Her lips turned downward. “Boo. Tell me anyway.”
I rubbed my eyes. “After Diego proposed last night, we were all super happy and hugging. Outside, I saw a woman. She was looking in at us through the window. I could swear I saw someone—but then she was gone.”
Gianna squinted at me with a confused look. “I don’t see the problem. Why would a woman glancing into the store bother you?”
I pursed my lips before I answered. “Because I think it was Diana.”
Gianna’s mouth dropped open. “His ex?”
“Yup.” I nodded. “But she disappeared just like that.” I snapped my fingers. “Then I questioned if I’d imagined the whole thing, you know, since Diego mentioned that she was back in town.” I tapped my lips. “But it could be vampire speed.”
“Did you tell Diego?”
“No, I didn’t want to ruin the mood. I mean, after all, we’d just gotten engaged. And since I wasn’t sure, I wondered if I was being paranoid.” I gestured at Gianna. “What do you think? I only met her that one time last Halloween, so it could have been someone else.”
Gianna made a thoughtful sound. She took a sip of her champagne and put it down on aWelcome to the Dark Side, We Have Cookiescoaster on my coffee table. “Tough to say. It could have been her. Or not. You poked enough holes in your story that I don’t know what to think.”
I bit my bottom lip. “True.” I turned to the television while sorting through my thoughts. Hugh Grant was hiding in a room where the bride and groom were having a quickie. Turning back to Gianna, I asked, “Do I have anything to worry about?”
“With Diana?” Gianna asked.
I adjusted my position on the sofa, pulling the afghan higher over my legs. “Yes.” I rolled my neck. “I mean he was in love with her. So much so that he proposed and became a vampire to be with her forever. And now she’s back. Why? What does she want?” I raised my hand. “More specifically, what does she want withhim?”
“Hopefully, nothing,” Gianna replied. “Even if she did, it doesn’t matter. Diego is in love withyou.” She pointed at me. “He proposed toyou.Whatever happened between them in the past is staler than a box of cereal left open on the counter for a month. In other words, it’s over.”
I nodded absently. “Right, right.”
“No, look at your finger.” She motioned to my ring. “That ring alone tells you who he wants to be with. Translation, it’s not a dead-hearted vamp he detests.”
I laughed. Glancing at the ring he gave me, I knew what Gianna was saying was true.
As the movie progressed, I curled up on the cushion, resting my head on the pillow. My eyelids felt heavy. I’d close them just for a second.
Soon after I did, I pictured her—the vamp staring in through the window from outside the bookstore. Her cold expression turned victorious as she jeered at me.
I bolted upright with a gasp.
“Easy there, kid,” Gianna said.
I opened my eyes and turned from the screen to Gianna. “Did I doze off?”
“Since you sounded like a snor-a-saurus, I’d say yes.”
“I snored?”
“No, just teasing. You started breathing heavy, so that’s when I knew you were out. Just for a few minutes.” She pointed at the screen. “But look, you woke up in time for a good part.”
I blinked the sleep from my eyes to focus on the screen. Hugh Grant had just told Duckface that he was in love with someone else, and she punched him out. I’d seen this movie so many times, I could probably quote the next scene.
“I’ll be right back.” I went to the bathroom and splashed some cool water on my face. My expression stared back at me from the mirror with dejected eyes. Why? What was it about that short glimpse of Diana in my dream that seemed so vivid? So real.
I straightened and stared at myself. “You’re doing it again, getting worked up over nothing. Don’t let that unwanted vamp get into your head. She’s nothing to him or you.”
After my pep talk, I returned to the living room. The movie wrapped up soon afterwards with a happily ever after for all.
Gianna stood. “I’ll let you get to bed, sleepyhead.” She turned to head over to the opposite side of the house through our shared kitchen. “Toodles.”
“Goodnight.” I went upstairs to my room and pulled the down comforter over me, although it was summer. That image had chilled me with an unreasonable chill.
