As always, they wore the latest in goth chic.
Genuinely pleased to see Midnight, he took the hand she offered and gave it a squeeze. This is just what I need after my interminable, wretched night. He knew she had a crush on him, so he worked hard to keep their boundaries clear. He preferred to be an older brother.
“Hi, Dev!” She broke into a huge smile, her brown eyes sparkling. “I was hoping you’d be around tonight.
“It is very nice to see you, my dear.” He bowed to the young woman, then signaled to one of the staff and said, “Please make sure my guests have enough food to eat while they are here. Give them whatever they wish, on the house.”
“Dude!” one of the boys said. “Beers for everyone!”
Devereux smiled at the familiar performance. “Anything except alcohol.”
“Wow, thanks.” Midnight clapped her hands. “You always spoil us. I’d like to move in with you.” She pressed her hand against her mouth. All the color drained from her face before pink-tinged embarrassment washed up her neck and over her cheeks for saying her secret aloud.
He grinned to put her at ease. She was so easy to read. “I am flattered.”
“Anyway,” she continued, still mentally chastising herself, “you said you wanted to hear about how my appointment with the shrink went.”
“The shrink?”
“Yeah. I told you my parents were making me see some head doctor, and you said you thought psychotherapy could be very helpful. You asked me to fill you in afterwards.”
Her reminder jarred his memory. “Ah, yes, I do, indeed remember. Well? Was it as horrible as you feared it would be?”
She shrugged and flipped her long brown hair behind her black-caped shoulder. “It was okay. Dr. Knight was younger than I expected. Kinda pretty. Easy to talk to.”
“Hmmm. Dr. Knight. That’s an interesting name. How was it spelled?”
“K-n-i-g-h-t,” like the guys in the King Arthur story. Her first name starts with a “K,” too. Kismet.”
He went totally still and lasered his gaze to Midnight’s. A shiver of excitement rushed through him. “What?”
“Yeah, Kismet. Weird name, eh? She said her parents were fans of some Broadway musical, and they named her after it.”
He cleared his throat, needing a few seconds to regain the ability to speak. “That is interesting,” he said, carefully. “Tell me about her.”
As Midnight described the doctor, noting her long dark hair, blue eyes, and pretty face, Devereux tapped into Midnight’s memories and watched her time with the doctor as if it were a movie. The most exquisite movie he’d ever seen.
Could it be?
“Dev? Hey,” Midnight nudged his arm. “Are you listening?”
Devereux ratcheted his attention back to Midnight and smiled. “Yes, of course I am. I am sorry to be so distracted. I have a lot of business matters to attend to and should return to work. I hope you will not be disappointed if I leave you now.”
“Well, crap, Dev.” She frowned, but quickly rallied. “I hoped we could hang out for a while, but, sure. I understand. You have a lot on your shoulders. Maybe tomorrow night?”
“Certainly.” He started to walk away, then paused and turned back to Midnight. “You know I am very fond of you. Would you mind if I speak with this Doctor Kismet? If I share my thoughts about you and your future?”
“Er, no. I guess not,” she stammered, excited and pleased that he wanted to become more deeply involved in her life. “That would be good.”
“Well, then,” he said, “please tell the doctor that I would like to have an appointment with her.”
“Sure, I will. Thanks.”
He bowed, his platinum hair falling forward. “Excellent. I will see you soon.”
Strangely anxious, he moved quickly toward the closet, closed the door and thought himself downstairs again. Once inside his private room, he rushed to a cupboard at the far end and rifled through the contents until he found what he was seeking.
A painting.
He balanced it on an easel, pulled up chair and sat in front of it.
Staring at the canvas, his lips curved.
“Maybe it is not time for me to... stop... quite yet.”
He threw back his head and laughed with pure joy.