"Hi, Margaret!"
Devin faked a genuine smile at her grand aunt. " It's Devin Nana. Devin." She drawled before reaching over to hug her.
Her aunt let out a birdlike cackle, and Devin thought about the bridge again.
Laura, her grandmother's sister was what they liked to call eccentric. Any other word would be rude. She was the eldest of the two older women but was more free-spirited than most. Above all she was reasonable. Sometimes, it made her wonder if her grandmother was not raised by the same person. The real wonder was what the hell she was even doing here.
" I didn't think you would come. But it is Sarah's seventieth." Laura continued. " Maggie said you still haven't spoken, and I told her to stop egging you. She's always going on about family and shit like that. She reminds me way too much of your mother."
Devin just nodded. Laura liked to talk a lot. Sometimes, the members of the family tune her out just to get some thinking in. Devin preferred her to her own grandmother though. Sarah was a living breathing Queen who knew her own power and the weight of her words. She was also a sore. Causing pain without ever growing or dying. And considering how gallant she still was, the dying part wasn't for another twenty years.
They party was outdoors as all Sarah's events were. That was the only thing Devin liked about her parties. It was outside. At least of she was tired and wanted to run off no one would notice.
Laura dragged Devin all the way to the drink table. As if by some unconscious habit, they began eyeing the crowd. Devin spotted her sister, giggling with her friends. Lynn was there too. She whipped her eyes off them before Lynn would notice and dragged her gaze elsewhere.
Then it met Sarah's. You could tell she had been watching for a minute, or longer. She was uncomfortable and she wanted to run, but despite all that she couldn't break away from the cold woman's gaze.
" She's still so creepy." Devin whispered to Laura, who was still standing beside her.
Laura sneered before turning Devin's face away by her chin. " The trick is to not look too long. I swear she gets a thrill from doing that," Laura nods over to the table at the other side. " Who's that handsome young man?"
Devin knew who she was talking about. Dynos.
The creep had showed up without letting her know first. Maggie had earlier announced him as her boyfriend and has been mingling since. Devin took a large swig of her drink and wished that it was something stronger.
As if knowingly, Laura laughed. " Sarah doesn't care if you have someone with you, why'd you bring him?"
" I didn't. He wanted to come." Devin replied.
Laura nodded. " Is he rich?"
" Nana!"
" What? It's a valid question. You've never brought a guy before. Ever. If he's here and you're indulging him, it means there's a valid reason you keep him around," She made a look as she brought her drink to her lips. " Or you at least have eyes."
" Nana..."
Devin walked away from Laura and headed straight to where Dynos was sitting. Dynos looked up at her with a grin that said he was expecting her. What annoyed her was that he probably heard the entire conversation she just had with her Nana.
She forced a smile and spoke in her most alluring voice " Hi... boyfriend."
He smiled, reached over and pulled her by the base waist. " Hello... girlfriend."
Shock ran down to her toes in an instant. Her nerves ended when started kissing her palm, his eyes glued onto hers. Devin didn't know what was worse; the fact that she just had butterflies or the fact that everyone nearby saw that happened.
