I half snort, half sniffle. Oh god, how am I going to bear not talking to him? Ilovetalking to him. I’m going to have to do somethingreallynaughty 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 hemightactually care about me. I have no clue what that means. But I’m taking it as a bad omen.
32
JADE
Whenthedigitalalarmclock blares at 7:05 a.m., I lie there with my eyes tightly closed, too scared to open them. But since that’s beeping and not my phone, I know I’m still in the 1980s. I crack an eyelid. Yup, still the same geometric duvet, gauze curtains, and pretty-boy posters on the wall. I’m slightly disappointed, yet a little relieved. I’m not sure I’m actually going to have a body in the future, but I guess I’ll find out shortly.
Sebastian didn’t give me any clues as to how I’d get there. It was a case of ‘It will happen when it needs to’. By that, I assume there’s still some unfinished business here that I need to take care of.
Shrugging on my blue towelling robe, I head to the bathroom to take a shower.Do not think of your first morning, when Sebastian appeared.But I can’t help it. Remembering beating his wet chest with my bare fists makes me chuckle. He’s been so patient with me, so kind, even though I’ve said mean things to him a few times ... OK, I was a bitch to him on a number of occasions.
I step into the shower and pray to the Prince of Darkness as I wet my sticky hair and slowly wash it with Timotei.Please please please listen to Sebastian when he pleads my case, Lucifer. And if at all possible, if you’re feeling amenable, let us be together. Because I love him.
A hot sick feeling passes through me, and I feel like I’m going to faint. I sway against the tiled wall as my vision blackens, then rights itself again. I blink, feeling a bit spacey, as sweet-smelling suds wash down my body and swirl into the plughole.What the heck was that?
I dry off hastily, wrap my hair in a towel, and tie my robe, legs shaky after that weird turn. But I feel better after brushing my teeth.
What should I do now? Get dressed and go for a walk? Stick around here and try shutting myself in the linen cupboard to see if I can step out into the future?
I’m pondering my options as I wander down the hall to my room. But before I reach it, a sleepy Ash steps out of Rach’s bedroom, tying the belt of her flowered dressing gown. His hair looks like he’s been pulled through a bush backwards, yet there’s a smile playing around his lips.
He starts when he sees me staring at him.
‘Jesus, Jade.’ He tightens the dressing gown.
‘What the fuck, Ash?’ I hiss. ‘You’re meant to be on the couch. Why are you in Rach’s room?’
‘Uh, yeah. She wanted some company.’
My mind is reeling at the implications. Ash and Rach ...
‘Don’t look at me like that. We didn’t sleep together,’ says Ash, looking guilty. ‘We cuddled and talked. It was nice.’
I take a deep shuddering breath, gazing at his hairy bare legs.
‘Are you naked under her dressing gown?’
‘Honestly, chill,’ says Ash. ‘I’m wearing boxers. And even if I wasn’t, Rach is an adult. She can make her own decisions.’
He folds his arms with a frown, and I rub my forehead, still feeling a bit woozy. But he’s right. I have to let things happen. I can’t try to control the future, even if it means that Ash might be ...
I swallow. ‘I know, I’m sorry. I just care about her.’
Ash’s features soften. ‘I’m not going to hurt her.’