Page 101 of My Big Fat Vampire Wedding
“I’m pretty sure we have all the proof we need that he genuinely isn’t into me in that way,” Pandora said, leaning down to dig in her bag to find some mouthwash.
It was then that she came across a small box she was sure she hadn’t packed.
“What’s that?”
“I don’t know.” Pandora pulled the box out.
“Well … open it,” Lucy said, then yelled at someone who cut her off in traffic. “Use your indicators, for God’s sake. They’re not decorative!”
Pandora flipped the top off the box, finding a set of silver earrings with blue accents the same colour as the stairs they’d climbed several times a day while in Morocco.
On the lid of the jewelry box was a small handwritten note.
Something new and something blue.
“Oh, come now,” Lucy said. “That man is in love with you.”
“For someone who is in love with me, he certainly does everything in his power not to touch me.”
“Maybe you’re not giving out the right vibes,” Lucy said. “You – hey, it’s called driving, not bumper cars!” She slammed on the brakes. “You need to let him know how much you want him.”
“I eye-banged his mostly naked body for a solid minute.”
“That’s a good start. But you could have, you know, touched him. Wild idea, I know,” Lucy said teasingly.
“So,” Pandora said, looking for anything else to talk about. “How did things go with Elias?”
Lucy’s growl was a bit more lupine than usual, hinting at the upcoming full moon.
“That good, eh?” she asked, getting narrowed eyes from her friend.
“Let’s just say I’m excited for your wedding. If for no other reason than being able to have that man out of my life for good.”
“Were there issues with the family?” Pandora asked.
“Not really, no. I mean, we did have to do some sticking together to get things to shake out the way we needed them to.”
“I’m afraid to ask what that might mean.”
“Nothing to worry about. It actually worked out perfectly. Your hen party is going to be at Nocturnum,” Lucy said.
“Wait. What? Why?” Pandora asked, gaping at her friend, who kept her gaze forward, pointedly ignoring her outrage.
Nocturnum was one of the handful of underground vampire clubs in London. The kind of place Pandora purposely avoided. Where blood was on tap and human donors could be rented for a snack.
“Listen, you’re just gonna have to suck it up for the night. No pun intended,” Lucy said, smirking at Pandora.
“Why that club?”
“Because there happens to be a human bar right next door,” Lucy said. “Elias and I figured the best way to pull this off is if the parties take place right next to each other.This way, you can pop in and out of the hen party, and go check on the stag end of things.”
“That’s actually brilliant,” Pandora said.
Sure, she had to show her face occasionally so her aunts and cousins and everyone knew she was floating around, having a good time, doing the partying thing that all soon-to-be-married women would be doing.
But she would spend as much of her time as possible at the party next door, keeping an eye on Victor and her male family members.
“Well, I’m glad you think so. Because you have approximately eight hours to get some rest, get dolled up, and get ready to party.”
