“Sam, I have some amazing news,” Connor began eagerly, but Sam dismissed him.
“Buddy, save it for later. I’m not in the mood.”
“No, Sam, it’s really exciting.”
“I said save it for later,” Sam shot back, his glare at Connor intense enough to turn anyone to stone. Connor quickly averted his gaze.
“Loosen up, man,” Sam chuckled awkwardly, clapping a hand on Connor’s shoulder and trying to lighten the mood. “Let’s bring this party back to my place.”
“Party at Sam’s house!” Donovan announced from behind me. I twirled around, and he scooped up Diana, ourgroup ready to depart. As we prepared to leave, I saw Vail walking back toward us.
“We’re partying at Sam’s,” I whispered into her ear, excitement bubbling between us. She took my hand and winked at me. Together, we led each other out of the bar, knowing that this was the opportunity we had been waiting for—a chance to finally get invited into Sam’s house.
We all piled into Connor’s van, and once again, I found myself in the back with Vail, surrounded by cases of instruments. I couldn’t shake the memory of what some of those cases contained—the weapons they hid inside.
Eventually, we turned onto a street lined with identical houses, each with backyards overlooking the river. We came to a stop in front of a house with peeling white paint, its exterior flaking away. A dormant clematis draped along the railing leading to the front door.
As everyone exited the van and headed into the house, I lingered behind with Vail and Connor, who was busy locking up. I glanced at Vail, contemplating how we’d manage to get an invitation into Sam’s place. She knelt beside me, pretending to tie her boot laces with deliberate slowness.
I spun around and took Connor by his shirt, pressing him against the van. I kissed him, sucking his tongue into my mouth, and he deepened the kiss. This passion felt like a continuation of what had been ignited back at the bar.’
“I’m proud of you,” I whispered between kisses. His hands tangled in my hair, tilting my head back as he deepened the kiss. I brushed my fingers against his cheek, feeling the rough stubble from a couple of days without shaving. Slowly, I traced my hand along his jawline, then drifted downward, savouring the warmth of his chest beneath the soft cotton of his shirt. My touch grew more exploratory as my hand ventured lower, tracing the contours of his body.
“Are you guys coming in?” Sam’s voice called from inside the front door.
I smiled against Connor’s lips as he whispered, “You guys go ahead, I’ll be a minute.” My eyes trailed down to the noticeable tightness in the front of his pants, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Giving him a quick kiss, I whirled around and linked my arms with Vail’s.
“Do you think that was a good enough invitation?” Vail whispered in my ear as we approached the steps.
“Guess we’ll find out soon,” I replied with a grin as we walked up the steps and through the threshold. Stepping inside, deliberately entering a Slayer’s house. What were we getting ourselves into?
Once inside, I was struck by the contrast to the worn exterior of the house. The interior exuded a curated elegance. Soft, ambient lighting bathed the rooms and the eclectic furnishings in a welcoming glow. As we ventured into the living room, a large, round orange velvet sofa dominated the space. Its plush texture beckoned me, and all I wanted was to sink into it.
The walls were adorned with an assortment of paintings and framed black-and-white photographs of famous musicians, while vintage guitars were hung as decorative accents. It was a blend of vintage and contemporary aesthetics that added character to the space.
“Is Sam rich?” I whispered to Vail as we took in the surroundings.
“Looks like it,” she responded, her voice barely above a whisper.
Walking through Sam’s house felt surreal. Previously, he had been nothing more than a Vampire Slayer, a potential drug maker, and an occasional asshole. But seeing his house, I felt like I was glimpsing a part of his soul—a softer, morethoughtful, creative side of Sam. It left me wondering if Sam was really the bad guy we made him out to be.
Vail led us into the living room, where Donovan, Ivy, and Diana were already seated on the sofa. “Funky,” Vail remarked as she flopped down beside Diana.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Ivy scoffed as I settled across from Vail, next to Donovan. I pretended not to hear her remark and focused instead on casual conversation with Donovan about the music he had chosen.
Ivy rolled her eyes and got up from the couch, disappearing into a room at the back. Connor approached from behind, planting a gentle kiss on my head before saying he’d grab us some drinks from the kitchen.
From my spot on the couch, I had a clear view of the kitchen, and with my heightened hearing, I could catch every word exchanged within. I watched Sam rummaging through the fridge. I cast a discreet glance at Vail, who was clearly eavesdropping as well. She subtly shifted her body, pretending to engage in conversation with Diana, who was showing off her nails and suggesting they should visit the salon together.
“Sam, you’d never guess who I talked to today,” Connor told Sam in the kitchen.
“Hmm?” Sam’s disinterest was palpable.
“Jet Phoenix!” Connor exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. “He came up to me after the show and said he loved it. He wants us to go on tour with them. Isn’t that awesome? I want to tell everyone tonight, but I wanted to tell you first.”
“That’s rad, man.” Sam’s voice sounded uninterested as he took a long sip of his beer.
“Did you even hear what I said?”
