Sophie blinks at me, puzzled for a moment before her eyes go wide. “Oh, God,” she says, sitting up. I place my hand on her arm, urging her not to move too fast. “I’m so sorry!”
“It happens all the time,” Benjamin says from somewhere behind me. The moment he speaks, Sophie’s eyes roll back and she swoons again.
I grab her shoulder to steady her and shoot an apologetic smile over my shoulder at the vampire. Truth be told, my heart is still beating erratically as well, but I know it’s just a deep-buried instinct acting up.Stop it, I scold myself.He’s just a polite manwho happens to be undead and fanged.“Maybe I should take her out to the car.”
“That’s probably for the best,” Benjamin says.
I help Sophie to her feet, put an arm around her shoulders, and guide her outside. Elaine is still standing in the doorway as though paralyzed. “Do you want to come with us?”
“I…” She blinks, takes a deep breath. “No. I can do this.”
I nod. “I’ll be right back.”
I help Sophie down the hallway and out the front door, slow step by slow step, though gradually she becomes better able to support herself.
“I’m sorry,” she says, chin wobbling. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t know it would be like that.”
“Don’t worry. He said it’s common.”
“Still, howembarrassing…”
I murmur soothing words and help her to the parked car. I’m easing her into the backseat and encouraging her to drink some water when Elaine comes running, tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry!” she blurts. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it. He was about to bite me and I couldn’t—I mean, it was all very sexy and consensual, but I still—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I make sure Sophie is safely in the car before turning and hugging her. “It’s okay! It’s fine. You tried. We knew this was a long shot, right?”
Elaine buries her face in my shoulder. “But I really wanted it to work,” she says.
I shut my eyes, grant myself a brief moment to let the disappointment sink in, and then turn back to practicality. “It’s okay,” I say again. “We’ll figure something else out. Let’s get you guys home, and then—”
“Wait.” She pulls back, gives me a pleading look. “But you haven’t had a chance yet.”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. It was never gonna be me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… I was just here for you guys.”
She blinks at me. “But you didn’t freak out,” she says. “You’re the only one who kept your head. You have to try.”
I want to argue and get them home so we can start brainstorming new and more practical ideas. But I’ve never been good at sayingnoto my roommates. It’s impossible when Elaine, who is normally so dry and aloof, is giving me this misty, hopeful look. “Fine,” I say. “But don’t get your hopes up. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Against my better instinct, I trudge back inside alone. I find Benjamin in the parlor, sitting at the table with a cup of tea. His eyebrows rise as I enter the room.
“Ah,” he says, setting down his cup. “You’re back.”
I manage a wan smile. “My friends insisted.”
He studies me as I take a seat across from him. There’s still a buzz of electricity under my skin from being in the room with him, but it’s easier to bear than before. “You don’t want to?” he asks.
I shrug. “I was mostly here to make sure they didn’t do anything stupid.”
“It seems your job is done, in that regard. You’re free to go, if you wish.”
I hesitate. He’s right. My friends are fine, though it’s clear none of them have a future in this line of work. There’s no reason Ihaveto stick around and see if it’s possible for me to pass the test myself.
No reason at all, except for that traitorous quiver of hope in my chest. And the fact that if I walk away now, I will forever wonder what could’ve been.
