“So, James,” Dad started. James nearly jumped out of his skin in response, and despite knowing that I would pay for it later, I snickered. “Youhaveto tell us what you did to get this one,” Dad pointed at me, and suddenly I felt like that same teenager who got caught sneaking around the water tower, “to settle down.”
Before either of us could respond, my mother quipped, “Andrew, I don’t think we need to hearthosedetails.”
Dad dropped his face into his hands. I choked on the mouthful of water I’d taken, and James just sat there, jaw dropped. Mom winked at him over her peach daiquiri, and my vampire finally relaxed and huffed out a laugh.
“I see where you get it from now, love,” James said.
Dad shared an aggrieved look with James. “Imagine living with the both of them.”
“My condolences.”
Just like that, the ice was broken. I shut my mouth, watching James charm my parents just as he’d charmed me—and ignoring all three of them when they scolded me for drowning my chicken and waffles in syrup. He’d been right: parents loved him, mine in particular. Even my dad, who talked about as much as Angel did, discovered that he and James shared a love for a British sketch show that, frankly, sounded like a fever dream.
“I’ve never seen you watch that,” I commented.
James stroked my thigh under the table. “That’s because I watch it when you’re asleep so you don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m surprised I don’t get nightmares.” I peeked at James’s phone, where he and Dad were watching a clip from the show. “Is that seaweed—okay, even I didn’t need to see that!”
The two clearly found my trauma hilarious, but I was happy to see James relaxing. I found myself leaning on his shoulder. I was content; comfortable. For a while, I forgot about the paranormal storm awaiting us once we got back to Salem.
Vegas continued to be my safe place, and having all of my closest friends and family there made it that much more special.
But my chest twisted at the reminder of the one person whowasn’tthere, and James seemed to feel it. He squeezed my leg, a silent gesture of, “I know.”
I hadn’t heard from Shiloh at all, and James said he hadn’t either, outside of work updates that they kept entirely professional.
I came back to the conversation to hear my mom at the beginning of the dreaded tale of my thirtieth birthday. “He’s already heard that one, Mom!”
“He’s never heard it frommypoint of view.”
“Hold on,” James interrupted, directing his next question to my parents. “Weren’t you two already living in Daytona at the time?”
“We were,” Dad said.
James turned his attention to me, biting his lip in a way that said, “I’ll make it up to you later.”
“Fine,” I relented with a grumble, staring at my almost empty glass of water. “But if you’re going to make me sit through it, I’ll need alcohol.” I finished my statement by nudging James in the leg, telling him without words to let me out of the booth.
“I’ll come with you,” Dad said. “Your mother tells this story so much better.”
“If by ‘so much better,’ you mean dramatically and exaggerated, then you’re right.”
Mom didn’t hear me, but James did, and he snickered into his drink.
I approached the bar and ordered our drinks but when I reached for my wallet, Dad grabbed my hand to stop me. “It’s your wedding weekend,” he said, handing over his card. “Let your old man buy you a drink.”
“Thanks.” I smiled, wondering if I’d ever see my dad as “old.”
Sure, my parents were nearing sixty, but I never really saw them as aging. If I looked closer, I could see the signs, especially in him. I’d never let Mom figure out that I knew she dyed her hair, but Dad never bothered. There was more gray in his dark hair than the last time I saw them, and a few more creases around his eyes—the ones I’d gotten from him—but his smile lines had gotten a little deeper too.
I jolted when Dad grabbed the back of my neck, snapping me out of my thoughts. “What’s on your mind, kid?”
I laughed and accepted our glasses of whiskey, hanging out at the bar—if for no other reason than to avoid hearing that mortifying story again. “No one’s called me that in a while.”
“You’ll always be a kid to me, even if you have one of your own now.”
I smiled fondly. “I can’t wait for you to meet Hannah. She’s an incredible person.”
