Page 53 of The Reaper
Dad mumbled something and screwed his nose up to show he didn’t think much of my plan. I didn’t care. Nothing was going to sour my good mood tonight.
When I saw headlights reflecting through the glass in the front door, I headed over to the window and saw Devon parking the car.
“I won’t be too late,” I told my dad, kissing him on the head as I rushed for the door. I heard him mutter about the shortness of my dress, but I just smiled, imagining Mum telling him to mind his own business.
Once outside, I climbed into the car, and as I shut the door, Devon asked, “Do you want me to come in for a while and talk to your dad?” The way I shook my head must’ve startled him because he added, “Is everything okay? Is he being all right with you?”
“He’s fine.” I smiled to let Devon know there was nothing to worry about. “It’s just that my dad can be a bit full-on. If you go in there, you may not come out this side of Christmas.”
Devon laughed and put the car into gear. “Like father, like daughter, hey?”
He pulled off and we drove towards The Sanctuary. Every now and again, he would reach across to put his hand on my knee or squeeze my thigh. Every time that he did, the butterflies in my stomach would multiply. But tonight, I didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with pointless words or facts. I was enjoying being next to him. That was enough.
When we eventually pulled into the grounds of The Sanctuary, he parked the car and we both got out at the same time. Devon grabbed my hand as I headed to the front doors where the people had started to form a queue to get in, and he steered me towards the back door.
“We don’t queue,” he said, smiling at me.
We walked through the back entrance and into the main dance floor area, making our way through the crowds to get to the bar. Once there, Devon gestured to the barman, and without even asking what we wanted to drink, he poured a pint of lager and a vodka and coke and put them down in front of us.
“How did he know I’d want this?” I asked, lifting the glass and sipping my favourite drink.
“He didn’t,” Devon replied. “But I saw what you ordered the last time you were here, so I took a guess.”
“Are you trying to impress me?” I gave him a sultry look and twirled my hair around my finger.
“Is it working?” The heat in his stare made my butterflies transform into fireflies and I took another sip of my vodka and coke to hide my blush.
“You know you never need to do anything special to impress me, Devon. You won me over years ago.” The words were out before I could stop them. From the startled look on his face, they’d surprised him too.
“Years?” He stared at me, waiting for a response.
“Mmhmm,” was all I could manage in response.
“So, let me get this straight…” He put his lager on the bar and turned to face me, pulling my hips so I was in his line of sight. “I have wasted years? Years where I could have been getting to know you better?” He shook his head. “Damn that’s a depressing thought.”
“We can’t change the past,” I said. “All we can do is right the wrongs.”
“And it is a wrong that I’m going to enjoy putting right.”
* * *
We stayed at the bar, drinking, talking, and feeling so at ease in one another’s company that it wasn’t like we were standing in the middle of a club. It was as if no one else existed.
Our world.
Our bubble.
Our heaven.
“Am I going to get that dance you didn’t give me the last time I was here?” I asked, feeling my confidence grow by the minute. The alcohol had helped to lower my inhibitions as the night wore on. That, and being in Devon’s company. He made me want to be a little reckless. But only for him.
“I already told you,” he whispered in my ear, making the skin on my neck prickle from his closeness. “I don’t dance. Not in public, anyway.”
“Then let’s dance in private.” A bold statement, but I liked being bold with him.
“I think I can do one better than that.”
He took the drink out of my hand and placed it on the bar, then he took my hand and led me through the crowds towards the stairs. Once there, he greeted a security guy and we started to walk up to the next floor. I’d only been inside The Sanctuary once before, but even I’d heard the rumours about the second floor. But I wasn’t fazed by it. I trusted Devon, and wherever he was leading me, I wanted to follow.
