Page 30 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

I sigh, glancing at my phone to see how much longer we have to wait. “If it doesn’t taste like tiramisu, what’s the point?”

“You can still have cream in it,” Cassian says.

“It’s the sugar she’s missing,” Noah answers, giving me a knowing look.

I nod, feeling testy.

“There are plenty of artificial sweeteners and flavorings you can mix in,” Cassian says. “The 80s and 90s brought us a glorious cornucopia of packaged food options that contain no actual food.”

“That stuff will kill you.”

“Perhaps, but it won’t killyou.”

“That’s beside the point. It doesn’t taste the same.”

Cassian shrugs, not realizing what he’s missing. Lucky man.

“Oh, look,” he says, changing the subject. “Your flight is boarding.”

“Our flight?” I ask. “Aren’t you taking the same plane?”

“I’m afraid Noah booked you a budget airline with no first-class seating.”

“We’re not all billionaires,” Noah reminds the vampire.

Cassian gives us, his peasant friends, a pitying smile. “Don’t forget to transfer your blood to the mini fridge as soon as youget to your hotel room, Piper.” He looks at Noah. “You did remember to book her a room with a fridge, didn’t you?”

“I booked over the phone, and I asked the woman twice,” Noah answers, looking slightly put out that Cassian would think he might forget.

“Enjoy your flight then.” The vampire wraps his arm around my shoulders and gives me a friendly half-hug. Then he looks down at me, frowning. “Why is your heart racing? Are you suddenly attracted to me? Are we in a love triangle? We’ll have to be careful to hide it from Noah.”

Noah rolls his eyes. “She’s scared of flying.”

“How did you know that?” I ask, thinking I’d been hiding it pretty well.

He nods toward my hand and the napkin that came with his coffee, which I’ve twisted into a tight roll.

“Just a guess,” he jokes.

Cassian releases me. “Have no fear—planes rarely crash.”

“Thanks a lot.”

His eyes suddenly brighten. “If you’re worried about it, you could stay home.”

“Cassian,” I warn.

“I’m just saying that if you’re that nervous, you could remain here—safe and sound, on the ground.”

“Did you mean for that to rhyme?”

“It wasn’t intentional, no.”

“I’m going.”

“Understood.” He cocks his head to the side, smiling. “But you don’t have to.”

Noah narrows his eyes at his friend, questioning his bizarre behavior. “What’s with you?”

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