* * *
A note by the coffeemaker, written in Claude’s slanted handwriting, informs me that he’ll be away for the weekend and I should enjoy my time with my friends. It’s agonizing not to beable to thank him right away, but as soon as I settle on the couch with Elaine and Sophie, I know he was right; I needed this time alone with them.
It takes hours to explain everything to them, especially with breaks for tears and snacks. But it’s such a relief to be able to share it. I don’t get into the details of the situation with my contract and Claude’s court—I’m nervous at the thought of involving them too deeply—but I tell them the gist of it. I also vent about the phone call from my mom. And most of all, my growing—and impossible to act upon—feelings for Claude.
Sophie actually tears up when I admit it. “Oh, Nora,” she says.
“I know it’s hard right now,” Elaine says, “but once the year is up, you can be together, right?”
I curl up with my knees to my chest. “I don’t know,” I admit. “We haven’t talked about it. I get the feeling it will be more complicated than that.”
“Such bullshit,” Sophie says, still teary.
“Until this is resolved…” I stare down at the floor, the words sinking in as I speak them aloud. “We’re safest apart.” I clutch the blanket closer to me. “But… it may never be resolved.”
Silence is thick after I speak. Both of my friends cuddle in closer around me.
“I don’t have any answers,” Elaine says, “but I’m sorry this is happening.”
I nod, leaning my head against her shoulder.
“Yeah,” Sophie says. She wipes her eyes and takes a shaky breath. “It must be hard, spending all this time around an undead hottie but never getting that vampire di—”
Elaine smacks her on the back of the head before she can finish, and despite myself, I laugh, and keep laughing until I end up in tears again.
* * *
The weekend passes too quickly. We eat and vent and laugh and cry, watch movies in a cuddle puddle on the couch, splash each other on the beach, order in my first taste of fast food since I started living here with Claude. They tell me what’s been going on in their lives: Elaine groans about work, and Sophie about getting accustomed to moving in with David.
It feels like so much time has passed since we were last together like this, and yet now that we’re reunited, nothing has changed. It eases something in my heart, to know that distance won’t take our friendship. To know that they don’t just love me when I have something to offer, in the form of rent or cleaning the apartment or cooking for everyone. They’ll be here during the hard times, too, as long as I let them in.
They can’t fix my problems, but they can help shoulder the load. At least I know that I’m not alone in this anymore. And if the worst happens, if Claude and I truly can’t be together… I know I’ll have them to support me through that, too.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
My heart is full after the visit, but the house feels especially empty once Sophie and Elaine leave for the airport. I keep myself busy to stop myself from wallowing. Claude is supposed to be back sometime today, and I want everything to be perfect when he does. I spend hours cleaning the place from top to bottom, and then acquaint myself with Claude’s kitchen, since he’s not here to stop me. There are still loads of fresh groceries, given his tendency to overbuy, so I have plenty to work with.
I smile when I hear the front door open. Perfect timing. I light the candles on the dining table, open the wine to breathe, and go to greet him at the door.
Claude’s eyes are shadowed and his mouth downturned, but his expression lifts when he sees me. “Nora,” he says. “How was your weekend?”
It takes every ounce of my willpower not to throw my arms around his neck and kiss the weariness off his face. “It was perfect. I can’t thank you enough, but… I tried to do a little something for you in return.”
“You didn’t have to do anything for me,” he says.
Something in my chest twinges at an echo of words I’ve said so many times before. In return, I echo him. “I know. I wanted to.”
I ease his coat off his shoulders and hang it up before leading him to the dining room, where everything is set out.
“Coq au vin?” he asks, eyes lighting up.
“Yes.” I bite my lip. “I’m not expert at French cuisine or anything, but I did my best.”
“Well, it smells heavenly.”
I lean against the table next to his seat, pouring him a glass of wine. “I haven’t added my blood yet,” I say. “I figured you’d want it fresh.”
He looks up at me, his fangs already out and his pupils growing as he looks at me. “You figured correctly.”
