Page 43 of The Reaper
A few hours later, after all the acts had finished, we made our way to the foyer. I could see Leah May’s dad talking to a group of men in the corner, and Jodie chatting to some girl I didn’t recognise.
“Wait here for her,” Liv told me. “She’ll want to see you.”
I didn’t intend to go anywhere else. I wanted to see her. I also had someone else I wanted to have a few choice words with.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I replied, “Don’t feel like you have to wait for me. I can get a taxi home.”
Adam fished the car keys from his pocket and said, “I’m taking Liv for a meal and then we’re going to have a few drinks. You take the car; we’ll get a cab.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, taking the keys off him.
“Yep.” He patted my shoulder then put his arm around Liv to pull her closer to him. “Don’t wait up.” He winked, then they both walked out.
I stood against the wall, my arms folded over my chest, waiting for her to come out. When I saw the blond-haired guy, who’d duetted with her on stage, come sauntering out first like he was a fucking rock God, my back went up and I pushed myself off the wall, ready to go and have a little chat with him.
He was talking to a group of girls when I approached, and as he saw me, he smiled and put his hand out to shake mine.
“Hey, man. Did you enjoy the show?” I just stared down at his hand and smirked at his audacity. Did he really think I was a fan coming to talk to him?
“I enjoyed watching Leah May own the fucking stage,” I hissed, and sensing my animosity, the group of girls stepped out of the way. “Not quite sure what your role was though.”
The guy gave an awkward chuckle and ran his hand over the back of his neck nervously.
“Leah was awesome. I really enjoyed duetting with her.”
“I bet you did.” I stepped into his space and looked him dead in the eyes. “But if you ever look at her again the way you looked at her tonight, I will gouge your eyes out and shove them up your ass.” I saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, processing what I’d said. “I’ll snap every single one of your fucking fingers, so you never play another fucking note again. And––” Just as I was about to tell him what I had planned for his dick, I heard her breathless voice.
“Devon. You came.”
I narrowed my eyes at him for just a second longer, and then I turned to look at her, to see her gazing at me in wonder.
“Of course I came. Where else would I be?”
She smiled wide and the guy next to us, the blond fucker, cleared his throat and said, “It was a great night. I’ll see you around, Leah. And mate” ––he turned to me––“I heard you loud and clear. You’ll get no trouble from me.”
The guy left us, striding away like he couldn’t escape fast enough.
“What happened with Niall?” Leah May asked, frowning at him as he attached himself to another group of girls in the farthest corner away from us.
“Nothing. I just told him I didn’t think you needed him up on stage with you tonight. You carried that performance all on your own.” She turned away from Niall and looked at me as I added, “You were fucking amazing.”
“Do you really think so?” She smoothed a strand of stray hair behind her ear, and her cheeks grew pink as she blushed. “I wasn’t sure whether I did it justice. Everyone loves the guitar in the original, that’s why I went with Niall’s suggestion. I prefer the acoustic version myself though, but sometimes, I’m not always right. You have to think about the audience, and––”
I put my hand on her cheek and ran my thumb over her bottom lip to stop her talking.
“Trust in yourself,” I urged her. “Listen to what your heart tells you.”
But she shook her head slightly and replied, “The voices I hear aren’t always right. I get confused sometimes.”
“Then next time, ask me. Trust me.”
I kept my thumb on her lip, desperate to kiss her again and taste her sweetness when I heard a gasp coming from behind.
“You have got to be shitting me?” Jodie was standing right next to us, and reluctantly, I dropped my hand, but I reached forward and pulled Leah May towards me. I needed her closer.
“Hey, Jodie. Did I do okay?” Leah asked, and instantly I wanted to tell her she didn’t need to ask that. She didn’t need Jodie’s approval. She didn’t need anyone’s approval.
“You knocked it out of the fucking park, just like you always do,” Jodie replied, still glaring at me, and even though I knew she was here to show her annoyance at my presence, she did go up slightly in my estimation. “But what the fuck, Leah? What’s going on?”
