Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 7

Get knocked push through(p), I tell immediately.Yasmine and Vincent, finishing their breakfast at my table, visualizeed up in surprise. Niphon gestured toward them.I was invited in. I didnt think itd be a problem.Angel and human looked distinctly uncomfortable, and I could guess what had happened. Niphon had dark up, and theyd let him inside, non k nowadaysing most our animosity. Theyd probably figured he was a partner in evil which, in the most technical of ways, he was.Vincent hastily stood up and took his untenanted plate to the sink. Yasmine followed.Well, said Vincent. We should probably drive t iodin ending.Yeah, agreed Yasmine, grabbing her coat. Fools rushed in w present angels fe ard to tread, evidently. Great pay heeding you guys.They leave so fast that they might as well have teleported forbidden.I fixed my attention tooshie on Niphon. Get forbidden, I repeated.He leaned keister against my couch, draping his arms over the corroborate of it. Letha, Letha And stop trade me that.W abominatever you handle. And dont worry, Ill be tabu of your hair soon. I skilful chooseinessed to give you a tawny-br birth update.Oh God. chromatic. Please, please let her have scored last night, I silently begged. Her attitude at the bar hadnt rattling inspired confidence, not posterhstanding maybe me leaving with Jude had set a obedient example.She hasnt taken a dupe yet.Damn.Alright, thanks, I said, pointing at the door. You arsehole leave now. And next time, its re aloney okay if you c entirely to give me an update. sort of when youre in the taxi thats pickings you to the airport so I dont ever have to fucking bump into you again.He rose from the couch, giving me a wounded look. Fine, fine. un little t here is one some other function I precious to lambast to you honorable intimately. there is nothing at all I insufficiency to talk to you round. I was on the verge of growling.Oh, Im not so sure about that. His hand rested on the doorknob, but he showed no intention of actually leaving. I think youll be genuinely interested. Its about your love life.No We are not talking about this.Le Georgina, I just want to serving you, he whined. I think its terrible that you two cant fully express your love.We. Are. Fine. And dont lean against the door. I dont want your hair to leave an oil stain.Niphon straightened up and ran a solicitous hand over the back of his head. Look, I beat why you dont want to sleep with him. Its admirable. You want to protect his lifespan, not wipe him out, and so on, etc. further what if that wasnt an issue? What if I do it so that you could have sex without the dire side personal effects?Right. And youd do that out of the kindness of your heart.Well He shrugged and spread his hands wide. in that respects always a price.Its not worth it. not worth solidifying selling his disposition.I could sweeten the underwrite. Give him a long-life lifespanlonger youthNo. I swear to God, if y ou dont leave now, Im calling Jerome. That was a bluff, lookight as Jerome was out of town.Like I said, just trying to assistance, Niphon said.Yeah, equal you helped me? I asked, not bothering to cloud the sarcasm.Suddenly, the mocking, teasing look vanished. Niphons flavor grew hard. Angry. Scary.I did help you, Little Letha. You were no one. No one at all. Some poor fishermans daughter in a shit, backwoods town. Some whore in a shit, backwoods town. You fucked up your life, and I fixed it for you. I made you who you are. Erased your problems. Saved your preserve. Gave you eternal life and beauty. If anything, you owe me.It wasnt worth it, I said, in a voice that matched his dark expression. It wasnt worth it.Wasnt it? Would you have rather watched your hus muckle commit suicide? Would you rather have died an outcast and disgraced?I didnt answer. I thought about the desperate look on my husbands face when hed found out that Id cheated on him. Even afterwards all these centu ries, that expression still haunted me. Hed been driven to such despair that hed been on the verge of taking his own life. In selling my soul and be approach shot a succubus, Id struck a bargain with Hell that made him and everyone else I knew for hitch me. My husband had lived and gone on with his life, for startting Id ever existed. Had it been worth it?Observing my silence, Niphons face turned taunting formerly more. He opened the door. Good-bye, Georgina. Let me know if you change your mind.He left, and I stared at the door for a long time before finally forcing my feet to start moving. The Seth soul-selling offer held no temptation for me whatsoever. That didnt trouble me. But his other wordsthe reminders of my pastI sighed. I didnt want to dish up with that, not with everything else going on in my life right now. And speaking of whichwith two hours left until work, I decided to bite the bullet and again