“The Equalizer.” Evan reaches for another handful of popcorn. I’m tempted to tell him to just put it in his lap, but then I really wouldn’t have a reason for sitting here, and I don’t want to get up. “It hasn’t been on long. That girl is a prostitute working for the Russian mob. They don’t treat her well. He’s going to start some shit.” He nods at the TV, giving me a brief rundown of the movie.
I settle in a little more as the movie plays. By the time Denzel goes to the club to buy the girl, I’m fully invested in the film. “He can kick butt for an old dude,” I mutter when the fight scene is over. I wasn’t expecting this to be an action flick.
“Old? He’s not even that old.” Evan chuckles.
“Maybe not for a supernatural, but for a human, he’s pretty old,” I argue.
“You hear that, Griff? We must be ancient.” Evan lifts his arm over the back of the couch and gives Griffin’s shoulder on the other side of me a little push.
“Nothing we didn’t already know.” The side of Griffin’s mouth curls the tiniest bit. Evan leaves his arm behind me on the back of the sofa.
“It’s different, you guys don’t look old. Mind if I get some water?” I inquire, already leaning forward.
“Help yourself,” Griffin tells me, while still watching the movie.
“You guys want anything while I’m up?”
“More popcorn?” Evan gives me a hopeful wince, tipping the empty bowl in my direction.
“Are you actually going to share some this time?” I place my hands on my hips.
“You had a handful,” he counters.
“Yeah, and I thought I was going to lose a finger.” Teasing him is fun. Evan grumbles about eating something under his breath, but I don’t catch it. Griffin lifts his hand to hide his mouth, but his eyes crinkle on the sides, giving him away.
“I’ll make it myself.” Evan goes to get up.
I place a gentle hand on his shoulder, stopping him. “I’m just teasing. I got it.”
“I left it on the counter.” Evan’s smile is wide, I think I just got played. He knew I was joking with him.
Out of habit I open the fridge to grab a bottle of water. The milky bags filled with red liquid lined up on the top shelf give me pause.
Memories of last night come to mind, so much blood, I snap the door closed. After taking a moment to gather myself, I open the door again. Griffin needing blood isn’t gross, it’s unfamiliar, but not gross.
I’m not going to let someone who’s trying to scare me color my thoughts about vampires or what they need to survive. I’ve never really been presented with it in bags, since most of the vampires my girlfriends dated made it clear they hated the stuff in the bag, but not Griffin obviously.
I reach for a cold bottle of water on the second shelf and crack the lid, taking a drink. After letting the fridge close, I turn to see the economy box of movie theater buttered popcorn right where Evan said it would be.
Next, my eyes go to Griffin who’s leaning against the open entryway. It feels weird being in his space and getting caught making myself at home. “Sorry, I should have just used the faucet.”
“Why? As long as it doesn’t bother you seeing it.” I know he means the blood. Griffin licks his lips. “Anything you’d like is yours.”
“It doesn’t bother me,” I murmur back. “I was just going to make the popcorn, do you want anything?”
“No, I’m good.” Griffin turns and walks away then. I give myself a second to wonder why he came in here.
When the microwave dings, I open the door and pinch the bag to get it out, only now remembering that I didn’t bring the bowl with me. “Shoot.” Just as I’m about to step into the living room to collect the bowl, there’s a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” I call, not even thinking this isn’t my place and I have no business getting the door. I’m just so used to having roommates and everyone answering when someone knocks.
Griffin is at my side before I can even reach the door. “I got it,” he tells me. It’s only then I think about who could be on the other side, Letty, and what she might think about me being here.
Chapter 18
Griffin
I watchQuinn slam the fridge door shut, though her hand remains on the handle. After a short pause, she pries it open again and reaches inside, coming out with a bottle of water.
The offer to get the water for her myself dies on my lips. There’s something about the way she pushes past things that make her uncomfortable that makes me want to unravel her and see what makes her tick. She’s so self-assured.
