Bluffing the Devil(20)

"You guys have seen Rey and I exchange words many times. He's always flirty and creepy and in my face, I get that. He and I went out last night for coffee, to talk, and to smooth things over between us. We have a lot of common interests and the time was really well spent. He's firmly in the Bro-zone now, so no more beating him up, threatening to kill him, or anything else like that, okay? He's one of us now."

"He's what!? You can't just expect us to accept that lame shit? What common interests can you possibly have with this * besides poker? Surely you didn't have some middle-of-the-night rendezvous to speak about betting and weak raises." Rhea was trying to remain calm. I could see it on her face that she wanted to shoot Rey, but she was trying for me.

"Are you okay out here, love? I heard shouting." Oh great, Devin's appearance wasn't going to make anything any easier. Nice timing, baby.

A collective gasp washed across the suite when everyone saw Devin.

"Oh my! You did it!" Rey said and grabbed me up in a bear hug.

"I don't know what I did, but it seems so! Yes!" I said and hugged Rey back, suddenly realizing that everyone else in the room was confused about everything going on, and we had a lot of explaining to do.

"Coffee?" I simply asked Rey and he headed off to the kitchen to get that going.

"I will fetch the pastries, it seems like this is going to take a minute," Carly offered and padded after Rey to the kitchen.

I walked up to Devin, took his hand, and led him to the couch. I kissed him sweetly on the cheek, which got a few more shocked sounds from the other side of the room where both Rhea and Victoria were standing with looks mixed between confusion and rage on their beautiful faces.

Carly walked in and placed the container of sinfully delicious pastries on the table and Rey followed in a few minutes later with coffee, mugs, and the fixings.

"Carly helped me find things in there. I fear I didn't remember where anything was since I made breakfast yesterday," he said with a slight chuckle.

"Yeah, we cleaned up the rest of your mess, *," Rhea seethed.

"Though, it wasn't much of a mess. I'm shocked a guy left it," Victoria said, almost sounding approving.

"Okay guys, here's the deal…" and I went into explaining Rey, Devin, God, the Devil, and everything in between.

Chapter 14



More than an hour after beginning my explanation as best I could give it, I finally stopped. "So, are there any questions?"

I was expecting much worse. Some cussing, some throwing of fits, but was really proud of my gaggle for keeping calm. No one interrupted me the entire time, and let me have my say to try to explain things as best I could.

"You just dreamed Devin into existence? It works like that?" Carly asked, wide-eyed.

"I am not sure how that part worked out. I asked God to make him real, to bring him from my dreams, and He did, I suppose. I'm trying not to panic or freak out over the gift He gave me and just accept that I am one of the luckiest people in the whole world right now," I said with a goofy smile on my face, as I reached out for Devin's hand.

"So do all demons just happen to look like walking Sex Popsicles?" Rhea asked out of the blue.

"Yes, we do. Care to have a lick?" Rey asked leaning closer to Rhea with his usual sultry smile.

"Dude, behave yourself, both of you!" I shouted and snapped my fingers at them playfully.

"What? I was just curious, geez. Fault a girl for curiosity," she faux-complained. Every few minutes, her eyes would search Rey as if she were trying to find something wrong with him, or see if she could find a tail or another head on him. "That could explain a lot about why sexy dudes usually turn out to be the *s in relationships. I mean, they can't help it. It's ingrained in them, and they are ruled by the head bitch of Hell."

"You know what they said about that cat that got all curious," I slyly reminded her.

"All I know is satisfaction brought it back. I mean, that’s all I'm sayin'," she replied with a giggle and then looked down suddenly at the carpet as if something had stolen her interest. Nice tactic.

"You met the Devil, Alexia. Wow. What was she like?" Carly asked, sounding a lot like a reporter at that moment. Her eyes hadn't gone back to normal, human size the entire time I had spoken. She was starting to look like cartoon character at this point.

"She was a little smug, really sexy, and I don't know, I guess she was just normal considering her position in the world," I answered honestly.

"Lexi, what about Jamison?" Rhea asked and everyone's attention flocked to my face.

"What about him babe, Jamison is gone."

"Yeah, but if Devin and Rey were killed and are demons that can come back, can Jamison come back, too?"

Her question hit me hard. I hadn't even thought of that at all. Devin squeezed my hand for comfort and my eyes searched his. I could see it was scary for him for her to ask me a question like that. It was scary for me, too. I hadn't even considered if Jamison could come back. I hadn't thought of anything outside of what was currently going on. I was in love with Jamison for as long as I could remember. I didn't feel love yet for Devin, but he was in my life right now, and I wasn't going to squander that either.

"Honestly, I have no idea if he can or not. I know he would want me to be happy, no matter what though."

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you second guess, I'm just wondering if we could somehow get him back with us. You know none of us are the same without him."

"Don't be sorry, babe. I know. I think if it were something easy or something possible, he would have come to me, don't you think? I mean, I asked God for someone to come to my life that would support me through everything and be my rock. He sent me Devin, not Jamison." I chose my words very careful so as not to offend his memory, tarnish the love in my heart for my friends, or their love for him. "Jamison was my heart and true love. People are put into your life for a reason. Without him, I definitely would not the woman I am today. God called him Home when it was time for him to go. I would not change that at all. Rey and Devin were taken before their time and forced to do things they didn't want to do. They've managed to escape and get a second chance. I don't know for how long, why, or anything else. I just see it as a gift."

"You're right. I really am sorry for asking, I just didn't know if anyone was going to say it or ask it," Rhea continued. "I know how much Jamison meant to you. I just didn't want there to be any question or confusion later, you know?"

"Yes, I do know. Thank you, babe." I jumped up and pulled Rhea into a tight hug, then I held my hand out to Victoria to join the hug, and then to Carly also. "You girls mean the world to me. We have all had our share of horrible times, but together we can make it through anything, okay? I've got your back 100% and I know you've got mine. I know this is a lot to take in, and I'm just really impressed that you are all so calm and accepting. Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you guys."

"Love you guys!" Rhea said.

"Me too," Victoria added.

"Glad to be a part of the group," Carly chimed in at the last second before I released everyone from my kung-fu grip type of death squeeze.

"Okay, those pastries were incredible and all, but I need some steak! Who's with me?" I chirped.

Of course, the two guys eyes lit up and were ready for that. Rhea also chimed in, "Uh duh, me. I always want a plate full of meat, are you kidding me right now?"

Victoria cringed, but agreed to go. Vegans tended to get all in a tizzy when you said you want meat, but she knew there would be something for her wherever we went and she would not be force-fed something with a face. I pinky promised that always.

Carly agreed that dinner sounded great, but she wanted to tell us the best places to go. As the foodie in our group, we just rolled with whatever she said usually. She never steered us wrong when it came to food.

I headed to my room to change into something appropriate for going out and realized that Devin had only himself with us. No clothes, no things, nothing. I suddenly felt bad and turned to say something when Rey held his hand up.

"I got it under control, woman."

"Okay, thanks bro! You're the best."

"Yeah? Tell me that later when I show up here with this dude some clothes that look like he belongs on a kids television show," he joked. "No seriously though, I got it. I was just thinking the same thing. It won't take me long. I know everywhere to shop here. Be back in a flash." He was out the door before I could offer him money or anything.

"I'm going to help him," Rhea chimed in as the door clicked closed.

"What? You hated him an hour ago, now you want to go shopping with him?" I'm sure my astonishment did not go unseen.