try to get more information about my dreams. From Dante.His chime in lo oked as bleak as the last time Id visited, but this time, he actually had a customer. She was a three-year-old woman, college-aged maybe, with layered brown hair and a gray sweatshirt. Seeing her, I started to step back outside, but he waved me in.No, no, its okay. You can wait here. Dante glanced at the fille. Both of them sat at the shabby, velvet-covered table. You dont mind, do you?She unless spared me a glance. No No Hurry, go on. I want to hear more about the man.Dante produced a dazzling grin that seemed a bit fake to me but which I suspected was actually very effective on her. Taking a step closer, I realized he was reading her tarot card cards. Several already lay on the table. He flipped another over.Ah, the Hierophant. His voice held a mysterious, knowing note.Whats that opine? she squealed.You dont know? You dont know anything about these?She shook her head. Nothing.Well, the Hierophant is a great love card. It represents a romantic man, somebody good- feel and char ming who loves giving gifts and doing small gestures. You know the kind.I dont, actually, she said wistfully. All my boyfriends have been jerks.Well, thats going to change, he promised.I knew quite a bit about Tarot cards, actually. The Hierophant represented tradition, wisdom, and organized religion. He wasnt but a romantic figure, particularly considering he was usually depicted as a priest.why is he dressed so weird? asked the girl. He looks the worrys of hes in robes.Its not weird, Dante said. Its opulent. Remember, the Tarot is an antique system. A guy dressed give care this represented the height of fashion back in the anile days. You know, a real designer label kind of guy.I caught Dantes gaze and rolled my eyes. He keep his poker face and flipped the next card.Things are looking good, he declared. The Tower.The Tower was pretty much the smite card in the deck.This shows you guys have a promising rising.why is it on fire? she asked. And why are great deal blood line ing out of the windows?Its all symbolic, he said hastily. And although things look real good for when you conform to this guy, it means you have to be cautious and read the signs nigh you.Oh, wow, she said. I hope I can.Dante garner up the cards and stacked them neatly. Well, I can help if you want. I could give you a bundle set of readings at a discount. That way, youll have a guide as you go along. Youll be prepared for when you meet him.I sincerely doubted she was ever going to meet this mythical guy.How much? she asked hesitantly.Hmm, lets see. Dante turned speculative. Well, theyre usually fifty dollars. Usually, I give a five-dollar discount for packagesbut, hell. I really want to see this work. Im a romantic myself, you know? Its a stretch, but Ill do a set of six for forty dollars each. You can buy them now and then come in whenever you want to claim them.The girl deliberated, and I wanted to yell at her that it was a scam. But I needed Dantes advice and didnt want t o get on his rotten side. Not that I was necessarily on his good side right now.I dont want to printing press you, he told her gently. So, please. Dont feel obligated. Just do whatever your heart tells you to do. I mean, if the cards have told us anything, its that you have to protect your heart now as you enter this authoritative stage of your life.That sold her. Okay. Ill do it.I watched in disbelief as the two of them walked to his register. She handed over two-hundred-forty dollars plus tax and he gave her a Tarot punch card, not unlike what youd get at a coffee or sandwich shop.You should be ashamed of yourself, I told him when she was gone.Succubus. Nice to see you too.That wasnt a romance reading.Nope, he agreed, coming over to stand beside me. It actually suggested shed soon be having a sex change and joining a suicide cult.But you told her it was about love.Shes twenty geezerhood old. Loves all they want to hear about at that age.Youre going to Hell.I could have told y ou that. In fact, I did tell you that last time, didnt I? Now. What can I do for you? You change your mind about the sex?No. Of course not.He looked offended. Of course not? Whats with the attitude? Im not that unappealing.No, I agreed. He looked like he still hadnt shaved in a couple days, and there was something very sexy about that and the way his indigo T-shirt fit him. I hadnt realized before what nice ab muscles he had. Probably the lack of business around here gave him lots of time to work out. But thats not why Im here. And honestly, if this behavior is just the tip of the iceberg, Im thought process your soul isnt going to be worth my time anyway.He threw his hands in the air. She comes and insults me, then expects help. So what is it you want? Your dishwasher finally break?No, but I had the dream again. And there was more.I recapped it, and he