Page 39 of Vampires and Violas

Getting control of herself, she whispers, “It’s just like the books.”

“Sort of, I guess.” I sigh. “I’m just afraid if I’m not careful,I’mgoing to end up with all those drugs in my medicine cabinet.”

Olivia gives me a sympathetic look. “You probably shouldn’t have invited him to live with you.”

I groan, dropping my head into my hands. “No kidding.”

Laughing, she loops her arm around my shoulders and directs me back to the truck, pulling the empty cart behind her. “Look at the bright side.”

“Is there a bright side?”

“Yeah, there totally is—your parents are out of town for the summer. Imagine what a mess this would be if they were home.”

“I don’t even want to think about it.”

Some people have hands-off families. My family…we’re not like that. We’re in each other’s business constantly. It’s never really bothered me before, even if my dad’s views on my diet and career have gotten old.

But now, I suspect it’s going to be inconvenient. And I don’t think they’re going to like this new diet any better than my last.

Thankfully, I still have another month before I need to worry about that.

Olivia and I get the last load of flowers and finish setting up the booth. People start browsing right away, and I make my first sale before the market officially starts.

About halfway through the night, I spot a familiar face in the crowd.

“Hey, Sam,” I say when my newest bouquet subscriber stops at my stand. “In the market for new flowers already?”

“Not yet.” He gives us a friendly grin. “I just saw you and thought I’d come over to say hi.”

“Are you here alone?”

“No.” He glances around as if looking for someone. When he locates her, he points down the street. “I’m here with my sister and her kids.”

Sure enough, I spot the boy who greeted me at the door on Wednesday. He and his sister are fighting over a bag of popcorn as their mom talks to Sandy, a woman who sells sourdough bread.

Beside me, Olivia is bursting with questions, so I say, “This is my friend Olivia. Olivia, this is Sam. He’s my newest weekly subscriber.”

“That’s great,” Olivia says. “How did you find Piper?”

“The market. I bought flowers a few weeks ago.”

He did? I don’t remember. And he has a unique look about him, with all those tattoos and his pleasant smile. You’d think I would.

“I took a business card.” He nods to the small stand next to the pre-made mason-jar bouquets, which are lined up to the right of the table. “I thought it would be nice to surprise my grandma with flowers each week.”

“Oh, that’s sweet,” Olivia says, melting a little. “I bet she loves them.”

“She does.” He offers us a smile when his sister starts our way. “I’ll let you get back to it. Piper, it was nice to see you.”

“You too. You guys have fun.”

I wave at Sam’s nephew when he recognizes me. The family continues down the street, heading toward the pie booth.

“He’s kind of cute,” Olivia says. “In a rough and tumble, let-me-count-your-tattoos sort of way.”

“Absolutely not. I swore off customers after Ethan.” I roll a loose tail of ribbon around its cardboard holder. “Besides, I don’t even know if he’s single.”

“You could find out.”

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