Page 9 of Devil's Last Dance

“Have you ever had to do something you didn’t want to do?” he asked.

This made her laugh. “Yeah, of course. Most people have to do something in life they don’t want to do.”

“Like what?”

She snorted. “Work? Yeah, I know some people love to work and all that. Some people get the dream job they live for, yadda yadda yadda. But, there are those of us who have to work to survive.” She shrugged. “There are people out there in worse situations, better situations, but some jobs are not great.” She shrugged.

“What if it’s with someone … you don’t want?” he asked.

“You’re being vague right now. I’m not sure what you mean.” She placed both her hands on the counter and looked at him, figuring he needed her full attention.

Antwone looked down at his glass and took several minutes. She had a feeling he wasn’t going to say anything and just give her half a story, but then he returned his attention to her.

“Have you ever been forced to be in a relationship you don’t want?”

Candice chuckled. “Okay, this seems a little, I don’t know, out of the blue.”

“Well, have you?”

“Nah, I mean, of course there have been people out there who stumble into a relationship and then realize too late that it’s not what they want. Are you in that position?” she asked.

“No. I’m not with anyone,” Antwone said.

“Are you asking for a friend or something?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She had a feeling there was more to be said but Antwone sipped his drink.

“You know, you don’t have to drink if you don’t want to.” She reached behind her, grabbed a glass, and moved to the fridge, to take some of the bottled chilled water. Opening it up, she poured him a glass.

“If you just want to stay in the bar for the company or whatever reason, you don’t have to drink.” She winked at him and moved away to serve one of the other men.

She couldn’t help but look back to Antwone. He was so different from the men she was used to.

With everyone served, glasses collected, she moved toward Antwone to see the glass of water was finished. The whiskey was still in the glass. She poured him another glass of water.

“So, this friend of yours, when you sayforced, do you mean like arranged or something?” she asked.

“An arranged marriage?”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “People have to make decisions on the kind of woman he has to marry.”

“Why?”

“That is … tradition.”

“And you don’t think tradition has to be broken?”

Antwone chuckled but he didn’t answer.

Candice nibbled her lip. “You said ‘kind’ of woman, what does that mean?”

“She has to be a virgin.”

His lip twitched at the word.

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