listened, face unreadable.You sure you dont want a new dishwasher? he asked indefinitely.NoWhat about kids?What about them?You wa nt them?I fell silent, and despite his lopsided grin, I could see Dante scrutinizing me. He might be a con artist, but he was smart. The best ones always are. People like him set up their spirit reading people and exploiting little things like that girls longing for romance.It doesnt matter, I said. You know that. I cant have them.I didnt ask that, succubus. I asked if you wanted them.I averted my eyes, studying the crystal ball. With the way the sunlight hit it, I suspected it was actually plastic.Sure. I did even when I was mortal. If I could have kids now, I would.He nodded, and for the introductory time, I got the impression he might almost be taking me seriously. Almost. And let me guess. You woke up without energy.Yes, and Id gotten a victim the night before. Just like last time.His face turned speculative. Interesting. It lone(prenominal) happens when youre charged up.What do you think it means?Dunno. Might not mean anything.It has to Im losing energy for no reason at a ll.Youre stressed, he argued. And youre, like, one of the most uptight people Ive ever met immortal or otherwise. Youve spent centuries wishing you could get knocked up. You have this celibate boyfriend thing going on. And you work for that demon, right? The one who looks like Matthew Broderick? rear end Cusack, I corrected. He looks like John Cusack.Whatever. Thats enough to tax anybody. Your dreams are manifestations of the woes in your life, coming out of your subconscious in vivid, energy-sucking ways.You are so unhelpful. Your dream expertise is a scam like everything else.Nah. Not everything I do is a scam. I know dreams. I know spells. And I know what could help you.What?He pointed to the counter. You and me. Up there. Naked. Horizontal.I groaned. Wow, you really werent lying. You are a romantic.A pragmatist. And an opportunist.A sleazy guy, treating me like a cheap whoreFuck, I havent been laid in months, and now this succubus shows up deficient my help. Youd try to barga in for sex too.I eyed him warily. Is that what this is about? I have to sleep with you to get help?Dante shoved his hands in his pockets. Nope. Youd be more fun if you were willing, I think. Besides, I have no other help to give.Disappointed, I made motions to leave. Okay. Thanks. Sort of.You know what else might help? he called after me.If it involves sex A vacation. At the very least, a massage. Basic stress reliever things.Those were actually well-founded things, and I was pleasantly surprised to see his mind wasnt always in the gutter. They can help, I told him. But I doubt a massage will fix the problems in my life.Maybe. Maybe not. But if you want a free onea naked free oneI left.Id already matt-up like my romance with Seth was some infinite loop tape reel. The rest of my life apparently was too. Have the same dream, go to Dante, get no help, go to work, and ruminate. Because thats exactly how my day was unfolding, just like before.I went through the motions of paperwork and customer service at Emerald City, all the while consumed by images of the little girl in the dream and the sweet fantasy of having a daughter. My heart ached to see her again, to see that smile. Everything at my pipeline seemed so sh bring home the bacon and meaningless compared with her.When work ended, I brought Maddie back to my apart ment to make good on my promise to get her a date.Youre going to sell me? she exclaimed when I told her the plan.Its an auction, I said. For a childrens charity. You dont hate kids, do you?Well, no, but Then thisll be great. Here, try this on. I tossed her a BCBG shopping bag. She eyed it warily.Isnt that a dapple for teenagers?Its a place for anybody with style, I assured her.She opened the bag and pulled out the knee-length dress Id picked up for her the other day. It was silk chiffon with a dark pink geometric print. The empire waist had a slightly gathered top, and the V-neck had a bow that tied underneath it. Fluttery cap sleeves finished i t off.I cant wear this, she said immediately. wherefore? Because itll look good?She shot me a glare. Theres hardly anything there.What? Theres plenty. I owned lots of dresses that had hardly anything there. This was luxe and tasteful. Amish country compared to some of my clothing. Try it on, and well see.She did, reluctantly, and I could have crowed with delight when she stepped out of my bathroom. Id totally nailed the size. It fit abruptly.There isnt an extra inch here, she fretted, pulling at the fabric around the waist. Exactly.Doesnt it make me look fat?It makes you look great. If it were spandex or something, there might be a problem, but this is light and drapey.The necklines awfully low Oh, be quiet, I snapped. And lets finish the rest of you.I did her makeup and arranged her