“I didn’t tell her to do anything,” I said.
He scoffed. “Please, it’s obvious you’ve been working your magic into her. Everyone can feel it.”
“By everyone, you mean Brie and you. Stop being so dramatic all of the time.”
“Our future is worth being dramatic over!”
I rolled my eyes. “All I’ve done is plant the idea of making sure she’s getting everything she wants in life. If that leads her to a conclusion that something is missing, then so be it. Perhaps Toby isn’t the one who can provide everything. After all, she is craving excitement, and I can’t think of when he gave her that.”
“They’re just starting out! Give it time!”
“Do we have time?” I snapped. “Don’t you feel different?”
Preston’s voice grew quiet. “Maybe...”
Denial. If I felt the change in magic, in how it didn’t seem to obey the same way it once did, then he felt it too.
Brie joined in then. “Her wanting to go out for a night doesn’t mean she isn’t interested in Toby. It just means she wants to go out. Both of you are reading too much into it.”
While that conversation was going on, Desi had texted a few female acquaintances with an invitation to join her. I couldn’t remember the last time she’d done that. Normally when she went out for a night on the town, she did it solo with every intention of not coming back alone. A curious development. Two of them even said yes!
She didn’t smile, but there was a lightness coming off of her that couldn’t be ignored.
“What’s got you so happy?” Rodney asked from behind her.
Desi closed her eyes, but the light inside of her didn’t leave. “Just finalizing plans for the night.”
“Work hard, play hard. I like it.” He smirked.
She faced him, and it almost seemed as though she were happier from seeing him. “And how do you know that I’m going to play hard?”
“You just seem that type.”
“You might be right,” she said.
He took a step closer. “Where you playing tonight?”
“Oh, just somewhere downtown.”
“That narrows it down to five spots.”
“Only five? I figured it’d be about twenty.”
“Five,” he said. “Care to help me get that to one?”
She faced her computer screen again and laughed. “Nope.”
“I’ll find you,” he said.
“Sure you will.” And a feeling of hope spread through her. I knew it, she did like him! She was just afraid. I urged for her to not be, to open up just a tiny bit more. She didn’t quite take it the way I’d wanted.
All the same, she added. “Try the dance clubs.”
“Three spots, then. Even better.”
“Okay, go away now. I’m busy.” She held up her hand, still refusing to look at him, and it had everything to do with the heat flushing to her face. Can’t remember the last time I’ve blushed this badly before.
We’d be having a lot of fun that night.
The thrill from the anticipation drove Desi through the day and into the evening. She took more care than normal to do her make-up and find the right outfit. Why go through that trouble if she didn’t want to impress someone else?
Soon enough, she was at her favorite club, soaking in the lights and the music while sipping on an appletini. She’d never been great at holding her liquor. Always a wild time for us! Normally, I’d complain, but instead I welcomed the change. Desi analyzed too much of her life lately. No wonder she was crumbling apart on the inside. The girl needed a break from such deep introspection. Besides, she had us to keep her safe.
When Desi danced, she felt the most free. Regardless of if she had skill or anything resembling rhythm...which she didn’t; I should add...nothing could bring her down. She became the queen of the club. If only she could see how beautiful she was in those moments of liberty. And while she might have been there with friends, the music always carried Desi into her own world. It never took long for all of the ladies to seek out their separate conquests. Desi’s potential fling happened to find her first.
Firm hands settled onto her waist. Without facing her partner, she backed in closer, invitingly. And they danced through one, two...five songs...before she bothered to gaze upon her companion.
“Rodney,” she said, breathless.
“I thought you knew,” he murmured into her ear. “You’ll dance like this with anyone?”
“Of course.”
“Aren’t you just one surprise after the next?” He smirked as it said it.
She ran her hands over his chest. “Yup.”
“No longer loathe me, hmm?” Something softened in his gaze.
Desi scoffed. “Here it doesn’t matter if I like you or not.”
“Ah...I see. I guess I can live with that.”
She seemed startled by those words and the hint of disappointment in his voice. Always determined to test, Desi began to sashay away from him. “Just like it doesn’t matter if I like you for what I want to do to you next.”
Both of his eyebrows raised, and he didn’t hesitate to follow. She led him out of the club. Hand in hand they walked a little ways down the busy city streets. To me, they felt like a natural couple. Everything about the moment just seemed so right.
“I don’t like this,” Preston said. “Nope, not at all. We should get her out of this situation before she ruins something good!”
“Let her enjoy the moment,” Brie protested. I was glad she wasn’t putting up a fight...yet.
I added in quickly, “This is good too.”
Preston huffed and curled himself up, pouting. “It’s going to ruin everything. Just wait.”
I ignored him. All he wanted to do was distract me or aggravate me until I agreed with him. What I needed to be doing was taking careful watch and finding the gateway into Rodney’s soul.
Rodney gazed down into her eyes as he leaned her against the wall of a building. “And what is it you want to do next?”
“Not something we can do here where the world can see,” she whispered.
“Are you sure?” He smirked and leaned in to kiss her. In that moment, I got a flash into his soul.
“I DIDN’T CHEAT ON YOU,” Rodney said.
“But it’s obvious you like her more than me!” A woman shouted at him. She pointed an accusing finger into his chest. The memory told me her name was Olivia. “I see how you look at her!”
“But I didn’t cheat on you!” he shouted back. “Because I’m not that kind of a guy! Yes, she’s attractive. Yes, I find her interesting. Yes, okay!”
“Then we can’t be together.” Olivia spun on her heel to walk away. “Honestly, I don’t know why I’m so surprised. You’ve always said you’ll only end up breaking my heart. Right from the beginning.”
he rolled his eyes. “Defense mechanism, Liv. If I can break yours first, then you can’t break mine. Besides, I had to make sure you stayed interested in me.”
“Such a cliche.” She laughed. “I don’t know why I never saw it before. Probably because I fell for that stupid bad boy act.”