bit over them. And it’s a matter of waiting and checking the papers to see if Tommy pulls through. Sebastian’s made sure that even if he doesn’t, we won’t be implicated.
Collecting our empty mugs, Rach takes them over to the sink and stands there with her head bowed like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders.
It’s OK, Mum, I want to tell her. Your life is going to be so much better without Tommy Rains in it. I promise.
Rach gives herself a small shake and turns, her face expressionless. ‘Well, I might go to bed,’ she says hesitantly with a glance at Ash.
He coughs and looks at me. ‘Is it OK if I stay? Just that it’s late, and the Tube has stopped running.’
I raise an eyebrow. ‘Is that all right with you, Rach?’
She nods once. ‘Yes, I want him to stay.’
Her voice is clipped, but her choice of words has me wondering. Hmm, that sounds like she’s invested. Was there something going on in the back of the Aston Martin? I was more focused on hanging on for dear life as Sebastian took the corners on two wheels.
‘OK. Well, you can sleep on the couch in the lounge, Ash,’ I say, suddenly feeling old, like I’m the mother and she’s my daughter rather than the other way round. ‘There’s bedding in the linen closet.’
Ash heads off into the hallway, and Rach goes to help him but pauses at the door before she leaves.
‘I didn’t have sex with Tommy, Jadey.’ She gives me a watery smile.
‘I thought about it, but it was my first time, and I’ve always wanted to wait until my wedding night.
I had this schoolgirl fantasy that perhaps Tommy Rains could have been my husband.
But I was deluded. When he was on top of me, I kept hearing your voice in my head telling me I deserved better.
So thank you for the self-defence training. It kept me from making a big mistake.’
‘You’re welcome,’ I say faintly.
She blows me a kiss and walks off to find Ash before I can say anything. I stare after her, feeling a mix of emotions.
‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,’ says Sebastian.
I turn my head to find him watching me. ‘What?’
‘Never mind. The main thing is that it worked, Jade. You kept your mum away from your dad.’
‘Hmm,’ I say. ‘I didn’t think Tommy would end up in the hospital, though. Do you think he’ll be OK? I don’t want him with Mum, but I don’t want him to spend the rest of his life as a vegetable.’
Sebastian hitches a shoulder. ‘I don’t know. Things have seriously gone off the rails since you intervened in Rach’s love life.’
I pinch my arm. ‘But I still have a body. If they didn’t have sex, I thought I might start disappearing like Marty McFly in Back to the Future.’
‘I don’t know why that is,’ Sebastian replies. ‘But strangely enough, that movie is actually coming out in December.’
‘Too bad I won’t be here.’ I laugh weakly. ‘We could have gone on another movie date.’
‘I wouldn’t have said no,’ he replies sultrily.
Heat glimmers between us, and I close my eyes and slowly lean towards him, expecting his chiselled lips to press against mine. But nothing happens.
I open my eyes. Sebastian hasn’t moved an inch.
‘You should get some rest. You’ve got a big day tomorrow,’ he says evenly.
Oh yeah. In all the chaos, I’ve forgotten this is my last night in the ’80s.
‘Are you staying?’ I ask hopefully.
He gives a small smile. ‘No, I should head back. It’s safer. If I stay, who knows what devil shenanigans we’d get up to.’
I nod, disappointed. Yet my need for him bubbles away inside. ‘But I want the devil shenanigans. I really want them!’ I blurt out. ‘With you...’
Sebastian looks pained. ‘I know, sweetheart. I do too, but it’s complicated.’
My eyes start watering. Don’t cry, don’t cry. Too late. My lip wobbles, and tears spill over as I realise this is probably the last time I’ll ever see him.
Sebastian’s jaw works like he’s fighting back some emotion. He scoots forward and gathers me in his arms. If it’s a sin to be held by a devil disguised as a courier, then I want to commit it over and over. His arms are strong and warm, and I could stay in them forever.
‘My brave, gorgeous girl,’ he murmurs in my ear, and I cry harder, clutching his bumbag. He smooths back my poodle hair and plants a sulphurous kiss on my forehead.
‘Shhh now, don’t cry. Everything’s going to be fine.’
‘Will I see you again?’ I gulp.
‘I’ll pop up when you least expect it.’
‘When I’m in hell, I suppose,’ I say resignedly. But every day aboveground is going to be torture without him, so I might as well be down there.
I wipe my eyes. ‘Since I’m damned anyway, maybe Lucifer can take me on as staff, and we can work together?’
Sebastian gives a short harsh laugh. ‘You actually think I’m going to let you sleep with anyone else but me? The woman I’d walk over hot coals for? OK, it wouldn’t hurt that much, but I’d still do it.’
I half snort, half sniffle. Oh god, how am I going to bear not talking to him? I love talking to him. I’m going to have to do something really naughty so he comes to see me ...
Sebastian tilts my chin up, narrowing his eyes. ‘Don’t do anything silly, Jade. Everything will be fine. I’ll talk to Lucifer again and make him see reason. As for us ... I’m sure once you get back, you’ll forget all about your friend from hell...’ He smiles sadly.
If there’s one thing I hate more than bean sprouts, it’s a martyr. I stab a finger at his chest. ‘Don’t act like Mr Tough Guy. I know you like me as more than a friend. Why else would you have spent so much time making sure I was all right? And taken me on a date and given me a Care Bear...?’
Sebastian’s lips quirk. ‘His name’s George, and he’s propped up on my nightstand, minding my ghost chilli oil.’
I caress his cheek. ‘Stay. Please stay with me. For one more night.’
Sebastian takes a deep shuddering breath. ‘Don’t make this harder than it already is.’ I glance down at his crotch, which is noticeably bulging. ‘And I don’t mean my dick. That’s always hard for you.’
I smirk. He’s wavering, I can tell. Then he gives me a serious look that kicks me right in the gut. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t. Get some rest.’
He snaps his fingers, and I’m left clutching thin air. My devil in denim has just turned down a night of hot sex, even though he might actually care about me. I have no clue what that means. But I’m taking it as a bad omen.