Page 63 of Vampires of Eden
Blinking, Danny takes a breath. “No…”
“Then, why say that?” I ask seriously.
“Because that’s how society at large would judge me?—”
“So what? You just told me that you thought the two of you were in love. If that’s howyousee yourself and the situation, fuck whatever society says.” My phone buzzes loudly in my pocket. Daniel jumps, then sinks lower into his corner and looks away.
I read the screen. “It’s Raph. Hold on one second, sorry.” I swipe my finger across the phone to answer. “Yes?”
“Are we having fun?”
“I’m fine, Raph—what do you need?”
“Your parents changed the time of your video call tonight. They moved it up an hour.”
I sigh, annoyed as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Can we do this tomorrow instead?”
“Are you seriously asking me to cancel and reschedule with your madre at the last minute? What do I say when she asks why? Should I tell her where you are?”
Groaning, I drop my hand. “Fine, I’ll be there. Shit.”
“Put me on speaker.”
I start, blinking. “What?”
“Put me on speaker. I want to meet him.”
“No.”
“Lexie—”
“No.”
“Is something wrong?” Daniel speaks softly, cutting into the conversation with his head lazily rested against the couch.
Ah fuck. Fuck fuck. “Raphael wants to meet you… he wants me to put him on speaker.”
“Alright,” Daniel says, unaffected. “I’m fine with that.”
I don’t say it, but I’m confused as to why the hell he would be fine with this. Reluctantly, I change the setting so that Raphael is on speaker, then hold the phone out. What is happening right now? “Raph, you’re on speaker.”
“Hi Daniel!” Raphael’s cheerful voice floats into the room like a true interloper. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
Daniel pulls himself up and sits forward. His insanely messy half-bun flops even further to the side. “Hello—it’s nice to meet you, too.”
“Lexie was really worried about you, so it made me worry. Are you feeling alright?”
God. I roll my eyes hard and shake my head.
“I’m okay—thank you for worrying. That’s kind of you.”
“Of course, of course,” Raphael responds. “I’ll let you two go, but can you make sure to send my little rabbit back home by three o’clock? Lately, he’s having too much fun with you and he loses track of time. Will you help me out please, so his madre doesn’t tear my head off?”
He doesn’t need to worry about my mother, because I’m going to strangle him when I get home. He’d better hide.
Daniel smiles, leaning a little further toward the phone. “I will, I promise.”
“Okaaay, you two enjoy! I’ll see you at home, Lexie. It was nice to meet you, Daniel. Take care of yourself?”
