Karim:see you then
##
All the next day, Luis reread the conversation that had occurred. His eyes kept getting stuck on thewe’d love to have the bloodfrom Karim and thedarlingfrom Julien.
It didn’t mean anything. Julien had been drunk, and Karim just… hated bottle blood.
Thursday evening, just after sundown, Julien texted him again.
Julien:Please don’t feel obliged to bring your kit if you change your mind. Friday can go as usual, if you want.
Luis:I haven’t changed my mind.
There was a long gap before a reply came.
Julien:Then you must allow us to compensate you for it.
Luis frowned at the message. That was the opposite of what he wanted from all this.
Luis:it would otherwise literally be going down the drain. I don’t need money.
Maybe they thought he did though? He had taken the driving gig technically as a second job. In the interview he’d even said it was for the extra money. There was no way at the time he was going to talk about his budding agoraphobia.
Luis:really. I’m paid enough at my day job.
Julien:Will you accept dinner instead then? As a token of our gratitude.
Luis paused to think about that. Julien clearly needed there to be some exchange. Dinner… wasn’t the worst thing.
Luis:if you insist.
Julien:We do.
Julien:What are your feelings on Indian food?
##
Luis parked the car Friday in Julien and Karim’s driveway. It was earlier than he usually arrived, just after sundown, and the sprawling house was lit up attractively against the growing night.
Beside him on the passenger seat was his medical kit.
A few years ago, Luis never would’ve even dreamed of talking to a vampire, let alone going into their home. But here he was planning to go in andfeedtwo vampires.
His mom would lose her shit if she knew.
Luis took a deep breath and then let it out. He hadn’t even told Cassie about what he was doing tonight, or what he’ddone two weeks ago. He hadn’t actually even told her about the drugging. It had felt… too dramatic.
Plus, if he talked about it, she’d freak out and maybe drive back to make sure he was okay, and it would fuck up her very busy school schedule, and Luis didn’t want that. He didn’t want to keep holding her back.
He’d tell her, just later. In the end he hadn’t really been hurt, so it wasn’t a big deal, right?
Luis shook off the thoughts and grabbed his kit and got out of the car.
His knock on the front door was too loud. Nervous. It took a moment, then the door unlatched.
“Luis! Good evening,” Julien smiled, stepping aside. “Please, come in.”
Luis crossed the threshold, kit in hand. He tried to project calmness. “Hey.”
