Chapter Seven

Pagan

If Jay apologized one more time I was going to cram a breadstick down his throat. At least then he would shut up. I’d tried to change the subject several times and when that didn’t’ work I’d started joining in on Miranda and Nathan’s conversation. Which worked out well for a while but now they were huddled together whispering on their side of the large booth and we were on our side with my purse between us as a barrier.

“Are you going to forgive me?” Jay asked.

“I am not mad, Jay. There is nothing to forgive. I’m on this date for Miranda. I never agreed to it because I wanted to spend time with you. So, please, let’s talk about something else.” I was a broken record.

“So this disinterest I’m getting from you is not because I was a jackass but because you really didn’t care about seeing me to begin with?” he asked with a small amount of surprise in his tone.

“Exactly. You’re an old friend. It was nice to see you the other night but that is about it. I’m here for Miranda.”

Jay leaned back in his seat and fiddled with the napkin on his plate. “I had one shot to change your mind and I screwed that up.” He was pouting. Fantastic.

“We had our thing. It is a really good memory but now we’re older. Things change.”

“Your taking my breath away when you walk into a room hasn’t changed,” he replied when he lifted his eyes to look back at me.

That might just be sweet enough to get him out of trouble if I was interested. He was just a good friend. I reached over and squeezed his hand. “Thank you. That was nice to hear. But can we just agree to be friends. That way when your habit of asking attractive girls out gets in the way we can laugh about it,” I teased.

Jay gave me a crooked grin. “God, I’ve missed you.”

“Well I haven’t really missed you all that much,” I replied then burst into laughter at the hurt look on his face. “I’m joking. I missed you too.” Maybe. When I thought about him. Which hadn’t been much over the past year.

“Have you two made up over there? Because if I hear Jay apologize one more time I may shove him into oncoming traffic,” Nathan said from across the table.

“Yes, all is well. We are going to be friends and Jay can ask out anyone he wants to, whenever he wants to.” I replied. Nathan studied Jay for a moment with a concerned look on his face, and then forced a smile.

“If y’all are okay with that set up, then we are too.”

Miranda nodded,” Yep. Sounds like a good plan. Besides, Pagan has a date with Dank Walker Friday night. He gave her backstage passes to his concert. And he’s letting me in too.”

“How did you know about that?” I hadn’t said anything to her about it yet.

She shrugged, “Gee told me.”

Figures. Gee was making sure I came. She’d already figured out Miranda got me to do things I didn’t want to. After, tonight though, I really did want to go. Dank Walker didn’t seem like such a bad decision after being out with a “normal, nice” guy. At least when I was with Dank he acted like I was the only person around.

“Did you just meet him last night at the club?” Jay asked with a scowl on his face.

“No. He picked up her shoes when we got here yesterday. She dropped a whole box of shoes in the street. He got off his big bad motorcycle and came picked them up and carried them to her room. I think he’s stalking her.” Miranda wiggled her eyebrows.

“His band isn’t known for their good reputation. They’re rowdy and they get into trouble. Hanging around him isn’t safe, Pagan.” Jay didn’t sound convincing.

“So far he’s been nothing but nice, polite, and very attentive,” I replied as I scooted out of my seat. I wasn’t going to be put in the position of defending Dank to Jay. That was ridiculous.

“The important thing here is my best friend is dating the lead singer of Cold Soul and I have backstage passes. Let’s not get off topic,” Miranda chimed in. Nathan didn’t look real thrilled with this either. Now both of them were scowling. A little jealousy would be good for Nathan. Miranda was making it seem too easy.

“Why did he give you tickets backstage?” Nathan asked as he reached for Miranda’s hand.

“Because he knew Pagan wouldn’t go without me,” she replied. She was also very right. I wouldn’t brave that scene if she wasn’t beside me.

“Hmmm,” was Nathan’s only response. Poor guy. He wanted to protest and knew he had no right because he’d just met her.

“So, what movie are we going to see?” I asked to change the subject.

“Well I was gonna suggest an action movie since there are several out I’d like to see, but after hearing that y’all are gonna be hanging out with a rock band later this week I feel the need to step up my game. So whatever romance you want to see I’m willing.” Nathan replied.

Miranda laughed, “Oh, you’re in luck. I’ve seen the only romance out right now. It sucked.”

“Thank God,” Jay sighed dramatically.

