Page 7 of The Vampire in the Potting Shed

The problem being I could either leave it with the vampire to conceal his scent from whoever was out on patrol, or I could wear it to prevent Sloane from scenting him on me.

“I have to finish locking up the building.” I daubed his blood, of which there was plenty, on the charm. As much as I hated to part with it, I placed it on his chest. “Give me fifteen minutes.”

A low sigh gusted out of him, which I took as confirmation he would be fine until I got back.

After switching off the light and shutting the door, I hurried to the rear entrance, helping myself to a jug of bleach Sloane hadn’t collected yet. I poured some on my hands then made a puddle I stepped in to clean off the bottoms of my shoes before tipping it sideways and letting the rest glug out onto the grass.

“Oh shoot.” I backed through the door, eyes burning, almost bowling her over in my rush to reach a sink. “I knocked over the bleach. Ugh. Sorry about that. I should have been watching where I was going.”

“Oh no. Your shoes.” She coughed into her shoulder. “I could have sworn I screwed the cap on.”

A twinge of regret at lying to her, at allowing her to shoulder the blame, twisted my gut.

“It’s fine.” I rubbed my hands where my skin was turning pink. “I’ll just wear scrubs home.”

I kept spares for the revolving door of employees and always reserved a pair in my size for emergencies.

“I heard a commotion while I was battling the dryer.” She brought me a towel. “The dogs were freaked.”

Although I bought the dryer new, five years was its limit. The day after its warranty expired, it kicked the bucket. Since the washer was fine, and I didn’t want to break up the set, I paid for repairs. The dryer was pissed when I cut its retirement short and embraced the cicada lifestyle, screaming at the top of its lungs from the start of every cycle until the end. But, for once, its vocal range had done me a solid.

“The bird was…an owl.” I leaned into a lifetime of practice in concealing my scent, and the overpowering stink of bleach, to sell the lie. “Who knew they were so loud? Or big? I don’t know how she got in there.”

“Mice.” She hummed to herself. “I’ll pick up some traps from the store.”

“There was no damage.” I was digging my hole deeper with each fib. “No mouse droppings either.”

“Huh.” She leaned a hip against the sink. “Maybe she was seeking shelter after that last storm.”

“We’ll just have to give it a few days then see if she’s trying to nest or if it was a fluke.”

“Works for me.” She checked her smartwatch. “We need to get going.”

“I’m sorry I kept you late.” I glanced at mine too and did the math. “This morning cost us two hours.”

“Don’t be sorry, Ana.” Her lips hitched to one side. “That was the most excitement I’ve had in months.”

“Do you ever get bored?” I switched off the water. “This can’t have been the job you had in mind.”

“Are you not happy with my work?” Her forehead pinched as anxiety clouded her scent. “I know I’m bad with cats, but I swear I can do better. And the bird allergies are almost under control. I had no idea that I couldn’t tolerate cockatiel dander. I told you about my new doctor, right? He’s got me on shots and?—”

“That’s not what I meant. I swear.” I gripped her shoulders before she spiraled on me. “I saw you in your element today, and it got me thinking. That’s all. You could do so much more than this.”

“You could too,” she said softly, eyes downcast.

“What?” I laughed as my chest gave a twinge. “This is my dream. I’m living the dream. My dream. I mean I’m livingmydream.” I stepped away before my palm sweat left marks on her shirt. “Anyway, I’m tired. I should change and then head home. Eight o’clock will be here before you know it.”

With a short nod, she made her way toward the exit, already pulling her keys from her pocket. “I’m not saying you don’t love your job, but I do worry sometimes that your job is your whole life.”

“Aren’t you more worried thatIamyourwhole life? Do you want more for me or more for yourself? Did today remind you of what could have been, if the price of joining the pack hadn’t been so steep?”

There was more, poised on the tip of my tongue, but Sloane didn’t deserve to have her choices thrown in her face just because she had dared to hold a mirror up to mine. She had asked me to look inside myself. Peer into the abyss at my core that had become a landfill for insults, ugly looks, and violence.

Internalizing that crap? Probably not my best move. But I hadn’t known any better when I was a kid.

Had Mom stuck around, I could have gone to her with that stuff. She was human. She would understand what it was like to live on two legs among people who sometimes had four. Maybe not what it meant to have that lingering pit in your soul nothing could fill, but she could have brushed my hair while we talked it out. Or given me a popsicle. Or just kissed the top of my head. Any of those were better than none.

“Tai’s waiting outside to walk you home when you’re ready.” Sloane kept her head down. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

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