Page 99 of Fangs with Benefits

‘Your dad is a bad person. You know this. He made your mom’s life miserable for thirty years. I told you again and again that she should leave him.’

‘But she didn’t! She knew what was happening and she stayed. I thought that’s how it was.’

‘Bullshit. Don’t act like you didn’t know how the world works. You’re saying you really believed I wanted that? That I’d be okay with that?’

‘She’s comfortable!’ Matt exclaims too loudly, startling the patrons around us out of their conversations and into ours. I can’t even be embarrassed, just a bit amused at the borderline tantrum we all might witness if things keep going as they are.

Matt lowers his voice so the tables next to us can’t eavesdrop. ‘You were comfortable, Molly. Together, we were building a very nice, comfortable life where you had all the time in the world to write. Now you work a shitty IT job and live in a studio apartment.’

Some of these things are true but, notably, my studio apartment is lovely, albeit small. I love the floor plan, the bright colours, the stacks of books, the cat I inherited from my ex-vampire not-boyfriend, that damn rug Matt would hate. ‘So what?’

‘So you’re miserable, Molly, can’t you see that?’

For about a minute, all I can do is stare at the man across from me. I take in the crisp-collared shirt and well-fitting slacks, his perfectly done hair, the close shave, bright blue eyes. I remember loving him so vividly. He’s personable and charming, a bad dancer, a great kisser. He is so handsome. And so stupid.

‘Why did you really invite me here? I’m guessing it’s not to tell me how lousy you think my life is.’

‘No, of course not. It’s–I wanted to discuss the possibility of us.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘As in us. Back together.’

I really do laugh this time, too shocked to hold it back for politeness or propriety’s sake.

‘You are so insanely bold,’ I tell him, taking a long sip of my soda.

‘We were happy once; we were good together,’ he defends. ‘I keep trying to find something like what we had, but no one is like you. I miss you, Molly. Miss how I felt when we were together.’

‘Choices and actions have consequences. You made your choices, and the consequence is that you will never have me or my trust again.’ I stand and sling my purse over my shoulder–my thrifted purse with a Christmas tree keychain dangling from the strap. Matt’s dad would hate it.

‘Molly,’ Matt says, completely exasperated by me. He thinks he could handle getting back together with me? If anything, three years apart has left me more stubborn, less willing to budge an inch when he would inevitably try to take a country mile. I have to laugh. ‘Come on, don’t do that. Don’t leave.’

‘I loved you Matt, I really did. But I would rather be miserable without you than comfortable with you.’

I take five steps away, face burning for all the looks that are turned in our direction, conversations quieted. Before I get too far, I wheel around and go back to him. ‘And for the record, I am not miserable–I like my life, I make friends everywhere I go, and at least I’m not engaged to someone who thinks asking for monogamy is unreasonable.’

His jaw is clenched shut, a muscle jumping while he watches me. He’s embarrassed. Good. I was embarrassed by him, too.

‘Have a good life, Matty.’

I rush out of the restaurant into the December night, the cold a cleansing sort of shock. I take a long breath in and exhale it, feeling new. Feeling like I wish I could call Elijah and tell him about the whole evening. I wish he could’ve seen it. Wish he could see any of me rebuilding the dreams I left to rot on a back burner.

I pull on my jacket and head to the train station, wondering where in this big world my vampire has gone.

To: James Johnson

From: Molly Mason

Date: 21 December 2026

Subject: Re: Interested in an opportunity?

James,

Thanks for the feedback on my creative sample and cover letter. I’ve implemented your comments on both and the suggestions immediately made it better. Let me know if you feel like it’s good to hit send. I’m feeling proud of the work done here.

Thanks again and happy holidays!