“Action movie it is then,” Nathan announced.

Dank

I sat on the edge of Pagan’s bed and glanced at the clock for the hundredth time in the span of ten minutes. “How long has she been gone?” I asked Gee as she walked into the room.

“I was with you, remember?”

She had been, but she’d headed home before me. I’d started worrying about Pagan with neither of us watching over her.

“Before you point out that I got back an hour before you, I might as well tell you I made a quick stop along the way. I checked in on Pagan’s mom and did a sweep to see if I felt the little voodoo bitch around here anywhere. He’s gone. Her mom is good.”

I couldn’t get mad at her for that.

“She’s with him.”

Gee only nodded. She and I both knew this had to happen. I couldn’t stop it. Her heart had to choose. But damn, it was hard. Today she’d melted against me the way she used to. She hadn’t pushed me away; she’d wanted me. I know that part of her remembers. Her body responded to me. I had to believe her heart was strong enough to restore her memory. The warmth of her soul’s presence washed over me.

“She’s back,” I said standing up. She’d entered the building.

“I’ll see what I can find out. But behave yourself in the corner,” Gee replied, waving me away. I wasn’t visible to humans in this form. I backed away to stand in the far corner of her room and waited.

The door swung open and Miranda came in chatting happily. I couldn’t understand what she was saying because all I could focus on was the high heeled boots and short skirt Pagan was wearing. HELL. I was burning those as soon as she got them off her body. She could cause wars, the way she was dressed. I was going to hunt him down and kill him if he touched her. I’d take his sorry soul whether it was time or not.

Gee cleared her throat and I tore my gaze off Pagan’s deliciously-dressed body to glare at Gee. She must have read the intent on my face; she gave me a warning look. Those boots were going missing. The skirt was too.

“That wasn’t so bad now was it?” Miranda asked smiling over at Pagan.

Pagan rolled her eyes and unzipped her boots. Maybe I wouldn’t burn them after all. I’d hide them instead. See if I could get her to take them off for me sometime.

“You rocked Jay’s world. When did he get so full of himself? Geez. Love the fact that you told him you couldn’t care less that he asked that tramp out. And what was up with that? I mean he was here to pick you up and she was hitting on him. Desperate much?”

Pagan pulled the boot off slowly and if I could drool I was pretty sure I was. Damn that was hot. She reached for the other boot to do the same thing.

“I don’t care. She can have him. Why did I date the guy for three years? I don’t see the appeal.”

Her words broke into my lustful imagination and I snapped my head up to look at her face. She didn’t like him? What? But he was her soul mate.

“He’s different from what I remember. He was boring.”

Gee smirked in my direction. Pagan reached for the button on her shirt. Oh yeah.

Then the bathroom door opened and out came a very visible Gee. “So, you bitches have fun?” she asked, interrupting Pagan’s shirt unbuttoning. Dammit, Gee.

“Miranda had a wonderful time. I suffered through and Miranda owes me big time.”

She really didn’t enjoy it… and she was unbuttoning her shirt again.

“Jay wasn’t that bad. He just started the night off asking another girl out while waiting on Pagan to arrive. We walked up on it. Pagan handled it brilliantly and comically but he still looked like an ass.”

Jay had asked someone else out? Did the guy not see what Pagan was wearing? Damn. I might not have to worry about this at all. He was an idiot. The last button on Pagan’s shirt came undone and she dropped it to the floor. I moved so that I could sink down on the bed and watch.

“She’s excited about Friday night. She won’t admit it but I can tell,” Miranda said, picking up Pagan’s discarded shirt and throwing it at her.

“You change your mind about guys in a band?” Gee asked. I wasn’t sure what she meant but I’d ask her as soon as she got out of here.

Pagan lifted one shoulder and I prayed by all that was holy that she’d take off that pink bra. This may be invading her privacy but I was Death, dammit. I should get some privileges. “I decided to not judge a book by its cover. Can’t hurt to give Dank Walker a chance.”

“He may want more than a chance,” Gee murmured for my ears only.

Pagan began to unbutton her skirt. Yes, please.

“I’m gonna go shower. Y’all feel free to talk about me because I know you will,” Pagan informed them and walked into the bathroom just before her skirt slid down her legs and hit the floor. I was tempted to follow her in there, but that would be wrong. She would be furious if she knew. I glanced over at Gee who looked ready to crack up laughing at me.