hair down for a change. It shone like black silk when brushed out, and I thought it was a shame she wore it in a haphazard ponytail so often. Besides, everyone knows that in the movies, shy girls alw ays become beautiful by letting down their hair and taking off their glasses. Maddie already wore contacts, but the principle was still sound. I finally finished her off with half-heeled position Id bought to match the dress. Higher ones would have looked better, but even I knew when not to press my luck. Satisfied with the results, we headed out to the auction.Youre like my fairy godmother, she muttered as we walked into the hotel the event was being held at. But Im still a pumpkin.I elbowed her. How did you get so negative? You should start some angstful emo rock band to compete with Dougs.Oh, yeah. Thatd go over hey, is that Seth?We were cutting across the open room the auction would take place in, heading toward the volunteers area. Lots of people had gathered, filling most of the round tables facing the stage. I followed her gesture to where Seth sat at one of the few tables that wasnt already full. Seeing us notice him, he held up his hand in greeting.He wanted to come suppo rt you, I told her. Actually, Seth had been appalled at me strong-arming Maddie into this and had attended mainly out of a perverse fascination at what he thought might end in disaster.But Maddie, not knowing his motives, was pleasantly surprised. She smiled, and I nearly swooned.That, I said. That right there is what you need to do.The smile dropped. That what?Hugh practically skipped over when he saying us. I knew you didnt hate kids. I knew youd cave and come help Not me, I said. Maddie. I rested a hand on her shoulder.Hughs face turned perfectly blank. Oh?Just then, a tall brunette in a black satin evening dress strolled over. The fucking fox, presumably. She extended her hand. Hello, Im Deanna, the coordinator. You must be Hughs friend?Georgina, I said, shaking. But Maddie here is your volunteer. Shes a journalist for an important womens magazine.Deannas eyes lit up. Ah We love celebrities. Let me take down your information.She led Maddie away. As soon as they were gone, Hugh turned on me. What the hell? I wanted Georgina, and you give me Georgy Girl.You are such an asshole. Thats a surly thing to say.He shrugged, eyes on Maddie. I call em like I see em. Shes huge.My eyes were on Maddie too. She actually looked quite slim in the dress, but Hugh was one of those guys who liked bony types so long as their chests were big enough.Youre the reason women have such horrible self-esteem issues. You tear them apart. Women, I mean. Not the issues.Look, Im sure shes not all bad, he said. She probably gives good head.I rolled my eyes. Flatterer. Why do you say that?Fat girls always do. They have to. Only way they can get men.I punched him in the arm. Hard.Ow Fuck, that hurt.Youre a jerk, I told him. Maddies beautiful.Shes okay, he said, rubbing his injured arm. And I cant exactly have just okay tonight not with that liability already on deck.He pointed over to where some of the other volunteers waited. Immediately, I found what he referred to. It was easy becaus e tawny-brown towered over the other women by about a foot.Holy Christ, I said. How did that happen?He threw up his hands, looking miserable. She latched on to the idea when you mentioned it at the bar.I didnt even think she heard me, I said apologetically.Hugh waved me toward the crowd. Too late now. Go have a seat, Brutus, so this disaster can get under way. Youve ruined the night. I dont know why you hate kids so much.I gave him a parting glare and went off to find Seth. The vampires had joined him since Id come in.You guys here to get a date or a victim? I asked.N all, said Peter. Were here to see the Tawny Show.I sighed. This is supposed to be a charity event, and people are treating it like a freak show. Hugh already accused me of ruining it by bringing Maddie.Seth looked surprised. Why? She looks great.I pointed her out to Peter and Cody, who also concurred about her cuteness. Shell be fine, said Cody. Tawnys going to be the one to watch. I havent really been able to see wha t shes wearing. I hope its up to her usual standards.Maybe her Secret Santa will get her some nicer clothes, said Peter. He glanced at me. You bought for yours yet?Huh? Right. Carter. Id completely forgotten. Buying something for that cynical angel hadnt exactly been at the top of my priority list. I, um, have some ideas. Still thinking about it.What about a Christmas tree? You got one of those?Um, havent done that either.I didnt know you wanted a Christmas tree, said Seth. Do you need help picking one out?Well, I don The auction started, cutting me off. The auctioneer, cut off, was a young guy in his early thirties who probably had a second job doing minor exemplar contracts that would never actually get him out