Page 137 of Bleed

I don’t sit. Instead, I prop a foot on the lower bar of the stool, crossing my arms to mirror him. “What’s up?”

He exhales through his nose, gaze dropping briefly to the floor. “Listen, Bex,” he starts, scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “I owe you an apology.”

Well.

That wasn’t what I was expecting.

My arms loosen slightly. “For?”

“For how things went down last time you were here.” He looks up at me, mouth flattening into a grim line. “I was pissed. Worried, mostly, but pissed too. And I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“Ronnie…”

“Let me finish.”

I press my lips together and mime zipping them shut.

He stares me down for a beat before continuing. “I meant what I said about worrying about you. But I didn’t mean to make you feel like you weren’t welcome here.”

Something in my chest softens.

“You are,” he says. “Anytime.”

The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard, and I glance down, scuffing the toe of my boot against the floor. “I appreciate that.”

“I mean it.”

“I know.” I lift my gaze back to his. “I just… have a lot going on in my personal life right now.”

Understatement of the fucking century.

Turns out, the vampire I’ve been sleeping with may be my supernatural soulmate. He almost killed me, I spent nearly two days unconscious, then I found out he’d been stalking me for months and let him bite me again anyway.

Oh, and now I might have the option of living forever.

You know.

Personal stuff.

“Hey, your personal life is none of my concern,” Ronnie says, holding up both palms. “Just don’t bring it into my shop.

A little knot of guilt twists beneath my ribs. “I won’t.”

“And no more vamps in here, either. I don’t want any trouble.”

“Promise,” I say with a firm nod.

“Alright, we’re good then.” He pushes off from the shelf, a lopsided grin pulling at his mouth. “Things haven’t been the same around here without you, kid.”

The knot in my chest loosens, a smile breaking across my face. I tilt my head, batting my lashes at him sweetly. “Aww. You’ve missed me, ya big ol’ softie.”

He rolls his eyes, huffing a laugh. “Something like that.”

My grin widens. I kick the stool away and cross the distance between us, throwing my arms around his neck. “Thanks, Ronnie,” I coo, smacking a kiss on his bearded cheek.

“Yeah, yeah,” he laughs, grabbing my forearms and peeling me off him. “Get out there and set up your station. Client will be here soon.”

“Yes sir!” I chirp, giving him a mock salute before spinning on a heel and pushing back through the curtain.