Page 46 of How a Vampire Falls

Hannah pointed the spatula at her. “You’re into him.”

“Yeah.”

“How seriously? And is he on the same page, do you know?”

“Oh, Ryker probablywouldbe married by now if I suggested it.”

Hannah squealed and gave a single hop in place. “Yessss!”

Her enthusiasm remained at record levels as she and Leslie added toppings to their burgers and sat side-by-side on barstools.

“All the feelings are there,” Leslie said. “For both of us, I think. I know I’ve never felt so drawn to someone before. Ryker is… It’s not only that he’s great. He’s great forme. Does that make sense?”

Hannah nodded vigorously. “If I had to sum up me and Jake in a sentence, that’s it. We’re great. Not only in general but for each other. He’s my best choice, and I’m his.”

“That stupid college test was right,” Leslie said. “Ryker is my best choice.”

“Okay, but…” Hannah tilted her head to study Leslie. So far neither of them had tasted their burger yet. “Why do you sound different all of a sudden?”

She hadn’t meant to. She hid behind a bite of her burger, which became an actual distraction as the delightful sear and juices hit her tongue, complimented by the crunch of lettuce, the acid of the tomato, the sweetness of the mayonnaise. She groaned.

“I’m glad you like it,” Hannah said with a grin.

For a minute they ate in silence. Hannah let Leslie compose her thoughts, but she didn’t want to put this one nagging thought into words. If she never said it—not to Hannah, not to Mom, not to Ryker, not even to herself—then she could ignore it forever. She could continue life without hitting the obstacle.

“Come on, Leslie,” Hannah said at last.

“He’s so far away,” Leslie blurted.

Slowly her friend nodded. “Yeah, that’s true.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. If one day he’ll call me and say… This long-distance thing is too annoying.”

“Hmm.”

Now it was Leslie’s turn to wait while Hannah organized her response. Both of them tended to process before they spoke. For years their friendship had been composed of honesty, mutual regard, deep talk, and deep silences. While she waited she triednot to replay Ryker’s words to her parents.“Doing what we have to for now.”

“Okay,” Hannah said at last, when they had finished their dinner and Leslie had taken their plates to the dishwasher. “First things first. Go take a peek in the fridge.”

Leslie shot her a look. “You already fed me plenty.”

“Uh-huh. Go look.”

Leslie opened the refrigerator door, and a human-sounding gasp filled her throat. Her very favorite chocolate cake, the local grocery market’s signature, occupied the middle shelf.

“Hannah! Cake!”

Hannah laughed. “Let’s have some while we untangle your problem.”

Did that mean Hannah thought it could be untangled? Maybe Leslie could hope in this. She got out plates and forks, cut two slices, and soon sat beside her friend again. She savored the fudgy cake and cream cheese frosting for several bites, and Hannah did the same.

“Okay,” Hannah said with the same tone of decision. “I think the only answer for this is…well, one you might not like at first.”

“Tell me anyway. It’s better than subconsciously spiraling about it.”

“For a minute, let’s forget what Ryker thinks of long-distance relationships. What doyouthink of them? Does it bother you, seeing him only on weekends?”

“For how long? Months? Years? I don’t want to do this for years.”

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