‘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 inBack 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. Ireallywant 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.’