“It’s not–” He tried to cut in.
But now that Cassie had gotten started, she wouldn’t be stopped. “Every week without fail you chauffeur two hot vampires around, then you call me practically swooning about how sweet and hot and cool they are. And what? You’ve been doing this gig for like a year now, and I know it’s not for the money.”
That was… partially correct. His job paid enough, Luis had really only picked up the chauffeur gig to force himself to get out of his apartment. It was something to fill the void that Cassie had left in his life.
Luis worked from home, and it was so easy then to just… stay in. To order delivery food, to order weekly grocery deliveries, to let the days and weeks go by without actually seeing another person except his mother.
So, on a sleepless night when he’d been spiraling about his four walls closing in on him, Luis had browsed the job boards.
It had surprised him that despite making a risky, terrifying choice, the job actually helped. Week after week Luis now had a standing appointment that forced him to leave his house. It made him feel a little less like he was sinking into a swamp he couldn’t escape from.
Luis had left out some of that reasoning when he’d first told Cassie about taking the job. He hadn’t wanted her to worry or feel bad for leaving. Cassie pursuing her doctorate wasgreat, and she didn’t need to be distracted from that. Luis was an adult; he could take care of himself.
“The extra money is good,” Luis said defensively.
“I bet it is,” her smile said she knew he was full of shit.
Luis blew out a breath. “Nothing’s going on.”
“But there could be, that’s what I’m saying,” Cassie said. “Spruce yourself up a little, bat those pretty lashes of yours. People fuck vampires all the time, and I hear it’s great. That could be you.”
Luis tried not to react to that, but a glance at the mirror told him he looked guilty and redder than usual. Was ‘sometimes I browse vampire porn and then feel so guilty I delete my whole browser history’ written on his face?
“Cassie.”
She laughed high and too loud. It was her real laugh, and Luis loved it to pieces. It always reminded him of Friday nights spent eating and drinking themselves stupid while binging their way through C-tier movies on her couch.
Fuck, he missed her.
“I just think it’s criminal that you don’t let yourself consider the opportunity. What’s the worst that could happen? They say no?”
“They’re vampires,” Luis said, “They could like… get angry.”
“From what you’ve told me they’re not like that, not even the grumpy one. I just wish you wouldn’t discount yourself.”
“I’m not discounting myself,” Luis argued. “It’s just not realistic to think that–that–” He couldn’t even say it.
Cassie rolled her eyes. “That two hot men might want to take a bite out of you? Luis, you’re hot! But every time you wear those hideous sweatpants outside…”
“Oh my god, will you leave the sweatpants alone?” Luis said with a laugh.
“Not until you swear to change,” Cassie said.
Luis chuckled. “Fine, fine. I’ll change.”
“Thank you,” she said in a singsong voice.
“You’re insufferable.”
“Yeah, I love you too,” Cassie said without missing a beat. “I just want you to, like, have opportunities. You could have a life, even if I’m not there. Imagine it!”
She wasn’t trying to wound him, but he still felt it like a thorn in his side suddenly.
“I do have a life. I’m–I’m doing okay, Cassie. Really.” He could feel the sharpness of that lie, the way it made his mouth taste of copper.
“Alright, alright. I just worry about you.” She sighed. “On an unrelated topic–just real quick before I get to the car–I saw Lettuce Shredder is going to be at Tamer Shrew this week.”
Luis finished brushing his teeth and spit foam in the sink. He’d gotten an email about that show, and then quickly deleted it.
