“You’ve always held back. We both know you could kick my ass in two seconds. I appreciate you pretending, though.I’m gonna call Sean so we can talk details and figure out when he can do it.”
“Good idea.” I finished my bar and hopped up to toss the wrapper before running back to nearly sit in her lap. “I’m so excited! Okay, we’ll ask if he’s free tomorrow. Wait, no. Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving. Friday! Wait, that won’t work. Friday is my stupid therapy appointment.” I pretended to gag as she smiled. “And Aunt Helen will still be in town.”
“It can’t bethatsoon. I meant a few weeks from now. I have to finish my semester first because I can’t afford to miss class when it’s sunny. I also wanna walk, so it needs to be after the ceremony.”
“Ugh, really? You should just drop out.”
“Absolutely not.” She looked at me like I was insane. I returned the look;shewas insane for doing four extra years of school. “Don’t worry, I already checked on grad school and they offer night classes.”
“Why would Ieverworry about that?”
A noise came from the garage and she screamed. I leapt up to protect her, then sat back down when Sean strode into the living room.
“You called?” he asked.
“Hey, Vixen.”Dennisfollowed.
“We’re literally right by the door.”Ari flung an armtoward the entryway. “You can’t ring a doorbell instead of breaking in?”
“It’s more fun this way,” Sean said, unfazed by her glare. He and Dennis sat on the couch opposite ours. “So, what’s up?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’s up?’ Why are you here?”
“I heard you saying—or thinking, I guess—that you wanna tell me something. We were leaving the store a couple blocks away, so I figured we’d pop in and see if you need me.I promise we weren’t purposely stalking you this time.” He pointed to Dennis, who held up a six-pack of beer and a bottle of whiskey as proof.
“She wants to join us!” I shouted, baring my fangs.
“You wanna becomea vampire?”Sean asked,barely suppressing a grin.“What made you change your mind?”
“I don’t know. I just want to?”
“You have a reason. You always have a reason for everything.”Dennis was watching her, too.“What is it?”
She hesitated, opened her mouth, then shut it and shrugged.
“If you don’t wanna tell us, it’s okay,”I said. I knew she would tell me later when we were alone. She probably didn’t wanna open up around them.
“When do you wanna do it?”Sean asked.
“In a few weeks. After graduation.”
“Cool. We’ll make it happen.” Heexchanged a look with Dennis, then broke out in an adorable smile.“Anything else you wanna talk about?”
“No. That’s it.”She adjusted her glasses and stood.“I’m gonna check my planner so I can pick a day.Wanna help? I guess you’ll need to be there too.”She giggled as Sean followed her upstairs.
“Isn’t this so exciting?” I gushed, turning to Dennis. Before he could respond, the doorbell rang. “Aunt Helen!” I hopped up and ran to the door, yanking it open.
Just as I thought, a beaming Aunt Helen was on the porch.
“Emy,” she snatched me up in a hug,“I missed you so much! How are you? How have you been? I heard you have a job now. How is it? Are you dating anyone? Guys, girls? Have you met any cute ones yet?”The questions continued as I stood there in shock. I was hugging her back, of course, but I was confused by her excitement. She stopped talking and let go.“What’s the matter? Why’re you so quiet?”
“I thought you wouldn’t miss me because you didn’t want me to live with you anymore?”
“Oh, Emy, that’s not true at all,” she said. “I only suggested you move because I know how much better off you are with Ari. I miss you like crazy and I worry about you so much.”She held me at arm’s length and looked in my eyes.“I would’ve kept you in a heartbeat if you weren’t so miserable in Newark.”
I tried not to blink as my eyes brimmed with tears. Barely, but they were there.“I love you.”I hugged her again, this time without the shock or confusion.
“I love you, too.”She rubbed my back while Uncle Tom squished past us with her suitcases.“Don’t ever think I didn’t want you. Every year I didn’t take you in was a mistake, and I’ll never forgive myself for it.”
