Unless that handsome, horny devil is Sebastian Burns. I never thought I’d fall in love with someone who likes Carolina Reaper chilli on everything—even muesli. But it’s a weird and wonderful world we live in. And I have to say, my tolerance for vindaloo curry has greatly increased.
Even though I’m living the same life I started with, it’s a better life with my devil in it. And because my parents are no longer arseholes.
Luckily, Sebastian switches into his Tube guy form whenever we visit them. Or go anywhere in public. Lucifer has grudgingly granted us that concession because Sebastian is doing a lot of hisgrunt work. Suffice to say, he doesn’t need to worry about doing any horizontal action to fill a quota now.
The only horizontal (and sometimes vertical) action he gets is with me. But there’s been no complaints so far. Sometimes when we’re making love, I remember Kiki standing in my doorway and screaming. It’s more understandable since now I know what she was seeing. But Sebastian is gorgeous to me in any form—once I got over the shock. Turns out, choosing a devil exactly as he is suits me just fine.
Pushing open the door of the Cat & Cauldron, the familiar aroma of coffee and spice envelops me; and I breathe deeply, already feeling more centred.
Is she here yet? Ah, yes, she is.My mum is sitting in the booth seat where I met Sebastian. She’s sipping a glass of water, peering at something on her phone. I gaze at her for a minute. She wears her highlighted hair in a shoulder-length bob these days, but she looks so much happier and healthier than before—now that she’s no longer a raging alcoholic and drug addict.
The café door opens behind me, and someone says, ‘Happy birthday, Jadey lady!’
I can’t help laughing, though I still really hate that nickname. Kiki hugs me hard, her eyes crinkling at the corners. There’s no trace of the garish eyeshadow she used to wear, only natural tones these days. But she’s still got the same infectious energy. Mum jumps up and gives me a hug too.
‘My beautiful baby,’ she says fondly. ‘It seems like yesterday that you were toddling around. How time flies!’
My mum and Kiki are still really good mates. I suppose it’s a bit weird that I’m hanging out with my mum and her friend for my birthday, but they feel like my friends too.
Kiki ended up marrying Leo, the drummer of Echo Ministry. Turned out he was really a good guy.
Tommy Rains spent a short stint in hospital but recovered fully, and the band went on to put out another album. But his drug habit caused a lot of problems, and the band broke up. The last I heard, Tommy was in rehab. Again. So nothing much has changed there. But at least my mum isn’t with him, and she’s deliriously happy with my new dad, Ash.
It was so weird seeing him again with thinning hair and wrinkles and acting mature. I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that he’s my dad, but I’m working on it.
‘I’ll order us some coffees. My shout,’ I say. ‘What would you like?’
Kiki slides into the booth opposite mum, her silver thread earrings swaying. ‘A skim milk chai latte. Thanks, love.’
‘Mum?’
‘A cappuccino, dear. Thank you. But it’s your birthday—we should be shouting?’
‘Yes, well, I just got paid, so I’m flush.’ I sit down in the booth, keen to get this over with. ‘Um, before I order, there’s something I wanted to run past you two. Sebastian’s been giving me some life coaching, and it’s made me realise what I really want to do.’
‘What’s that, dear?’ asks Mum.
I take a deep breath. She’s never been keen on me digging around in the past. But maybe she’ll feel differently now she’s not with an ex-pop star … ‘I’m thinking of researching and writing a lighthearted book on women’s lives in the 1980s, and I was hoping you guys could help me? I’d interview you to get first-hand experiences.’
Kiki pumps her fist. ‘Yes! The best era ever. Count me in. I might even dress up in ’80s gear for the interview.’
Mum laughs. ‘Are you going to crimp your hair?’
Kiki grins. ‘Of course!’
Smiling, Mum says to me, ‘What a great idea, Jade. You’ve always enjoyed writing, and of course I’ll help in any way I can. I’m surprised at your sudden interest in the ’80s though. I thought you hated anything pre-2000?’
She tilts her head at me and I flush.
‘That was a little narrow-minded,’ I mumble. ‘It was a fascinating time in London’s history—for music and fashion…’
Mum nods. ‘Well, if you’re that keen, I can dig out your father’s old albums from the attic. There are stacks of them. He used to take a lot of photos back then. We can go through them together.’
‘OK. Thanks.’ Now I’m slightly worried I’m going to see a cringey photo of ’80s Jade with poodle hair, but it will be fun spending time with my mum and listening to her reminisce about her youth—since I was there for part of it.
I head over to the counter to order our coffees. There are yummy-looking muffins and cakes, so I get a selection of those as well.
‘Glad to see you’re trying the Hexfire brownie,’ remarks the barista as I pay. She’s around my age, with flowing black hair and a tiny cauldron tattoo on her wrist. ‘I used a special chilli chocolate from Ecuador for those.’