DESI
Lies.
Lie after lie. I couldn’t stop it. What other option did I have?
Hey, Scout, I have a fiancé that I’m supposed to marry once I turn into a vampire, but before I do that, I need to take care of the body in my trunk.
I couldn’t tell her the truth. I’d lose her forever.
“Burgers and fries, you said?” I asked once we were back in the car. “You sure you don’t want to do something more… datey?” I turned the car on.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. I know a guy who owns this nice Italian place. I can get a good table. They have live music and nice wine and—”
She cut me off with her hand in the air. “Actually, I’m not that hungry.”
A flash of panic went through me. Was she reconsidering? Was she figuring it out? Of course not. It’d be insane for her to think that I was a member of a vampire family. I was still just a normal guy. That she knew, anyway.
“What? Why? I thought we—” I paused, looking for the right words. “Did I do something wrong?” I took my hands off the wheel and turned to her.
“I don’t know how much money I have for a fancy place.”
I sighed with relief.
“Scout, I—” Guilt creeped in. Money had never been an issue in any part of my life. “I don’t want you to pay.”
“I always pay my share,” she protested. “I worked extra shifts at work just so I could.”
“Yeah, but—” I gulped, trying to figure out what to say without hurting her feelings. Or pride. “I want to pay. Let me do this.” We stared at each other for a long moment. Her face was hard and her mind made up, but finally, it softened.
“Okay.”
I turned back to the wheel and put the car into reverse. “You’re gonna love it. The food is amazing. My friend revamped the place when he took it over.”
“You have a lot of friends,” she remarked.
If only she knew.
“My family knows a lot of people,” I said.
“Do you take all of your dates to fancy galleries and fancy dinners?”
“Tell me about your dating history,” I said, changing the topic. “Is there anyone I should worry about?” I teased.
“What do you mean? You met them all at the party.”
“All?” Faces flashed in my mind. All cold eyes and unfriendly greetings. “Oh. I didn’t realize…”
She burst into laughter. I scowled and flipped her off. That only made her laugh harder.
“You’re so easy. I wouldn’t ask questions you’re not prepared for.”
“Come on.” I rolled my eyes. “Tell me. What kind of guys have you dated in the past that have made you so…”
“So what?”
“Cautious?”
