“Criminology,” Ari corrected.
“Close enough. I will admit he’s a sarcastic asshole, buthe’s really sweet when it matters. He’s seen me have a few breakdowns already—like really, really bad ones—and he’s always so patient about it. He even asks Ari questions so he knows how to handle my episodes. He’s already figured out how to talk me down from panic attacks, almost as well as Ari can.He always pops up the second I need him and he’s saved us from other vampires a few times. He’s been helping me get the hang of drinking without losing control so I won’t hurt anyone.Healso sleeps in a coffin because he thinks it’s funny and I’m pretty sure he’sa pyromaniac. He’s obsessed with this red lighter he has, but I bought him a really cool stake one the other day and he threw the red one away. He also got me a super cute stuffed animal! I love it.” Irealized I was rambling and stopped.
“He sounds wonderful,”Aunt Helen said. Uncle Tom grunted and she shot him a look.“What does that mean, Tommy? Do you disapprove?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Of course you haven’t.” She waved him off before beaming at me and Ari. “Well, I think he sounds very sweet.”
Ari and I fell into a fit of laughter, drawing a confused look from Aunt Helen but an unsurprised one from Uncle Tom.
“Sorry,” Ari managed. “It’s just… he’s not. I mean, he is with Emy. But literally no one else.”
“Is he mean to you?” Uncle Tom was about to stand up.
“No,” she said quickly. “No, he’s not mean to me. He looks out for me too. He’s not sweet to me, but not mean. He’s just…” She shrugged instead of finishing.
“I don’t know if I like that,” Uncle Tom said.
“Dad, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. He actually stood up for me when some guy was being rude at the bar a few days ago. Plus, he’s basically obsessed with Emy and I’m basically half of her, so I’m fine.”
“He knows we’re a two for one,” I said. “Buy one, get one free. A BOGO sale, if you will—”
“Stop,” Ari cut me off while Aunt Helen cackled.
At leastsomeoneenjoyed my hilariousness. It was nice having her back.
Thanksgiving
I grunted as someone shook my shoulder.
“Wake up. It’s already eight,”Ari said.
My eyes shot open and I sat up, narrowly missing her head.“It’s eight?”I threw the covers back and hopped out of bed.“Dennis is gonna be here in an hour. I have to get cute. I’ll be back.”I gathered an outfit and headed for the bathroom.
By 8:50 I was showered, dressed, makeup-ed, and in my favorite Christmas pajamas, complete with a pair of red and white snowflake underwear. I had just finished my hair when the doorbell rang. I’d decided to leave my natural curls today and used some of Ari’s product to avoid frizzing. A minute later, the front door opened.
“Hi, guys.”
“Hey Ari,”Sean’s voice came next, followed by a‘hi’from Dennis.
I glanced at my phone to see we only had five minutes until the parade. I ran downstairs, holding my chest on the way so my boobs wouldn’t run amok. Sean and Dennis both looked up at the loud ruckus.
“I’m Christmas!”I reached the bottom and struck a pose.“Lookie, I have Christmas socks,”I held a foot out,“boxers,”I pointed to my boxers,“and snowflake panties!”I pulled down my boxers to show them.
“Oh my god,Emy.” Ariyanked themup.“Why don’t you show them the matching bra, too?”
“I don’t have one. It’s my only Christmas outfit downfall.”
Sean laughed whileDennis smiled.
“I brought us blood.” Dennisheld upthreeglass bottles of red liquid. “Your hair looks nice. I like the curls.”
Ithanked him and took the bottles to the kitchen, which was filled with food for later. Uncle Tom, Aunt Helen, Ari, and I had spent the entirety of last night cooking so that all we had to do today was roast the turkey and warm up the rest of our feast. Or more accurately, the three of them had cooked all night while I sang Christmas songs and cheered them on.
The parade was just starting when I returned to the living room. I went back and forth a couple times, bringing complimentary hot chocolates to my favorite cousin and our guests, before I pounced on the couch beside Dennis.
“You seem happy.”
