Page 48 of My Vampire Plus-One

We had to stand arounda few minutes waiting for a large group of my teenage cousins to finish loading up before Reggie and I managed to get to the buffet. He regarded what Aunt Sue had put out and frowned in disapproval.

“Amelia, there’s almost nothing here you can eat.”

He was overstating the situation, but not by much. There was a veggie platter with cut up celery, carrots, and broccoli that had a little cup full of ranch dressing dip in the center that Aunt Sue likely picked up from Costco. Dessert was a yummy-looking tray of strawberries dipped in chocolate. I could eat all of that, though I’d have to skip the ranch. But about three-quarters of the table was taken up by a large silver platter piled high with little meats and squares of cheeses, and a large crystal bowl full of Aunt Sue’s family-famous macaroni and cheese that I assumed was for the kids. None of which I could eat without serious stomach ramifications later.

I sighed. “It’s like I told you. My family isn’t the most accommodating of my dietary needs.”

Reggie scowled. “If they were going to insist you come, the least they could do would be to offer a more diverse menu. How hard would it have been to get food that contains neither animal flesh nor dairy.” He shook his head. “I assume it would not be difficult at all, though I admit I’m not an expert on food.”

I was too distracted by what seemed like his genuine irritation to linger on the strangeness of what he’d just said. He didn’t know me. Why did he care if my family was collectively a bit of a dick about this? And why did seeing him upset on my behalf kick up a fluttering sensation in the pit of my stomach?

I almost explained that I’d stopped making a fuss about itbecause it was just easier to be accommodating, but decided getting into all of this with him would be more upsetting than it was worth.

“It’s fine,” I said. “I’ll eat when I get home.”

“It’s not fine.” His expression was almost pained. “They’re yourfamily. They should be more considerate of your needs.”

There was the crux of it. “Probably,” I conceded. “But, hey. The food looks like it’s pretty good. There’s no reason why you can’t eat something.”

He gave a curt shake of his head. “My diet is even more limited than yours. I can’t eat anything here, either.”

He gave me a knowing look that implied we shared inside information about why he couldn’t eat anything here. If we did, though, that was news to me. “Oh,” I said, confused. “Are you a vegan?”

He blinked at me. “No.” Then he huffed a laugh. “I suppose I haven’t explained all the specifics of my diet to you yet, have I.” He looked like he was about to do just that, but our conversation was interrupted by a small commotion coming from the entryway.

I turned and saw my cousin Gretchen, walking into the house holding hands with a guy who I assumed must be her fiancé, Josh.

Despite everything, I had to smile. Happiness looked good on her.Shelooked good, somehow tan even though it was March in Chicago. Maybe she’d just gotten back from vacation somewhere warmer. A group of cousins, my mom, and Aunt Sue were circling her, everyone talking animatedly as Gretchen laughed and held tighter to her fiancé’s hand.

I was happy for her that she seemed so happy. No part of me felt wistful, though. Did that mean something was wrong with me, that I didn’t want what she had?

I didn’t think so.

Maybe one day my family would agree.

•••••••

Gretchen and Josh were longgone by the time Reggie and I decided we’d made enough of an appearance at this party to head home ourselves.

As I was making my way to the room where Aunt Sue had stashed Old Fuzzy when we arrived, Reggie stopped me with his hand on my arm.

“Should we do some extra convincing before we leave? Give them a little show?” His voice was low, conspiratorial. His hand slid down to clasp mine. I turned my head to look at him, but he was watching the living room, where a smattering of other guests who hadn’t left yet were mingling.

Reggie’s words and the slightly possessive way he was holding my hand sent a frisson of panic down my spine.

Panic, and something else that I’d have to unpack later.

I swallowed. My throat was suddenly bone-dry. “What do you mean,give them a little show?” As if the look in his eyes and his hand in mine didn’t make his meaning crystal clear.

He leaned in closer. “Kiss,” he said simply, his mouth a hairsbreadth from mine. His eyes danced with mischief. “I mean, we should kiss.”

I shouldn’t have been so surprised by his suggestion. After all, the whole point of tonight was to make my family think we were dating, wasn’t it? But my body clearly hadn’t gotten the memo. My heart pounded, every nerve ending in my body suddenly centered in the places where he, where his breath, were touching me. Standing this close, it was impossible to ignore how handsome he was. How his clothes looked so good on him that if I’dmet him in different circumstances it would’ve been impossible to keep from ogling him.

How charming he’d been with everyone we’d spoken with that night. Including me.

I was suddenly far too aware of my breathing. Sophie’s dress, my skin, felt too small to contain me.

I gathered my nerve, and reminded myself that the only point of my bringing Reggie here had been to show everyone that I was doing just fine. There was no more to it than that.

---