Page 35 of Sunsets & Other Dangerous Things

“You are the best fake girlfriend who ever fake girlfriended.”

And then Ashley sprinted to the bathroom and threw up.

12

Esther

Esther tapped the toe of her boot against the gravel parking lot of the marina and debated leaving for the thousandth time. After staying up late last night only to be woken for eight a.m. Mass by Uncle Pete—you can’t skip on All Saints’ Day—she wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed, pull the covers over her head, and forget the world. She checked her phone again. Maybe Uther forgot. She’d canceled brunch with him every week for a month. She wouldn’t blame him if he’d fallen out of the habit and forgotten her.

She hadn’t told him about the whole Ashley-is-a-vampire thing, and her sense of keeping Ashley’s confidence warred with her loyalty to her friend. And what made her think he would believe her to begin with? Uther had stuck with her for over a year, despite her recent flakiness. She’d only known Ashley for a couple of months, and they were what? Classmates? Acquaintances?

Her mind flashed to a night by a lake almost a month ago now, the water lapping at the shore as Ashley’s lips coaxed softlyagainst Esther’s. She regretted having to wash the lipstick off her forehead this morning. It felt like rubbing off the ashes from Ash Wednesday before school so your classmates wouldn’t ask about the smudge on your face, even though the point was to leave it on. But it was scary to broadcast something that intimate to the world.

“Esther, I’m here!” Uther trudged up the path, pulling up the collar of his coat and pushing sunglasses tighter against his face.

“Hiding from the law?” she asked.

“Not so loud.” He cringed and massaged his temple. “Who knew board game club was that into Halloween?”

“Hey, about last night?—”

Uther held up his palm. “Please, can we get a seat and some coffee first? I am not a full human being at the moment. It’s much too early for brunch.”

“It’s eleven. I don’t think this place even serves breakfast. Why are we here?” The waterfront bar and grill was just opening for the day as they pushed through the door. There were more nets among the myriad of random fishing supplies crowding the ceiling and walls than there were customers.

“My parents took me here a few times as a kid, and I need greasy food right now. Lay off.”

“Wait, you grew up here?”

“Esther,” he grumbled, pulling the collar of his coat so it covered his face. “Of all days for you to be interested in talking about personal stuff. My parents are history teachers in Burlington.”

“Burlington?” She stopped and looked him over. “Vermont? You grew up across the lake this whole time, and I never knew?”

In lieu of a response, Uther grumbled indecipherably as he stomped over to the bar. “So much coffee please.”

He snagged two menus and took a seat at the back near a window overlooking the lake.

Esther followed, carefully pulling out her chair and flipping through the novel of a menu in silence until someone plopped two steaming cups of coffee in front of them with a dish of sugar packets and another of creamer cups.

Uther took a long drag from his mug and sighed, slumping back into his chair. “All right, I’m ready. Go ahead.”

Esther paused while reaching for the creamer. “Sorry, what were we talking about again?”

“Fish and chips,” Uther called across the room to the waiter headed their way then pointed to Esther. “And a quesadilla with the sour cream on the side.”

“What makes you think you know what I want?”

Uther tilted his head. “I pay attention. Besides, I was planning on splitting with you—hence the sour cream on the side because I know you don’t like it.” He tapped the side of his nose, as though this was a witty yet obvious observation. “Don’t worry. The quesadilla is amazing. And by amazing, I mean cheesy, which is just what I need.”

He knew she didn’t like sour cream, and she didn’t even know where he was from. Over a year of claiming to be his friend and Esther hadn’t even cared to ask the most basic questions. But if she had, she’d have had to answer the same questions in return. That was how conversations and friendships worked. A give and take, tit for tat.

“Well, don’t leave me in suspense,” he said. The coffee must have kicked in. He even removed his sunglasses. “What happened last night? I passed out on the couch after calling you. Like, Char had to help me inside. Did you find the keys all right?”

“Right, sorry.” Esther fished in her pocket and dropped the keys on the table. “Thanks again for letting me borrow your car.” Her mind wandered to that ride with Ashley. To feeling the softness, the weight of her, as she helped Ashley up the steps to her house. She was inhuman and yet so real.

“You’re welcome.” Uther pulled the keys back and stuffed them in his pocket. “And I mean that for more than just the ride.” He gave her a wink and a quick finger gun.

“What’s that?” She gestured to all of him. “What are you doing? What’s going on?”

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