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I’d like to think it’s because I’m scared of the vampire, but really, I’m scared of what I want him to do to me. Everything he said the other day has me all twisted up inside.
I increase the speed of the treadmill and turn up my music, running in time with the beat.
My phone buzzes with messages—Brighton’s been texting me since I got out of class a few hours ago—but I ignore them, focusing on the rhythm of my shoes hitting the treadmill.
I groan and stop the machine when my music cuts off from an incoming call. I answer it on speakerphone. “Brighton you have got to chill,” I say in between breaths.
“Jesus, Cal. What are you doing?” Her voice teases at innuendo, and I roll my eyes, reaching for my water.
“I wastryingto work out,” I say, downing half the bottle.
“What are you wearing tonight?”
“Huh?” I ask, wiping the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.
“The St. Patrick’s Day party?” She sighs. “I’ve been texting you about it all afternoon.”
“I know,” I grumble.
“It’s tonight.”
“So?”
“What do you meanso?” she whines. “Aren’t you going to bring that hottie friend of yours? Because if you’re not interested, I sure as hell am.”
I cringe. When it comes to Atlas, I have no idea what I am. Dangerously attracted to him? Definitely. Scared of what that means? Hell to the yes. I shake my head, though Brighton can’t see me. “Yeah, I don’t think I’m going to go.”
She laughs. “You’re cute. I’m ordering an Uber and picking you up at nine.”
My stomach drops. Kade said he’d told her that I moved, but I really don’t want to be put in a position where she starts asking questions about it that I can’t answer. “No,” I say quickly. “I mean, I’ll just meet you there. Can you text me the address?”
“Ugh, you’re going to show up with a hot piece of ass, and I’ll be arriving solo.”
“And ready to prowl,” I tease, getting off the treadmill. I didn’t finish my workout, but I’m quickly losing the motivation to exert myself right now.
“You know it.” There’s yelling in the background, but I can’t make out the words. “Shit,” she grumbles, “I gotta go, babe. I’ll see you later.”
I frown, grabbing my water bottle to take back in the house. “Hang on. Is everything okay?”
“Oh yeah, just the usual super-fun family drama. Nothing I can’t handle. And by handle, I mean ignore.”
“I’m sorry, Bri,” I say softly.
“This shit makes me understand your decision to leave New York on a whole other level.”
Of course she doesn’t know the whole truth, just that I left after irreconcilable differences with my family. That was putting it lightly, but without getting into the gritty details, which included the four vampires I’m now stuck living with, it was really the best I could do.
“Can I do anything?”
“You already are. I’ll see you tonight!” With that, she disconnects the call, and I jump when my music starts blaring again. I turn it down and head down the stairs, through the garage—Atlas’s black Escalade is in its spot—and back into the house.
I stop in the kitchen to find something to eat. It’s not quite late enough for dinner, but I need something to hold me over until then, because my stomach won’t stop grumbling.
I search through the fridge and pantry and settle on a bright green apple with crunchy peanut butter and some tortilla chips. Sitting at the kitchen counter munching on my snacks, I scroll through this week’s discussion thread for my Urban Studies class on my phone, adding a few comments under my classmates’ posts.
I’m washing my dishes when Lex walks in from the garage, whistling what I think is an Eminem song. He shoots me a wink as he approaches, then leans against the counter. “Atlas tells me we’re going to a party tonight.”
I close the dishwasher and spin around to look at him. “What?” Shaking my head, I say, “No way. I’m not going to show up to a college party with an entourage of vampires. It’s not happening.”
