Whoops, I need to proceed with caution; otherwise, I’m going to get another pillow bashing. ‘I mean,made love,’ I say hastily, and her jaw relaxes.
Interesting, so we are on the same page about that. I open my mouth to add it was definitely meant more than a quick fuck for me too. But Jade is frowning again. What have I done now? Honestly, human females are so difficult to read. And this is uncharted territory for me. I’m the devil who doesn’t stick around to snuggle, let alone have emotional one-to-one conversations. But here I am, on my second one of the day. Andwhy do I feel like I’m about to get it in the neck? Is this what human men have to face on a daily basis?
‘Ah, whenever you’re ready,’ I say nervously, hoping there aren’t any sharp objects around for her to get stabby-stabby with. I don’t want devil blood to ruin my nice white jeans.
Jade’s hands curl into cute little fists.
‘Why the fuck didn’t you tell me Rach was mymum?’ she whispers tearfully.
Oh, that.I shift awkwardly on the bed, knowing I have to choose the right words here. ‘I thought it would be a nice surprise for you.’
Jade looks at me with a glower.
‘To, uh, help you to feel closer to your mum in the future. And ... and to repair your relationship with her...’ I trail off uncertainly as Jade takes a sharp breath.
‘There’s nothing wrong with my relationship with my mum in the future!’ she hisses. ‘It’s mydadwho’s the problem. In the future, he’s a raging alcoholic and a drug addict.’
‘Yes, but not in the ’80s,’ I say unhelpfully. ‘He’s still quite tamenow. The cocaine addiction hasn’t fully kicked in yet.’
‘It doesn’t matter what he does or doesn’t do now,’ says Jade impatiently. ‘He drags my mum down with him. I’ve never understood how they got together in the first place. Rach isn’t a groupie—’
She breaks off and groans. ‘Oh my god. The concert we’re all going to tomorrow night—that’s where they’re going to meet, isn’t it? I’m the one who’s going to bring them together!’
I nod. ‘But at least you’ll get to see your dad perform with Echo Ministry. That will be cool!’
She shakes her head. ‘No, it won’t be! He’s going to take advantage of her because she’s vulnerable.’ She jumps up and paces backwards and forwards. ‘Now I know why he never wanted to talk about how they met. It wasn’t romantic. Thatpiece of shit got her pregnant with me, probably after she cried on his shoulder about her mum.Andhe made her change her name to Racquel.’
‘Let’s not jump to conclusions,’ I say nervously. ‘That’s not exactly what happened.’
Jade stops pacing. ‘Whatdidhappen?’
‘I can’t tell you. Otherwise, it might change the future.’
She sighs in exasperation and plonks back down on the bed again. I rub my big toe against her hip in what I hope is a soothing manner.
‘I know it’s frustrating, but I can tell you that your mum wanted to be with your dad even before she found out she was pregnant with you. Rach had free will in the matter. And she was the one who decided to change her name because she was a big fan of Raquel Welch. She thought it made her sound more glamorous since she was married to the famous Tommy Rains.’
‘But she’s perfect right now as Rachel Nichols,’ moans Jade. ‘She’s an innocent flower about to be ruined by a selfish pop star. She deserves better. I can’t let it happen.’
‘Jade,’ I say, my voice taking on a warning tone, ‘you have to let it happen.’
She looks at me, eyes brimming with tears. ‘Why? Why do I have to let it happen? It’s not fair.’
OK, here’s the catch, and she’s not going to like it.
‘You have to let it happen because if you stop them from getting together, you won’t exist,’ I inform her.
‘Why not?’
‘Uh, well.’ I demonstrate basic human anatomy with the forefinger of my right hand inserting backwards and forwards into the hole of my left fist.
Jade glares at me. ‘I know how sex works!’
I shrug. ‘Well, if Tommy Rains doesn’t insert his penis into Rach’s vagina, there will be no Jadey lady.’
She scowls and massages her temples with both hands. ‘You can’t lie there and tell me there isn’t some loophole.’
‘There’s no loophole,’ I tell her quietly.