Page 42 of Vampires and Violas

“I don’t know. What do you get a friend for his birthday?”

“Cologne?”

“That sounds like a boyfriend gift.”

“Uh…a wallet?”

“He has a wallet.”

“Okay…what would you buy Max?”

“I make him dinner every year, but that doesn’t sound right for Noah. Besides, I’m not great at cooking animal proteins.”

“Let’s just look around. Maybe something will jump out at you.”

Like all the Colorado towns in summer, Silverthorne is packed. It doesn’t help that it’s the weekend, and families have come out to the outlet stores for back-to-school shopping.

We end up in a sporting goods store, but nothing really says, “Noah.”

“Does he like to fish?” Olivia asks.

“He’s never mentioned it.”

“What about camping?”

“I have no idea.” I frown. “I guess I don’t really know him that well.”

“I could call Cassian…”

“You have his number?”

“I got it last night. He’s going to give me a tour of his castle this evening.”

I turn, giving her a stern look. “Livi.”

“You’re so paranoid—it’s fine.”

“I don’t know. ‘Take a tour of my castle’ sounds like a two-hundred-year-old vampire version of ‘Netflix and chill.’”

And shegiggles.

“You aren’t doing a good job of convincing me you’re not going to leave there without a couple of twin bite marks on your neck.”

“You just worry about your own neck.”

“What about Max?”

She bristles, her eyes narrowing as she runs her hand over a cream-colored sweater. “What about Max?”

“You know.”

“Text him and see what he’s doing this evening, and then I’ll decide if I care.”

Eyeing her, I pick up my phone.

Piper: What are you doing tonight?

Max: Emma and I are going to the caverns. Why? Wanna come?

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