Page 96 of Fangs and Fudge

I appreciated his concern. I needed it. While I knew I was safe with Cross, D.C. was infested with vampires who weren’t safe.

However, when I thought of the VIP section at After Curfew, where we’d met Pet and Master, and the number of vampires waiting for an opportunity to snatch me, the food curdled in my stomach.

When the main course finally arrived, I couldn’t enjoy it. After a few bites, I set my fork aside and waved the server over to ask to take it home. I even declined dessert.

“Are you sure?” Vena asked, watching me.

“Very.” It had been an excruciatingly long morning, and I just wanted to go home.

The server arrived with the bill, and Cross indicated Shepard would take it. Shepard smiled at the waitress, but I could see the storm brewing as he looked at it.

“Thanks for the meal,” Cross said, standing. “I’ll see you around.”

He vanished behind the server’s back. Shepard’s mask almost cracked. Instead, he handed over his credit card with a smile and asked the server to box Cross’ untouched meal as well.

“Was there something wrong with it?” she asked.

“No. Just him.”

She nodded and left.

My phone buzzed with a message.

Vena: What? No goodbye kiss for Everly?

She’d sent it as a group text to Cross, Shepard, and myself.

Cross: I have no intention of ever saying farewell to Everly.

I kicked Vena under the table when she would have typed a reply. The server returned with Shepard’s card and a receipt.

“Thank you for lunch, Shepard,” I said.

“Yeah. Thanks,” Vena echoed.

“You’re both welcome. And you should have come to me sooner about freeing yourself from him, Everly. I’ll work on the papers Cross will need so he can remove himself from your life permanently.”

Rather than think about whether I wanted Cross gone for good, I gave Shepard a small smile and stood as he pulled out my chair.

“So, did we clear the air about being possessed by the evil Cross?” Vena asked once we were outside again.

“For now,” he said.

“Great! Then we’ll drop you off at your place and head home,” Vena said. “I am so ready for a house to ourselves again.”

Shepard and I both paused walking to look at her.

“It’s like you weren’t even listening to their conversation,” I said.

“What? Some vampires want to get us. Great. That’s a nighttime problem, not a daytime one. All our watchdogs can show up before sunset. Until then, I call the couch, and no people. Except for you, Everly. You don’t count as people.”

“Thanks, I think,” I said, giving her a dry look.

“Did you forget that there are two vampires able to move around during the day?” Shepard asked. “Even if there weren’t, whenever you two have even a second to yourselves, you do something dangerous. Get used to company, Vena. It’s not going away until this vampire situation is resolved.”

She tossed him the keys. “Fine. You drive. I need to digest.”

While Shepard drove us to our house, she continued her search for a home for Cross.

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