Page 21 of Vampires and Violas

Before Olivia can respond, Cassian walks back inside. “The grill is hot. Are the steaks ready?”

“What’s going on with you and Noah?” I ask.

A smirk crosses Cassian’s face before he can school it. “What do you mean?”

I point at him. “What did you do?”

He touches his chest, feigning innocence. “Why do you assume I did something?”

“Now that Noah’s living here again, you two must play nice.”

“I’m always nice, Piper. I would think you’d know that by now.”

I give him a stern look, but the vampire chuckles to himself and takes the steaks, leaving me to ponder what the heck he has planned.

5

Noah has been livingwith me for a week. We’re in a weird place right now, stuck between friends, almost-exes, and landlady and her tenant. We’ve been friendly—sometimes walking the line oftoofriendly—but for the most part, we’ve given each other space.

Most of the time, his nose is buried in his laptop, and I’m taking advantage of the long days in the garden.

But my mind isn’t on Noah right now. It’s on the imminent invasion of pre-vamps and their conservator babysitters.

“You made punch,” I say to Cassian flatly, eyeing the iced citrus and berry concoction on the counter.

“Sparkling raspberry lemonade,” the vampire corrects. “I found the recipe online. Have you ever seen any of those food blogs?”

“I’ve heard of them,” I say wryly.

“I had to scroll for an hour to find the recipe.”

“Where was my grandma’s punch bowl? I haven’t seen it for at least fifteen years.”

“It was in that cabinet next to a yogurt maker.”

I don’t remember my grandmother making yogurt even once.

I watch Cassian fuss with the ice cube tray for a while before I say, “Why are you going to all this trouble?”

“I just want you and your friends to have a nice evening.”

“The people in the support group are not my friends.”

“And they won’t ever be with that attitude.” The stupidly handsome vampire turns, smirking down at me, andboopsme on the nose.

“You’re acting a little more eccentric than usual. Did you forget to take one of your prescriptions?”

“I did yesterday,” he admits. “But I’m fine today.”

“And you’ve remembered your blood?”

“I’m working my way through an Alaskan sampler. I had moose this afternoon.” He shoots me an amused look. “Shouldn’t I be asking you these questions?”

“I’m not the one freezing mint leaves and raspberries in ice cubes right now.”

“We eat with our eyes first.”

“You can’t even eat this.”

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