“It’s okay. But I’m pretty sure that’s why. The disorder makes your mind more susceptible, I guess?” He shrugged. “If you forget this tomorrow, I promise I’ll tell you again.” He smiled and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Thank you.” I smiled back, already feeling better.
We resumed walking through the lot, which was surprisingly full of people. The security in front moved aside for us without a word. It felt so fancy. I could get used to this.
“How’re we doing it this time?” I asked once we were inside.
“Take your pick and have fun.”
“You’re not coming with me?”I was confused for a second, but it turned to excitement when he shook his head.“Yay, I get to do it by myself!”
“Not quite.I’ll be close by, justin case.”
“Aw,”I pouted, “I was so excited to go by myself.”
“Be patient. You won’t die from waiting.”
With that, he walked off, heading for the billiards area. I wandered to the bar itself. It seemed ideal to sit and wait for someone to approach me, then take them out back under the guise of a hookup and steal their blood instead. Easy peasy.
“Hi.” Right on cue, a man took the stool beside me.
“Hi.” I smiled brightly, but it faded when his hand perched on my bare thigh. I brushed it away from my shorts with a forced laugh.
“I’m Charles.” He went on like he hadn’t just crossed a boundary.
“Mina.” I went along with it, too. All I wanted was blood. Nothing else mattered.
“Can I get you a drink?”
“Sure,” I said. “You can choose. I’m not picky.”
Charles waved Nate over, who raised an eyebrow at our proximity. It wasn’t my doing; he’d somehow moved closer. “We’ll take two cranberry vodkas,” Charles ordered. Nate made the drinks and took the guy’s card.
“Thank you,” I said it toward both men as my purple nails closed around the glass.
“So,” Charles was eyeing me once again, “if I were to take you on a date, what’s one thing I should know about you? What sets you apart from other women?”
“What in the fuck?” I couldn’t hide my disgust. “That’s a gross question. I’m not answering that.” I took a sip of the drink I already regretted accepting, only to slam it down when he touched my thigh again. “Stop doing that.”
“Doing what?” He tried to resist, but I shoved it off with ease.
“You know what you’re fucking doing. Stop touching me.”
“Really?” His tone was incredulous, likeIwas the one being rude. “I bought you a drink.”
“Alright.” I slid off the stool, snatching his hand when it reached for me again. “Buying a goddamn drink doesn’t buy you the right to my body. The next time you touch mewithout my permission I’m gonna rip your head off and feed it to the nearest animal I find.”I squeezed his hand until it cracked, then threw it back.“You don’teverdo that again. Got it?”
“Yeah,”hehastily agreed,“I won’t do it again.”
“To any woman?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Good,”I said flatly. “Here’s the drink you bought. Now fuck off.” He scrambled away, cradling the injured hand and leaving both drinks behind. I retook my seat and slid both toward myself, content to drink them if his disrespectful ass didn’t want ‘em. I placed both straws in my mouth before I noticed two men a few stools away staring. I sipped the drinks, staring right back. “Can I help you?” I asked around the straws.
“Nope.” The nearest one shook his head. “Not my type. You seem like a bitch.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. Did I hurt another sexual harasser’s feelings?”I asked sweetly.“Contrary to many men’s beliefs, most women don’t care when we’re called a bitch. You know why? Because it’s usually when we shut down behavior like that.” I gestured in the direction Charles had scurried off. “So if you think I’m a bitch, thank you. I take it as a compliment. I’m glad you realize I don’t want your pathetic, insecuredick—”
