Page 52 of Ghoul Kisses

“You shouldn’t be hanging out with Vanessa.” Is he serious? He has to be joking. I snort a humorless laugh.

“Why?” If he thinks I am going to end my relationship with her, he better think again.

“Trust me, okay, love?” I shake my head as I get angry.

“No! You will not tell me who I can have a relationship with.” I glance at Vanessa as she dances on the floor. I go dance with her. I don’t want to leave her hanging on her birthday. If Eric has a problem with me being her friend, we shouldn’t be together. Vanessa fumbles on her feet; she is shitfaced. I hold her up as much as I can until Jack comes over and scoops her up in his arms.

When we get back to the hotel, Vanessa vomits in the living room, and Jack helps her to the bathroom. I rub her back as she hunches over the toilet.

“I’m sorry, Sarah,” she says. I don’t respond. After she is finished, Jack lays her on the bed, removes her clothes, and pulls the covers over her body. She is going to have one hell of a headache in the morning.

“I’m sorry about that, she is a lightweight,” I say as we exit the room.

“It’s fine.”

I haven’t said much to Eric since we got back from the club. I am still angry at his request. He better not even mention it again. So help me, God, I will end our relationship.

When I walk through the living room, Eric rests his foot on the coffee table. We stare at each other. He is making it really hard to be around him.

I walk back to the room, slip off my dress, and hang it up in the closet. I climb into bed wearing only my panties and bra. Eric comes in and kicks off his shoes. The mattress dips and I feel him pulling me into his embrace. Every fiber in my body wants to tell him to go away and to yell at him for asking me to do something that is irrational. Instead, I lie there. His hot body feels toasty and warm. I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.

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