Before I even finished speaking, she was clambering over the console in between the front seats and plopping down in the passenger side.
"Buckle up," I said, checking to make sure that Harrison was right behind me as I put the vehicle in gear.
Though Merry was silent as we drove out of the neighborhood and out of the city, she seemed more relaxed. As the crowd of buildings and cars thinned out, she turned to me. "How far away is your house?"
"Callum and I like our privacy. And it would be damn hard to sneak up on us out here."
Merry shifted. "You don't have neighbors?"
"Our closest neighbors are about a mile away."
She tensed up, just a bit.
I didn't want her to worry about being alone with two strange male vampires. I wasn't like Callum. I didn't know how to lighten a moment, but I had to try.
"Don't worry. I won't let Callum harass you into playing Skyrim with him for twelve hours straight. And I won't let him feed you microwaved burritos and Pop-Tarts for every meal."
It was a miracle, but she smiled at me, wide and bright. "That sounds like my college years all over again, but if I tried to do that now I'd end up needing a chiropractor and a bunch of antacids. So, thanks in advance."
Somehow, I'd said the right thing. "I live to serve."
She laughed. After everything that had happened that day and despite her fears, she was able to not only smile, but laugh.
And she relaxed. The tension in the vehicle vanished.
"So Callum likes to play computer games?"
"Any games. He's got a computer, a PS5, a Nintendo Switch, and he's making noises about getting an Xbox. He's obsessed."
"Do you ever play with him?" she asked.
I had to laugh. "No. I've tried several times, but I'm useless when it comes to technology. I can't figure out what buttons to push when or how often. And he never really tries to teach me, he just beats me over and over again, laughing and gloating the entire time."
"Well, that's not right." She hesitated and cleared her throat before she continued, "I could teach you some stuff. So that the next time he tries to pummel you, you can surprise him with your skill."
I glanced over at her. "I would gladly accept, but I think you'll just get frustrated and give up like Callum did. Then, the two of you can gang up on me and laugh together."
"I won't. I know how frustrating it is. I never had anyone to teach me how to do stuff on my computer and gaming system. I had to learn things for myself. So, I always make an effort to help out noobs."
"Noobs?"
"Newbies."
"Callum just calls me a Luddite."
"Then, won't he be surprised when you give him a run for his money the next time you two play together."
When I exited the highway, Merry's tension returned and she twisted her fingers together. "I know you said that you and Callum lived together, but will your, uh, significant others have any issues with me staying here."
"Significant others?"
Was this her roundabout way of asking if I was single?
"Girlfriends. Boyfriends. Friends with benefits," she explained. "I don't want to cause trouble or end up as a snack."
It was too much to hope that she was softening toward me, seeing me as a man rather than a vampire. No, she was concerned that a female vampire would want to rip her throat out because she was living with us. I tried to squash my disappointment.
"No, we're both single."
