I knew I was going to live forever, but sometimes I had a hard time really understanding how long forever was. During that ride to the airport, however, I got a taste of what eternity might feel like.
Maddie spent almost the entire time talking about Seth. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only time she didn't was when she stopped to check her watch and ponder whether we would make it on time. I knew we would make it on time because I would stop the car and carry her on my back before I'd risk her missing her flight and needing to ride back with me to the city. Once she'd decided we were still okay with time, it was back to Seth. Seth, Seth, Seth.
I'm pretty sure there were only about three people in the world I wouldn't have suspected of fucking with me if they'd come telling a story like this. Unfortunately, Maddie was one of them. She was telling the truth. It was written all over her, and something in me - maybe the part that really understood how serious the fight between Seth and me had been - could feel it.
After a while, my mind sort of went numb, and I stopped thinking about it all. I finally dropped her off at the airport and went home, barely aware of the traffic I once again had to fight my way through. When I got back to my apartment, I ate dinner and watched A Christmas Carol. A long, hot bath followed, and five shots of vodka finally put me down for the night. I slept on the couch because I couldn't bear to go in the room where an angel had fallen. Some Christmas Eve.
Seth came over the next morning to take me to dinner at Terry and Andrea's. Uneasiness radiated around him, but he still smiled when he saw me.
"You look great."
"Thanks."
I knew I did. I'd spent two hours getting ready, the last thirty minutes of which had been me simply standing in front of the mirror. I'd stood there, taking in every detail of my appearance. The clinging red dress. The curve of my neck under the glittering black choker. The way my golden-brown hair, worn sleek and smooth today, hung down my back. Gold eye shadow and black liner framed my eyes. My lips glowed under pale peach lip gloss. Even at five-four, my legs looked long and supple. My face, carved with high cheekbones and flawless skin, was beautiful.
I was beautiful.
Call it vanity or egotism, but it was true. I was so, so beautiful. More beautiful than Maddie. More beautiful than any mortal woman. Staring at that gorgeous reflection, I begged it to tell me that Seth would want me. He had to want me. How could he not?
But I knew all the beauty in the world couldn't mask the pain in me. And after a couple more moments, Seth noticed too. His smile vanished.
"How did you find out?" he asked.
I dropped the coat I'd been holding. "How do you think? She told me. She couldn't wait to tell me."
He sighed and sat on the arm of my couch and stared into space.
"That's it? You have nothing else to say?" I asked.
"I'm sorry. God, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for you to find out like this."
"Were you ever going to tell me?"
"Yeah...of course."
His voice was so sweet and so gentle that it momentarily defused the anger that wanted to explode out of me. I stared at him, looking hard into those amber brown eyes. "She said...she said you didn't drink, but you did, right? That's what happened?" I sounded like I was Kendall's age and suspected I wore the pleading expression Yasmine had given Jerome.
Seth's face stayed expressionless. "No, Thetis. I wasn't drunk. I didn't drink at all."
I sank down into the armchair opposite him. "Then...then...what happened?"
It took a while for him to get the story out. I could see the two warring halves within him: the one that wanted to be open and the one that hated to tell me things I wouldn't like.
"I was so upset after what happened with us. I was actually on the verge of calling that guy...what's his name? Niphon. I couldn't stand it - I wanted to fix things between us. But just before I did, I ran into Maddie. I was so...I don't know. Just confused. Distraught. She asked me to get food, and before I knew it, I'd accepted." He raked a hand through his hair, neutral expression turning confused and frustrated. "And being with her...she was just so nice. Sweet. Easy to talk to. And after leaving things off physically with you, I'd been kind of...um..."
"Aroused? Horny? Lust-filled?"
He grimaced. "Something like that. But, I don't know. There was more to it than just that."
The tape in my mind rewound. "Did you say you were going to call Niphon?"
"Yeah. We'd talked at poker...and then he called me once. Said if I ever wanted...he could make me a deal. I thought it was crazy at the time, but after I left you that night...I don't know. It just made me wonder if maybe it was worth it to live the life I wanted and make it so you wouldn't have to worry so much."
"Maddie coming along was a blessing then," I muttered. Christ. Seth had seriously considered selling his soul. I really needed to deal with Niphon. He hadn't listened to me when I'd told him to leave Seth alone. I wanted to rip the imp's throat out, but my revenge would have to wait. I took a deep breath.
"Well," I told Seth. "That's that. I can't say I like it...but, well...it's over."
He tilted his head curiously. "What do you mean?"
"This. This Maddie thing. You finally had a fling. We've always agreed you could, right? I mean, it's not fair for me to be the only one who gets some. Now we can move on."
A long silence fell. Aubrey jumped up beside me and rubbed her head against my arm. I ran a hand over her soft fur while I waited for Seth's response.
"Georgina," he said at last. "You know...I've told you...well. I don't really have flings."
My hand froze on Aubrey's back. "What are you saying?"
"I...don't have flings."
"Are you saying you want to start something with her?"
He looked miserable. "I don't know."
No. This wasn't happening.
"What's this mean for us?" I asked.