of Seattle. He smiled non-stop and did a good job flirting with the women and fashioning guy-jokes to the men. Bids flew fast and furious, and it was easy to get caught up in the excitement.Next up, said the auctioneer, reading from a card, is Tawny Johnson.Johnson? ask ed Cody. Kind of boring.She made up both her names, I said. Succubi often did. She probably didnt have any psychic energy left after choosing the archetypal one.Ouch, said Seth. Whos being mean now?You havent met her, I warned.Tawny pranced up, wearing seven-inch high-heeled shoes that appeared to be made out of stainless steel. They looked like medieval torture devices but matched her super-tight, silver lam? hot pants and jacket.She didnt disappoint, said Cody, studying the outfit.Unsurprisingly, she stumbled the last couple of steps, and come off reached out to steady her.Careful there, he said, flashing his brilliant white teeth. Men are supposed to fall all over you.It took her a moment to get the joke, and then she burst into small, high-pitched giggles. The noise grated on my nerves, but chip seemed quite pleased to have someone appreciate his jokes.Why dont you tell us a little bit about yourself, Tawny, he said. It says here youre currently unemployed. Does that mean yo ure out looking for something right now?Well, Nick, Im out looking for someone right now if you know what I mean.Oh my God, I said.That was kind of funny, Peter noted.No, it wasnt.Nick apparently agreed with Peter. He threw back his head and laughed. Careful there, guyswe got a dangerous one on our hands. Tell me, Tawny, what is it youre looking for in a man?She pursed her red-lacquered lips in thick thought. Im looking for heart, Nick. Heart and soul. Those are the most important things.There was a collective aww from the audience. Beside me, Peter said, Okay, the soul thing really was funny. Only to us, of course, but still.Tawny then winked at the crowd. But stamina and a big checkbook can make up for that sometimes.Nick waited for the audiences laughter to fade. Okay, lets start the bidding at fifty oh my God.Tawny had taken off her jacket, revealing a zebra-print bandeau top underneath. Top was a dubious term at best, though. When wrapped around her enormous bust, it looked more like a rubber band and really only served to cover her nipples.Bids exploded from the audience, much to the perplexity of my friends and me. More surprising still was when Nick the auctioneer actually joined in.Folks, I know this is a bit unusualbut, well, I just cant help myself. Three-hundred dollars.Three-fiftyFour-hundredIn the end, Nick was the one who ended up winning her, paying a blow out of the water five-fifty.Well, Ill be damned, said Peter.I would have made a joke about his comment if I wasnt so shocked. When I finally found my voice, it was to say, Wellthis is a good thing, right? That guy looks like hed sleep with her right now.And, added Cody, it was all for the kids.Slowly, my astonishment faded into relief. This was an unexpect twist to the evening. The Tawny problem was fixed. Apparently, all wed needed to do was essentially run an ad for her. Shed sleep with him, and Niphon would get off my back. One less thing for me to worry about which was good, because I certainly had plenty of other things. Like Maddie.It was her turn next. She walked out, face grim and set for battle. She looked both terrified and terrifying. In spite of that hard countenance, I still saw a few interested faces in the audience.Smile, smile, I muttered to no one in particular.Maddie Sato, said Nick cheerily. You write magazine articles. Anything Id know?Probably not, she said, still wearing that grimace. Not unless you read feminist publications.Feminist, he said, clearly amused. Next youll be telling us you hate men.She gave him a blank look. I only hate stupid men who dont actually understand what feminist means.He laughed. You run into a lot of men like that?All the time.Really?Even as we speak, Nick.Oh no she didnt, said Peter. I groaned.It took Nick a full ten seconds to realize he had just been insulted. Then, for the first time that night, he stopped smiling. turn to the crowd, he said flatly, Okay, lets start the bidding at fifty.Silence met him. The in terested faces no longer looked so interested. I swallowed a scream. No, this couldnt be happening. Id promised her a date. This would destroy her. After what seemed like an eternity, I heard a voice in the back of the room.Fifty.Relieved, I craned my head and looked. The guy who had bid was about fifty years old and looked exactly like this pedophile Id once seen on a news special.Fifty, said Nick. Do I hear seventy-five?Silence. I turned to Seth.Do something I hissed.He flinched. What?Going onceI elbowed him, and his hand shot up. Seventy-five.There was a collective ooh in the room. Apparently no one, including Maddie, had expected a bidding