The devil

Wednesday, she called to tell me her cat missed me.

And yesterday…she called to say she found a pencil of mine.

If she keeps it up—the next time she calls it will be to tell me she got served with a restraining order.

“Hi and goodbye.” I go to walk past her, but she presses her hand to my chest.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’ve said that about a hundred times since we broke up.”

“Why are you being so mean to me?” Her eyes narrow. “Is it because you’re dating Julia now?”

“I don’t even know how to answer that.”

“You don’t have to. Just tell her it’s over and we can pick up where we left off.”

“With you screwing someone else behind my back? Nah, I’m good.”

I try to leave again, but she stands in front of me. “I never should have cheated on you.”

“And I never should have eaten four-day-old pizza last week. Shit happens, move on.” I start walking toward the gymnasium where Julia’s waiting for me. “I have.”

Julia is the one thing in my life as of late that my father approves of and I’m not letting go of her. Not until I get my acceptance letter from Harvard and tell my brother and everyone else who doesn’t believe in me to suck it.

“Ouch,” Damien says when I pass him. “That was harsh.” His voice lowers. “What do you say we take her out to the shed, bend her over, and teach her a lesson?”

I ignore the tightening in my groin. “Fuck off.”

“I’m go

I’m already halfway to the table. “Got it.”

I’m starting to wish I had a few pens to shove in her mouth so she’d shut the fuck up. How one single person can be so infuriatingly a

“Trouble in paradise?”

It’s so bad I don’t mind talking to Damien. Then again, it’s not like I have much of a choice. He’s one of the only few people still here.

I set two cups on the table. “She wants to stay until the end to help clean up…and then go for ice cream after.”

“Is ice cream code for blow job?”

“I wish.” I wince. “On second thought, I take that back.”

Damien smirks. “Not that brave, huh?”

I pick up the ladle. “Not that desperate.”

“Let me help you out.” He opens his jacket and takes out a bottle. “It’s only vodka, but it will take the edge off.”

Before I can object, he pours some in the cups.

“I’m driving.”

He shrugs, typing a message on his phone. “So give them both to her.”

Not a bad idea. Maybe now she’ll be quiet.

Leaning against the table, I study him. “Not to be a dick, but why are you here? You didn’t bring a date. And the only people I’ve seen you talk to tonight are me and Mrs. Miller.”

He takes a sip of the drink in his hand. “Been watching me, have you?”

“No.” I bring one of the cups to my lips. “And even if that was the case, you’re one to talk.”

His lips twitch. “Well, unlike you I’m not a hypocrite who runs from something that intrigues him.” He tucks his phone in his back pocket. “And according to the very extensive reading I got from Kristy tonight, I can be very persistent when I want something.”

I roll my eyes. “Please don’t tell me you believe in that crap.”

“I don’t know.” He looks across the room. “She’s into it.”  

I follow his gaze to the fortune booth where Mrs. Miller’s packing up shop. “So, what…is she your girlfriend or something?”

The corners of his eyes crinkle. “Or something.” He places his cup on the table. “I don’t do girlfriends. But she is my favorite.”

“I can tell.”

When he raises an eyebrow I mumble, “The texts.”

“What can I say?” His lips curve into a smirk. “I like things I shouldn’t. The more taboo, the better.”

“Do you ever get nervous?” I take another swig of my drink. “You know, about her husband finding out.”

“No. That’s her shit, not mine.”

Fair enough. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Julia enter the gymnasium. “My date’s back.”

He salutes me. “Only thirty minutes left.”

“Thank God.”

I start to leave, but he taps my shoulder. “You never asked me what my plans are after the dance.”

I blink. “What are your plans after the dance?”

He crooks a finger. When I lean in, he whispers, “I’m going to tie Mrs. Miller to my bedpost and cram my dick down her throat.” His lips ghost over my ear. “And then I’m going to fuck her so hard she squirts all over my two-thousand-dollar sheets.”

My balls tingle and I hate him for telling me this. “Good for you, man.”

“You’re welcome to join us. We can double team her. I take the back, you take the front.” He jerks his chin toward Julia. “Or you can eat ice cream and pens with pica girl.” His gaze drifts to Mrs. Miller who’s almost done packing. “I’m leaving in ten.”

My palms grow damp. The fact that I’m already thinking of ways to ditch Julia speaks volumes. But I can’t. It’s bad enough I jerk off several times a day while reliving what happened in that classroom. If I fall down this rabbit hole, there’s no coming back. I can kiss my future goodbye.

“Pass. Thanks for the offer though.”

“That’s too bad.” He looks at Mrs. Miller and grins. “Fortune favors the bold.”

“Do you think Kim’s new haircut is weird?” Julia questions as we sway to the music. We’re one out of three couples left on the dance floor.

“Do you think it’s weird?”

I’ve learned the best way to answer her questions is to direct them back to her.

“A little. Her bangs are kind of short.” She purses her lips. “Then again they’ll grow out, so I guess it really doesn’t matter.”

“Nope.”  Nothing about this conversation matters.

In my peripheral vision, I spot Mrs. Miller leaving the gymnasium. Damien hangs back by the bleachers, looking between me and his watch every so often.

“What did you think about the dress Stacy Saxton wore on Tuesday?”

I grit my teeth. “What did you think about the dress?”

I scan the bleachers. My blood quickens when I realize he’s no longer there but moving toward the exit.

Julia scrunches her face, pondering. “I’m not sure.”

Damien casts me one last glance…

And then he’s gone.

“I think it made her look a little chubby, but it was an unflattering c—”

“Fuck,” I yell before I double over.

“Oh my God. Cain, what’s wrong?”

“I think I’m dying.” It’s not a lie. I’m positive I’m going to keel over if she asks me one more goddamn question about Stacy or Kim and their stupid wardrobe.

“What?” Julia shrieks. “Holy crap, the card was right.”

Clutching my stomach, I hobble toward the exit. “I think I have food poisoning.” I dig my keys out of my pocket and hand them to her. “I don’t want you to catch this. You should take my car and drive yourself home.”

She stares at me like I’ve sprouted another head. “You want me to drive your car?”

“Yup.” Drive it off a goddamn bridge for all I care. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be in the bathroom. I’ll get a ride home from my brother later.”

I break into a sprint. Hopefully Damien didn’t leave yet.

“Wait,” she screeches. “Does this mean we’re going steady? Am I your girlfriend?”

“Sure. Whatever.”

The second I’m outside the gymnasium I start ru

“Wait up.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Damien’s eyes widen when he sees me. “Look who decided to stop being a pussy.”