Page 26 of Eleazar

“Not on your life. That stuff stinks.”

“You’re crazy.” Andrew laughed. “It’s the best. You can’t see a movie without eating popcorn.”

“Hard pass,” Eleazar said.

Andrew gripped his wrist when a zombie began to sneak up on the unsuspecting group. Eleazar had to admit the makeup and special effects were amazing. The last time he’d watched a movie—on television, not in a theater—they were still in black and white. The zombies almost did look real.

Andrew screamed, nearly dropping his bucket when the zombie attacked.

“I do not understand how you cannot outrun one,” Eleazar said. “They move slow as hell. Anyone with a pair of working legs could easily get away.”

“You have to suspend your disbelief,” Andrew said. “Pretend this could happen. Movies are an escape. You’re not supposed to take movies like this seriously, Eleazar.”

He loved it when Andrew said his name. “Fine, I’ll try to immerse myself in this.”

Andrew grinned at him, a dimple on each side surfacing. Did he know just how handsome he was? “That’s the spirit.”

What Eleazar enjoyed was watching the expressions on his mate’s face. How could he be afraid of something that wasn’t real? A zombie that wanted to devour a person? Ridiculous. But he tried, and soon he was caught up in the storyline, watching it unfold and praying the people too dumb to live were eaten.

“We’re going to make this a weekly date,” Andrew whispered. “Something between us, you know?”

The thought appealed to Eleazar. He would never admit that he liked the movies, especially with Andrew. The guy didn’t hide his horror or amusement as the movie went on. He wasn’t embarrassed to grip Eleazar’s arm or cringe at certain times.

“Yes,” Eleazar said. “I’d like that very much.”

“Sweet,” Andrew said. “We can go now. If you haven’t figured out, the movie is over.”

Eleazar had been so busy watching Andrew that he hadn’t noticed.

“Yes, we should.”

Andrew tossed his unfinished food and wrappers into the nearby trashcan, and they made their way out of the theater. Eleazar listened as Andrew filled him in on what he’d missed of the movie. Eleazar really didn’t care, but Andrew was so excited to tell him as they made their way to the car.

Maybe this was something Eleazar could get used to. The human lifestyle was strange, but he was learning to enjoy it, especially with his mate at his side.

* * * *

Andrew wasn’t sure what was wrong with him. When they got home from the movies, he vomited again. Maybe a bug? But he hadn’t been out of the house. Then again, Sonny was human, and he did the grocery shopping and other errands. Andrew could have picked it up from him.

Wait. He’d gone to help Zach, but Andrew hadn’t been around Zach or Chainsaw that long to have caught a bug.

“I’m calling the doctor.”

Andrew groaned as he lay in Eleazar’s bed. “It’s just a bug I caught. It’ll pass. The only thing the doctor is going to tell me is to drink plenty of fluids and rest. It’ll run its course.”

At least, Andrew hoped that was the case. He’d lost his mother to cancer. Was that hereditary? Andrew sure as hell hoped not. He hadn’t been close to her, hadn’t gone with her to her visits, but in the end, he’d been there for her when he’d found out.

That was after his dad had passed away because it had been his dad who’d disowned him for being gay.

Now he wanted to research bone marrow cancer. It probably wasn’t hereditary, but the thought scared the crap out of him.

“Then you’ll have plenty of liquids and rest,” Eleazar said. “If you don’t improve by tomorrow, I’m calling the doctor.”

Andrew gave Eleazar a thumbs-up before he buried his face in the pillow, loving how it smelled like his mate. He was still reeling over the fact that he and Eleazar were mates. Andrew had jumped in feet first, dying to have sex with Eleazar, shoving the thought of being bound to the guy for all eternity to the back of his mind.

He was still learning about the vampire world, and parts of it scared him. Like how a coven member could stand perfectly still, like a statue, seeming not to breathe. They were fast, so fast that Andrew hadn’t seen one of them until they were a foot away from him.

And dangerous. He could never forget how dangerous they were, but for the most part, some were nice to him, while others avoided him. He didn’t care. The ones who didn’t like him could kick rocks because Andrew was tired of being trapped in his room, and he was taking full advantage of being able to roam the house.

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