A loud cheer went out as everyone lifted their glass to me. Well, everyone but one. I heaved a sigh of relief and swigged my drink. My palms were dry, and my heart went back to normal knowing that Demon was avoiding me. I guess my birthday wish came true. I could relax and enjoy my time with my parents.
“Hey, baby girl, we’re going to head home.” My mom kissed me on the cheek. She hugged me to her side, and I put my arms around her. My body heavy from all the drinks people bought me had made my movements slow.
“Are you alright?” Her face was a little paler than what it’d been when we got here. I instantly began to worry. I should’ve paid more attention to her, instead of letting my guard down in the Demon free environment.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just not as young as I used to be. Can’t party all night like I used to.”
My dad came over and kissed the top of her head. “You still look like you did when I first met you. Beautiful, sexy, and I bet you could still drink everyone in here under the table.” My parents smiled at each other, already forgetting everyone around them.
“Let me go tell everyone goodbye.”
“No need. Demon said, he’d take you home, or let you sleep in one of the guest rooms. Mom packed you a bag just in case. Happy birthday, baby.” My dad kissed me on the top of the head.
He was the best, except for his one flaw. His flaw to trust Demon for some stupid reason.
Shit, I’d almost gotten away without seeing him.
The smile on my face was wooden, although it was easy to make it look real with all the alcohol coursing through me. I should’ve known Demon would come and fuck up my birthday. I also should’ve known not to relax when I was in Demon’s lair.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I hugged them both as tight as I could before they walked out in each other’s arms.
“Hey, Angel. Wanna play?” A pool stick was thrust in my direction. Rhodie’s face blurred causing me to burst into giggles as I attempted to grab the stick.
“Alright kid, I think it’s time to call it a night.” Demon replaced the elusive pool stick with a bottle of water. I resisted the urge to throw it at him and grab the stick instead. If it wasn’t for my fear of humiliating myself in front of him, I would’ve done just that.
“Where have you been?” My voice was high and if I was being honest a lot slurred. Since my parents left, I’d been covertly looking for Demon, but he’d been elusive, until now.
“I’ve been around. Come on, your birthday party’s over. It’s time for you to say nighty-night.”
A mix between boos, goodnights, and happy birthdays rose, bouncing off the roof of the clubhouse. I turned around and attempted a beauty contestant wave, which had me giggling. I blamed the giggle, which somehow had to be Demon’s fault, for throwing me off balance.
“Oof.” I fell right into Demon’s arms. How can Hell feel so right? I snuggled into his leathers, no longer feeling the need to giggle.
Someone whistled but stopped immediately when Demon’s face whipped to the direction of the sound. “Start rolling it up, Rukus.” The old bartender gave Demon a nod, right before he jogged up the stairs with me in his arms.
“I don’t feel so good.” I threw my hand over my mouth as Demon continued to juggle me.
Demon glanced down, his blue eyes went wide, and I figured I must’ve looked just like I felt. “Come on. You can sleep in my room tonight, so I can keep an eye on you.”
Demon put me down on his bed, somewhere I dreamed of being since I was sixteen. I didn’t get to analyze how I felt being in his bed though, because I launched myself straight toward his bathroom.
It seemed mortifying things still happened to me when Demon was around.
Note to self, avoid Demon forever.
A cool rag was placed gently on the back of my neck. I begged myself to stop what I felt crawling up my throat, but I couldn’t stop it.
Demon saw me puke on my twenty-first birthday, that alone caused me to sob. I fought tooth and nail to get him to see me as an adult, to get him to see me as a worthy partner. And here I was, vomiting on the first day I was legally able to drink.
Adulting, done right.
“Shhh, don’t cry, little girl.” He soothed his hand up and down my back.
I closed the lid and flushed the toilet, letting my head rest on the closed seat. “I feel so stupid.” Thinking better of my current position, I put the back of my head on the wall refusing to open my eyes.
“Everyone has been where you are on their twenty-first birthday.” I shook my head, rolling my eyes under the closed lids. “Hey look at me.”
I shook my head again, not moving from the wall. “Just let me vanish.”