He smirked. “You don’t understand. It’s been a real handicap. I can’t leave the house without sunglasses. What vampire uses sunglasses?”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll survive.” I stood on my tiptoes to kiss him.
“So you’ll come back to work then? We’ll just keep living our lives as if nothing’s changed?”
I took a step back and shook my head vehemently. “No. I can’t go back there. I was serious about quitting.”
“Why?” he asked, and as I continued to stare at him, he started to add things up. Or I assumed as much, as he didn’t say them aloud. “Okay, fine. I quit too.”
“You’ve got it decorated so nicely, though.” I frowned. “What will you do instead?”
He laughed. “I’ll just put the shit in my apartment. As for what I’ll do—probably just follow you around. You know, like at work?”
I gave him a pointed look. “Well, you should probably go get packing then.” I urged him to turn around and started pushing him toward the door.
“Are you kicking me out so you can unpack your car?” he asked, standing on his own and starting toward the door willingly.
“If I say yes will you leave?” I sighed.
“You’re getting mad at me. Why?”
Because you think you love me, but you don’t. Or you won’t, as soon as that curse is broken. It’s cruel to keep this going.
“Because you’re annoying. I’m going to go down with you, and I’m going for a drive. I need to clear my head. Think about some things. I won’t leave forever. Okay?”
He wasn’t happy with my answer, but he nodded, and together we left my apartment. I held his hand until I reached my car.
“Can I ask where you’re going?” He frowned.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You can. I won’t tell you.” I repeated the words he had told me a million times before. It made him chuckle.
“I don’t really like you right now,” he said, pulling me in for a hug. He tucked me under his chin and rested on my head. “I wasn’t lying when I said I love you.”
“I know.”
“Do you love me?” The question came out as almost a plea. It was whispered, and I almost didn’t hear it. It broke me to tell him the truth.
“I do.”
I pulled away and climbed into my car quickly. I forced myself not to look back as I drove out of the parking lot and onto the road. I needed to not be around him. Being with him made me think that we could make things work, but I knew the reality of our situation. It was stupid to pretend I would get happiness with him.
I couldn’t drive far. The sun would stop my journey eventually, and I was a little afraid that if I didn’t come back home by then that Desi would go to look for me.
So, I found the nearest bridge and parked off to the side of it. Thankfully, it was a quiet night. I climbed onto the thick concrete wall and let my legs dangle off the side, much like I had the night everything happened.
The air was warm. Somehow, it made time seem to slow. I could recall even the smallest details of that night while sitting here. I stared down into the nearly black water, and I could hear Desi’s voice in my head.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Scout.”
“Don’t be. I don’t need your pity. I just want to be left alone, thanks.”
“On this bridge? Why? Scout, it’s dangerous.”
“Oh, now you care? Fuck off, Desiderio. I’m not interested in anything you have to say.” I stormed off, arms crossed over my jacket. He caught up with me and spun me around. I looked up at him, his blue eyes breaking my heart over and over again.
“Will you fucking listen to me? It’s not what you think.” He held tight to my shoulder and attempted to pull me closer, but I held firm. I dug my boots into the ground.
“I don’t care. If you want to be with Aleida, go for it. I’m not anyone’s second choice.”My lips trembled. All the memories of bouncing from one foster home to another ran through my mind. I had to look away from him to stop from crying. His hands slid from my shoulders to my elbows, holding me tight.
