“Not really ‘do you know her.’ I meant really you’re gonna put your hand on my thigh like your dead person skin isn’t freezing cold—”
“How do you know her?” Ari asked Sean over my rant. I grabbed Dennis’ hand and moved it away.
“She and Mateo dated for a couple years,” Sean said. “They broke up a few months ago when he found out she’d been cheating.”
“So sheisa vampire.”
“Which makes her so much hotter,” I said. All three of them lookedat me. “What? It seems like she sucks as a person but that doesn’t make her not pretty. Her makeup was,” I did a chef’s kiss motion, “and her highlights are perfection. I give credit where it’s due.”
“Even after she slapped you?” Ari grinned when I shrugged. “Why am I not surprised? You always go for the crazyones.”
“Are you…?” Sean was looking between us while Dennis stared at me.
“Bi,” Ari said.
“Sexualandpolar. Get it?” I laughed at my joke, which was hilarious.
“Seems like you’d know, Dennis. You’re always reading her mind,” Ari said.
“I hear thoughts about me, not random chicks. Not that I’m complaining.”
“Don’t be weird about it. It’s not for your entertainment and it doesn’t mean I’ll have a random threesome with you.” I watched his hand until I realized he was only reaching for my hair this time, which fell a few inches past my chest. I sipped my milkshake while he toyed with a lock.
“Do people really assume you’re down for threesomes?” He seemed genuinely surprised. Which was surprising to me, because usually men’s minds went straight to that.
“All the time. The level of audacity most men have is insane. They act like bi women are a porn waiting to happen. It’s obnoxious and I’m tired of it, so don’t do it.” I narrowed my eyes, waiting for his audacity to arrive, but he only nodded. I kept waiting for a smartass or perverted comment but none came.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I realized. It seemed he didn’t have the same amount of audacity as most men—on this topic, at least—which was a lovely surprise. “Sorry. I guess I got defensive too soon. I assumed you’d be pervy about it. My bad.”
“So who else is a vampire here?” Ari looked from Sean to Dennis, then back to Sean.“Don’t tell me it’s confidential or something?”
“Okay. I won’t tell you.” Sean’s smile was mischievous.
She kept trying, asking Sean questions while he dodged real answers, but I was too distracted to pay attention. Dennis’ hand was casually resting on my thigh again.
“Can you stop?” I asked quietly. My tummy fluttered as he barely smiled—it was hard to keep my thoughts under control when he smiled like that.
“You really want me to?”
“Yes.” I tried to sound stern. It didn’t work.
“I can tell when you’re lying.”
“I’m not lying. I’m…” I racked my brain for a clever synonym for lying.
“Excited,” he finished for me.
Ari and Sean were still talking—she was trying to convince him to share vampire secrets—but all I could think about was Dennis’ hand. I sighed and tried to refocus on the conversation. That is until my milkshake was rudely stolen. I frowned as Dennis took the last sip.
“Excuse me, I don’t remember saying you could have that. Now it’s all gone.” I took it back and sadly lookedinside.
“Thatiswhat happens when you finish something.”
Ari stifled a laugh at his sarcastic response. “Sorry.” She tried not to smile as I turned my pout to her. “Do you want some of my pink lemonade?” She held it out but I shook my head. “Don’t think I forgot what we’re talking about.” She switched focus back to Sean. “I’m not leaving this alone. Melissa and Mateo dated for a while. Which means she’s a vampire, which explains how her cheek healed immediately after Emy cut it.”
“I forgot Vixen cut her.” Dennis laughed shrilly. “It’s impressive you could get hits on a vampire. Although she probably let you. At least the second or third one.”
