Page 19 of My Big Fat Vampire Wedding
“Out of curiosity, is there a hunched man in the belfry?”
“We don’t have a belfry,” Pandora said with a little chuckle. “But we do have an undead raven who likes to recite poetry.”
“I mean, who doesn’t?” Lucy smiled at her friend. “All right. Go. Get something pretty on. Preferably something that shows Victor yourhunter’s moons.” she purred as Pandora climbed out of the car.
“Have a good full moon,” Pandora called to her friend, eyes rolling, before rushing up the cobblestone path toward the front door.
“Whoa,” she said a moment later, nearly trampling Dante as she made her way inside.
Her brother jolted, turning around to look at her with oddly guilty eyes.
Whatwashe up to these days?
It looked like he’d been out all day again.
And he looked a little paler than usual.
“What are you doing coming in at this time?” he asked, sounding accusatory. Meanwhile, he was the one being sneaky.
“I have a date,” Pandora said, feeling herself straighten a bit with her excitement.
“A real date?”
“It’s a real date with a real man, yes,” she said.
“A man?” Dante asked, brows lifting. “A human man?”
“Yes …”
“Good luck with that,” he said, wincing, then rushed up the stairs before she could ask him to clarify.
Trying to shake off the interaction, Pandora made her way up to her room, immediately starting to fret over her wardrobe.
She didn’t want to put on one of the many floor-length, figure-hugging, silk or velvet dresses her mother had gifted her over the years. But she didn’t want to be wearing jeans and a tee, either.
Eventually, she settled on a simple plum-coloured dress and leggings with some low-heeled boots and a heavy cardigan to complete the look.
Dressy, but not trying too hard.
She fiddled with her hair and make-up, spritzed on some perfume, then rushed back out of her room, knowing she had to take the Underground back toward Luna Bean to meet Victor.
“Well, don’t you look lovely?” her father called from the sitting room as she rushed past, making her pause and turn to give him a smile.
“Thank you.”
“Where are you going?” Ophelia asked, her gaze sliding down Pandora’s outfit with more approval than usual.
“I have a date,” she said. She didn’t even have to fake the smile that tugged at her lips.
“A date?” her mother asked, perfectly arched brows lifting. “Why is this the first I am hearing about it?”
Because I am one hundred and twenty-four years old and don’t share everything in my life with my parents.
“We just set it up last night. We’ve … known each other for a while.” Pandora knew she needed to lay the framework for a believable relationship moving forward. “I always kind of … had a thing for him, but I didn’t think he returned my feelings.”
“Why wouldn’t he?” Lucian asked, stiffening. He was a man who believed the moon rose purely for the enjoyment of the women in his life, and couldn’t fathom anyone not feeling the same way.
Pandora felt her mother’s probing eyes watching her, looking for any sign of deception. But there was none to be found. Because Pandora genuinely had been dealing with a crush on Victor for months. She was also much more excited about this date than she should have been, given the fact that it wasn’t a real one.