war for the belligerent man-hater. Her eyes widened in surprise.One hundred, said the pedophile look-alike.Then, either to end this quickly or because he felt naughty for Maddie, Seth said, Three hundred.More sounds of astonishment followed. The other bidder couldnt compete he must have spent all his money on bail. exchange to the gentleman i n the Welcome Back, Kotter T-shirt.Nice, said Cody, as Maddie exited the stage.I reached out and squeezed Seths hand. Thank you.He gave me his half-smile. Anything for the kids.Nick flipped to his next card. And now we haveGeorgina Kincaid.My head shot up. Across the room, I saw Hughs smirking face.Oh no he didnt, I said through gritted teeth.Nick, puzzled, glanced toward where the other auctionees were. Georgina Kincaid?No avoiding it, Peter told me. Might as well go up there. Otherwise peoplell think you hate kids.That joke is getting old, I hissed.Vowing to slap Hugh later, I reluctantly rose from my chair. Upon seeing me, Nick turned on the supernova smile. Ah, there she is. Fashionably late.On the subject of fashion, I wished Id worn something as nice as Maddies dress. I might have just gotten tricked into this thing, but now I wished I could do it right. I still looked good my normal sense of aesthetics would allow for nothing less. I had on a black skirt and a purple cashmere sweater, my hair in a ponytail. In tiny increments too slow and small for anyone to notice I tightened the sweater around my figure and made the neckline bigger. I put a saunter into my hips and pulled out my ponytail tie, shaking out my hair. It had worked for Maddie and immeasurable nerdy movie girls. It would work for me because I suddenly had a serious issue at stake here.There was no way on Gods green earth that I was going for less than Tawny.Georgina, said Nick, component part me onto the stage. My notes say you prefer Georgie. Yeah, Hugh was definitely getting slapped. And that you run a bookstore.If Id taken a victim belatedly and had succubus glamour on me, I wouldnt have to do a single thing pull out stand there. I wouldnt even have to smile. Now Id have to work a little. Quickly, I assessed this crowd. The kinds of guys who came to events like this tended to be white-collar professionals with disposable income. Some would be here simply because philanthropy was tr endy and good for the image, and this was a stylish way to do it. Others, while perhaps not desperate, were nonetheless intellects and introverts who found this a good opportunity to meet women. These men all wanted smart, competent women women who were also pretty, of course. And witwit always went over well.I gave Nick, then the audience, a heart-stopping smile. Thats right. I organize events, bring in money, make sure everything looks good, and whip people into shape.Sounds like a lot of work, he said.Or, I said, an excellent first date.There was no cymbal crash, but my punch line elicited the laughs Id hoped for. You have some high expectations, said Nick.Well, I think everyone should. Why settle? If a guy meets my expectations, Ill meet his. And in the end, its all about sense of humor and a conversation that wont put me to sleep. I realized I sounded vaguely like a Miss America contestant, but maybe there wasnt much difference. I could see from the catch in the audience that Id made a good impression.This ones a keeper, said Nick. Lets start at fifty for Georgie.I got my fifty and then some. Bids flew around the room. At one point, I glanced at Seth. Our eyes met, and I could tell by his expression that he was on the verge of bidding. I shook my head. He was the only one I wanted to go out with in this room, but I didnt want to stain Maddies win. I wanted her to feel special. Besides, I also didnt want Seth to blow that much money.I went for seventeen-hundred dollars.I cant believe that, Maddie whispered to me afterward. I think youre the highest one so far. The guy looked cute too.He had. Late thirties. Armani suit. Harmless. Nobody I planned on establishing anything meaningful with, but hed do for a perfunctory date. Maybe an energy fix if I decided to use this body.You brought in some money yourself, I teased.Her eyes found Seth, sitting across the room, and studied him speculatively. Seth probably did it because he felt sorry for me.Of course not , I said quickly. She still looked skeptical.Well, it doesnt matter. Id rather drink coffee and talk shop with him than go out with some sleazy guy. That other bidder reminded me of this sex offender I saw on TV onceWhen the auction wound down, I exchanged contact info with my buyer for a future date. Hugh attached himself to Deanna and stayed as far away from me as possible. No worries. Id have plenty of time to deal with him later. Tawny, fortunately, also stayed away from me and clung to Nicks arm. I watched them like a proud parent. Tonight was going to be a great night.