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I wrapped my arms around his waist, making sure to press my body against the scarred side, my hands encircling all of him from smooth to rough. “You can’t see what I see if you use words likehorrorto describe yourself.”
He put his arm around me because it would have been awkward not to. “You love me because you see me through Jean-Claude’s eyes before the Church ruined me.”
Jean-Claude came to stand in front of us, but it was Asher’s eyes he gazed into. I hugged Asher tighter, resting my head on the spot between his shoulder and neck. The skin was rough against my cheek, but it just felt like Asher.
“I loved you when you were the envy of all who saw you. I loved you when you thought yourself lost. I loved you even after you hated me. I loved you when vengeance was all that filled your heart for me and Anita. I love you now, not out of nostalgia for what was lost, but for you standing before me as you are.”
I hugged Asher and took Jean-Claude’s hands and cried happy tears. I could feel what Jean-Claude was feeling and it was wonderful. I watched them kiss above me and it was the same thrill it always was, one of my favorite things.
I heard a sniffle, and Jamie said, “Sorry to ruin the mood, but damn. I thought nobody talked like that outside of rom-coms.”
“And that is why I do not date,” Truth said. “If I cannot feel that for someone, then it is not worth trying.”
We all turned and looked at him where he was still on guard by the door leading to the parking lot. His face showed nothing as emotional or romantic as his words had sounded. It was as if he hadn’t spoken at all or hadn’t meant to speak out loud.
“He has always been the romantic of the two of us,” Wicked said.
“I’m sorry about trying to fix you up with other women, Truth; I didn’t realize how uncomfortable it made you at first.”
Truth just nodded his acknowledgment.
“You can keep fixingmeup,” Wicked said.
I shook my head, arms still around Jean-Claude and Asher. “The women are the ones who called that off. You’re a great first date and lover, but not a good boyfriend, apparently.”
“He won’t say it, but he seeks that one all-consuming love just as I do. He’s just given up on finding it,” Truth said.
“Don’t speak for me on this, brother.” And something about the way Wicked said it made me believe his brother was right about him.
Jamie touched his earpiece. “Claudia says the police are here and want to get our statements.” Each club’s security had their own frequency for the communication. Our security for tonight would be on their own comms so there wouldn’t be any confusing cross-chatter.
“I don’t like taking him into the open again,” Kirby said.
“Do you think the police would let me ask them why they expected me to be a skeleton or rotting under my mask?” Asher asked.
“You won’t get to question them,” I said.
He looked down at me. “Can you find out later from your fellow police?”
“If you would show your true self more and talk about the cruelty and persecution of the Church to our kind, you would settle the rumors with truth,” Truth said.
“When your face is something that makes women screambefore they control themselves, then you may lecture me about such things.”
“There are videos on the internet about the rotting vampires,” Wicked said, “for people who don’t know that’s a completely different kind of vampire from what we are. They might think that’s why you hide yourself.”
“Again, when it is your face, your body, you can decide what you show to the public, but until that time you can keep your perfect beauty out of my business,” Asher said.
“Perfect beauty is overrated,” Nicky said from the door.
Asher started to say something harsh, but staring into Nicky’s face with its own scars and knowing why he wore the eyepatch stopped the vampire. “Perhaps,” Asher said.
“Anita is in love with you and with me, Asher, and that’s not because we’re perfect.”
Asher looked thoughtful.
“I don’t mean to rush things with what’s happening, but if we’re going to make the restaurant in time to see Anita’s family, we have to go,” Ethan said.
“If you need us to stay, we will,” I said.
