“Well, no, but… I don’t know. It just didn’t sit right. Literally minutes after we had a moment, I find him attached to my friend’s neck like a leech.” Hannah’s jaw went slack, her eyes wide. I pointed a finger at her. “My boss is not a vampire!”
She held her hands up in defense. “What did he say when you confronted him?”
I looked away. “Um.”
“You haven’t yet.” It wasn’t a question, but it sounded like an accusation.
“No,” I said dejectedly. I was embarrassed about my behavior.
“It’s not going to get any better if you don’t say anything at all.”
I paused, looking at the girl—young woman—across from me. It set in then exactly how much I’d missed out on. “You’re too smart for your own good, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Finish your food so I can take you home,” I said. “I guess I have another uncomfortable conversation to plan. Promise me you’ll drop this vampire nonsense, though. I don’t need your mom thinking I’m out of my mind.”
Hannah made an X over the left side of her chest. “Cross my heart.”
I wentin for my shift the next night, hoping it would be crowded so I’d have more time to think about howto talk to James. I’d hardly slept because it was all I could think about. I walked into the bar, every nerve standing on edge.
The place was deserted.
On a freezing Friday evening, I’d have expected the place to be packed. I didn’t even see Dani anywhere.
I cautiously advanced into the room. I made it to the bar before I felt that familiar chill down my spine. Did I forget to shut the door completely?
I turned around to see James sitting at one of the tables, feet kicked out and crossed at the ankles, arms folded over his chest. Despite the chill outside, he wore a dark V-neck tee and jeans—as he always did.
My mouth went dry. I swallowed, but it didn’t do much good. My heart rate spiked. “Where is everyone?”
“I closed for tonight,” he said.
“On a Friday? In this weather?” I was only met with a nod. “Why?”
He broke eye contact then, turning his attention to the table. Was he nervous? Upset with me? Of course he was upset with me: I’d almost kissed him then dodged him for three days.
“I think we need to talk,” he finally said.
I let out the breath I’d been holding. “I do too. But before we do, I have to ask.” I cleared my throat. “Should I be looking for another job?”
“Why would you do that?”
“I know it’s difficult when things get messy. And right now they feel…” I shrugged.
James smirked, then went to the door and locked it. “Things are only messy if we don’t talk this through like adults. Can we do that?”
“I make no promises,” I quipped. Then I nodded. “I’d like to.”
He crossed the floor to where I stood. “You want to start? Orshould I?”
I sat on one of the barstools before my legs stopped functioning. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought there was something between us. That night in the kitchen, and again in your office. I swore I felt something.”
James stiffened. “You did.”
“But you and Dani.”
“What about me and Dani?”
