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“Like you don’t,” Cara called.
Nicole ignored her as she led the way outside. “Well, obviously, this is Main Street,” she said. “Don’t be too overwhelmed. We’re thinking of putting in a stoplight.”
“I think I can manage,” I said. “I’m from Chicago.”
“Nice. I miss the shopping and theater there. I’m not from the Windy City, but I lived close enough to go a few times a year. Once you’re fully bonded, Bismarck isn’t that far if you need a city. It’s no Chicago, but it’s bigger than here.”
“I’m looking forward to being bonded and able to travel,” Allie said wistfully.
“I’m looking forward to my mate not being a dumbass and getting on with it,” Lola groused.
“You have a mate?”
“She thinks it’s Gar,” Allie told me.
“Iknowit’s Gar,” Lola insisted. “That’s the kind of visions I have. They’re clear and he’s mine. I mean come on, he’s rough and growly and no Prince Charming. Why would I intentionally pick him?”
“Because youlove him,” Cara singsonged, catching up with us and slinging her arm around Lola’s shoulders.
“There is that,” the younger girl conceded. “He just better figure it out before I turn twenty-one in a year and a half. I’ll run away from Allstown before I end up with some random monster here then have to see Gar every day and know I really love him, but he didn’t want me.”
“He wants you,” Allie murmured.
“So,” Cara said, clearing her throat and obviously changing the subject. “You’ve been to the coffee shop. The diner next door belongs to Nicole and her mate, Dougall.”
We all walked slowly down the sidewalk, sipping our hot drinks while we enjoyed the fall evening and the four pointed out things they thought I might like. While this was the main drag, there were some side streets that led to other businesses as well as all the housing that surrounded us in every direction. I kind of wondered where Jared and I would land, since we couldn’t stay in the motel forever.
Just thinking of him made my heart ache, and we hadn’t even been apart that long. I should be used to it. He traveled for business all the time. But this vampirism… It added a whole new layer of need I’d never experienced as a human. Was it because we weren’t fully bonded. Or was it because of the tenuous partial bond?
And what was I waiting for?
Nicole had asked me if there was a problem. It wasn’t that. Maybe deep down I’d been hoping everything could return to normal. But that wasn’t happening, no matter if I was with Jared or not. Apparently, I was up for grabs to the first monster to claim me. I imagined there were ways to make me claim them back. Ruffie me, probably.
And I wanted Jared. I’d vowed forever to him. How was this different? We were still us, if a little altered. As soon as I saw him tonight, I was finishing this thing.
The five of us veered down one of the wide side streets that led into the town’s park. Seating had been set up under a pergola on the edge of a duck pond. The fowl were asleep, and it was a peaceful place to sit and chat.
“Back to hang ups,” Nicole said when we were all sitting on the stone benches that formed a semi circle, allowing us to see each other well.
“This is really good. I can see why it’s popular.” I lifted my cup toward Cara, ignoring Nicole as she started to question me. The others laughed.
Cara winked. “It’s the Canadian lumberjack blood. Very sweet from the maple.”
Staring at her, I tried to decide if she was serious.
“Anyway,” Nicole said, dramatically. “So is there a problem? Do we need to do an intervention? Hire a divorce lawyer?”
“There are no monster divorce lawyers. There’s no divorce,” Allie cut in.
“Oh, I’m sure Neffie’s been divorced a couple times,” Nicole asserted.
“Neffie?”
“Nefertiti. Our magical.”
“She didn’t divorce him. He died. Then after she’d hung around a while she took off before they decided to mummify her or something,” Lola corrected.
My eyes were wide. “Are you talking abouttheNefertiti. The Egyptian queen?”
