Page 16 of Marked By the Pack
“Ten years? You started this when we were in college?”
“Mhm. I would have dropped out but we were having so much fun.”
I remembered after I met Callum, Zoey had always been there for me. Like…always. Whenever I needed her. Almost like she had been skipping classes during that time. Because she didn’t care about school anymore because she was making so much money. “You could have told me, you know.”
“You were a little busy being heartbroken over Callum.”
That was true. I’d been so obsessed with my own problems that I’d been in my head too much. I hadn’t realized what was going on right in front of me. “I’m really sorry.”
“About what? Like I said. I’m killing it.” Zoey gestured to her house again.
“I know, but I should have been there for you like you were there for me.”
For just a second Zoey looked sad. But it was gone in a flash. “I was fine. You needed me. That’s what friends are for.”
“So we’re good?”
“Of course we’re good. As long as you eat this.” She handed me the bottle of garlic powder again.
“I’m not a vampire, Zoey. I told Callum I wanted to be with him forever. I asked him to change me. Begged him, practically. He refused.”
“Oh.”
I shook my head. “He wants to be with me forever.” I pointed to myself. “This me. The real one.”
“Well, that’s romantic.”
“But I’m going to get old and gray. And he’s not going to change at all.”
“That doesn’t mean he’ll stop loving you.”
“I’m going to die and he’s going to keep living…”
“Whoa. You’re not going to die for a really long time. We are still young and hot and we shouldn’t be thinking about our mortality right now.”
“Yeah.” I knew that. I did. I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. But it didn’t just suddenly turn off the thoughts.
Zoey inched the garlic powder closer to my face.
“Stop it,” I said with a laugh. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to try to get some sleep.” I stood up, being careful not to step on any of the broken glass.
“Are you going back to Callum’s place?”
“Um…no. I think I just need to be alone tonight.”
“Okay. For the record, I’m glad you’re still you. I kind of get what Callum is saying. You don’t need to change, Emma.”
“You don’t either.” I lifted up her black wig and tossed it at her.
She laughed. “I’m still me online. Just a little saucier.”
“I can’t picture you any saucier than you already are. Do you want me to clean any of this up?” I stepped over some of the broken vase.
“I’ve got it,” Zoey said. “I’m used to being up this late. Night, Emma.”
“Goodnight, Zoey.”
I made my way up the stairs. It was nice that Callum and Zoey said I didn’t need to change. But I still wanted to. Desperately. And I couldn’t make Callum understand. I thought telling him I loved him would somehow make him less infuriating. But that certainly wasn’t the case.
