Landslide.Midnight Riders.Vampires.
I have to clap my hand over my mouth to stop the words from coming out.And yes, I can feel my hip bones and collar bones protruding as Tallie holds me close.But right now, losing weight is the least of my worries.
Pushing me away from her, she looks at me up and down.
“Are you sick?”
Lovesick.Sick to death.Sick and tired of waiting and worrying for the other shoe to drop.
Shaking my head, I brush the question away.
“Nice way to say hello, Tal.And no, I’m not sick, just… exhausted.”
We arranged to meet at one of those truck stops along the highway.Pushing me in the small of my back, Tallie guides me to the diner.It’s pretty empty, so we slide into the red-plastic-covered booth closest to the door.
The waitress comes to take our order and pour coffee.Tallie orders us both a huge breakfast.When the waitress leaves, Tallie takes a long package out of her tote and pushes it towards me.
“Happy birthday, because I guess I won’t be seeing you in November?I chipped in some of my own money to get this.I went to the university to get it tested.It’s genuine.”
I stare blankly at the package.
I won’t ever need this if I just go to my rental and follow Tallie back to Minneapolis.
Just thinking about leaving Landslide twists my insides into a knot.
“Thank you.I love you for doing this for me.Thank you.”
We look at one another fondly.Friends since college and always there to help each other.That’s a special love.
Laughing off our emotional reunion, Tallie points at me accusingly as she moves her finger up to my hair and back down again.“What is this?Sure, you were never going to win Best Dressed, Lu, but you were never pale and drab.”Reaching for my hand, she holds it in both of hers.“What’s going on, friend?Is the cabin haunted?”
I feel my eyes get wide.Tallie is more accurate than she knows!
“Yes!I was never the sort of person to believe in the paranormal, Tal.But the cabin—and maybe the whole of Landslide—is full of ghosts.”
Dropping my hand, Tallie leans back and exhales.“Woo!I knew it!Is that why you need this?”She points at the long package.“Are you going to do an exorcism?”
Chatting with my friend invigorates me.I am no longer alone and helpless.I will get to the bottom of this ridiculous vampire feud and solve it.
I make a promise to myself right there.
No one will ever be able to manipulate me emotionally or physically again.I am a strong, independent, successful woman.I deserve a loving partner, a comfortable home, and a nice life.
And if no one on Landslide can give that to me, let me put this in a way Shadow Sylva can understand—I gotta bounce!
Funny how love and sex has a way of clouding the mind.Time for me to exorcisemyself.
Our breakfasts arrive.Grabbing a waffle off Tallie’s plate, I take a large bite and smile as I chew it.
“An exorcism?That, my friend, is a very good idea.”
Vince Pruitt is waiting for me at Angle Inlet.The creek water looks opaque and black, as if the boat is about to be swallowed into an oil spill.
“You get your mainland shopping done, Miz Luna?”
I nod, accepting the helping hand he is holding out towards me as I jump down into the boat.
We cast off and begin chugging back to the island.
