Page 41 of The Reaper
Liv bit her lip, then reached over to the drawers by the side of the sofa. She pulled open the top drawer and took out a flyer.
“After I dropped Leah off the other night, we swapped numbers and I started to text her. She told me about this gig she has tomorrow at Merivale town hall.” Liv leaned forward and passed the flyer to me. “I really think you should go. I told her me and Adam would be there, but I think it’d mean the world for her to see you there too.”
I turned the leaflet over in my hands, reading the tagline for a night of local musical talent, and when I saw her name right up there in bold letters, a spark of pride ignited inside me.
“She never told me about this,” I said, focusing on my feelings of pride and fighting the twinge of my bruised ego that seemed to follow the initial elation.
“Maybe because she’s embarrassed about you seeing her, or maybe she doesn’t think it’ll be your thing. Maybe,” Liv sighed dramatically, “she just plain forgot. Don’t overthink it, Devon. It is what it is.”
“She might not want me there.”
Liv huffed and threw her head back in exasperation.
“Don’t make bullshit excuses. Just come with us. She’s shown you she wants to step into your world, now make the effort to step into hers.”
I stammered, stalling to give my brain time to take it all in.
“I don’t have a ticket.”
Liv let out a frustrated growl, and Tyson’s head jerked from her lap in annoyance at being disturbed.
“Jesus. Now you’re just scraping the barrel of shitty excuses. Its pay at the door, dumbass, and I hardly think they’ll be turning people away, it’s a charity night at the town hall.”
I glanced down at the flyer I was clutching in my hands, toying with all the pros and cons flying around my head.
“You need to stop holding back,” Liv blurted out, pulling me from my thoughts. “Go to her. Lose yourself in her. Watch her play for you and burn in her flames. And maybe, just maybe, if she’s the one, you’ll rise like the phoenix you are, that you both are. You never know unless you try. That’s all you can do, Devon…try.”
Enough.
I was using that word again, but this time to tell myself that I’d done enough procrastinating. Enough arguing. Enough driving myself crazy about things that might never happen.
“I want to try.” I did. Trying felt like the only thing I was sure of.
“Then do it,” Liv stated. “You don’t have to tell the others anything until you’re ready. Keep Leah to yourself and see where it goes. Just know, we’ll always be here for you, whatever happens.”
Talking to Liv was cathartic, and it’d helped me voice some of the things that were eating away at me. I’d given myself a few hours to act like an idiot, but I was done. Life wasn’t about playing it safe. I knew that. Now, I was about to embark on another adventure. I needed to grab it with both hands and see where it took me. Enjoy the ride and to hell with the consequences. To succeed, you had to be willing to take risks. This wasn’t even a risk, it was an experience; a life experience that I didn’t want to miss, not if I was truly honest with myself.
“Thanks, Liv,” I said as I stood to leave. “I feel better for talking to you.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” She winked, and I left feeling lighter and more confident than I had done when I’d first arrived.
I could do this.
ChapterNineteen
DEVON
It was the night of Leah May’s performance, and I was eager for the hours to move faster than they were. I showered and stood staring at my wardrobe like a bloody woman for far too long, trying to decide what to put on. I finally settled on the same black shirt and black jeans that I always wore if we were going out. It didn’t really matter what I wore, all that mattered was getting to that town hall to see her. Eight o’clock couldn’t come fast enough.
After checking myself in the mirror one last time, I went out to meet Adam and Liv, who were waiting for me in the hallway. Liv smiled a knowing smile and Adam just patted me on the back.
“You’re doing the right thing,” Liv said, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “This is going to mean the world to her.”
“I hope you’re right,” I replied, stuffing my hands into my pockets and trying to fight my nerves.
She was right though. How could I not turn up? This night would mean everything to Leah May, I knew that, and I had to be there to witness it.
“I’m always right.” Liv smirked and Adam gave her a sly smile that told me he knew it too.
