“I can’t give you a night, there is no way I can do that. I’m sorry.”
“A couple of hours then. An hour. Please,” he all but begs me.
“Why?” I ask. “Why is it so important to you? If you want your charge, she is right outside, looking like me.”
“I don’t want her, I want you. You are everything I wanted her to be, everything I thought she would be.”
“You don’t know me.”
“But I do. I feel it.”
I sigh. “Can I think about it?” Even though there is no way. I just…can’t.
He frowns. “How will I know if you accept?”
“I will come back,” I say, and he nods.
“Very well. I suppose it is that attitude that makes me want you. Your thoughtfulness for those you love.”
Thoughtful? Well, can’t say I have been called that much. Especially as of late.
I nod and Shift back to that dreadful woman with a moue of distaste which doesn’t go unnoticed. He laughs and it lights up his face. “I happen to agree.” He stands and takes my hand. “I will go along for now, but you know my terms.”
I open the door and we stroll out hand-in-hand, which in turn does not go unnoticed by everyone in the room. Mostly Devon and other me. I am sure I don’t need to tell you which one looks like they are about to blow a gasket?
“Lizzie,” Devon steps away from other me and pulls me away from Constantine. “What is going on here?”
“I am mending fences,” I say, hoping that sounds like something she would do. She shakes her head imperceptibly and I bring my hands up to my hips and adopt her trademark sneer. “Problem?”
He narrows his eyes at me and takes my hand, pulling me further away. He looks at other me and says, “I think it is time for you to go.”
She stands gracefully and steps away from the boys who have her surrounded. Well, I guess I am kind of a novelty. She must have been doing a better job at being me than I was of her. “May I have a word before I go?” she asks me.
“Sure,” I drawl, and she rolls her eyes at me. I smile prettily at Constantine, who smiles knowingly back, and she pulls me back to the bedroom.
“Well?” she says. “It seems to be working.”
“For now. I am not a very good you,” I say dryly.
“I am a really good you,” she boasts. “And man, they are eating it up. They love you. I think I might have you come back later and take them all for a test drive.”
“Don’t you dare!” I snap. “You will not trick them by using me.”
“Oh, please, what’s it to you?”
“I don’t want them thinking I am like you,” I say haughtily, and she laughs.
“Oh, whatever,” she waves her hand dismissively.
“Tell me what I want to know.”
“Have you earned it?” she asks slyly.
“I told him I want him, that I want us to have a better relationship. He kissed me, tried to have sex with me and asked me to make time for him,” I say, which is all true.
She raises her eyebrows at me. “Wow. You managed all of that in five minutes? Very good.”
“Now tell me what I want to know.”