Karim quickly countered with CAD for 28 points.
“Two more wins and we’ll be even,” Luis said, in reference to their official record. He had letters now for SAVAGE, and fit it off of Karim’s CAD. With the double-letter points, Luis soared into the lead.
Karim hunched over his phone, scowling now, and Luis soaked it in. The board was getting full, so it would be harder for him to fit something viable in.
“Not so cocky now, huh?” Luis gloated.
“I’m plenty cocky,” Karim said, eyes flickering up briefly.
Luis rolled his eyes so he wouldn’t have a more telling reaction. Karim chuckled and then sank his attention into the screen. He was competitive and a sore loser, and that was most of the fun of beating him.
Luis reached for his drink while he waited, but found it empty. He turned to wave down the bar, but before he could, a man slid into the seat beside Luis.
He had what looked like another dragon fruit spritz in hand, and offered it to Luis.
“I asked the bartender what you were drinking.” The man said with an easy smile. “Looked like you could use another.”
Luis blinked in surprise. The man now beside him was handsome, human, and older than Luis by maybe a decade. He had shaggy blonde hair and a beard. The glasses he was wearing gave him a strong hipster or teacher vibe.
“Oh, uh, thanks,” Luis said awkwardly. This had never happened to him before.
The man held his hand out. “Eric.”
“Luis,” Luis said, taking his hand so he wouldn’t be rude. He didn’t understand what was happening.
“Karim,” came a growl from across the table. Karim was now glaring Eric down.
Eric’s gaze slid Karim’s way just for a moment, and Luis saw him make the quick assessment. It wasn’t difficult to clock Karim as a vampire, especially in a vampire bar. There was a certain vibe that vampires gave off that made humans aware when they were in their presence. Luis imagined it was the same thing humans felt being in the presence of a lion or tiger. Some animal sense that there was a predator nearby, and you should keep your eye on it.
“Nice to meet you,” Eric said, a touch too dry. Then he, surprisingly, discarded Karim entirely and turned back to Luis. “I know you’re here with friends, but I was hoping that maybe you were single,” Eric said. His teeth were white and blocky and perfectly symmetrical.
Luis stared at him. He’d been coming out with Julien and Karim for so long, but this was the first time he’d ever been approached by anyone. Usually, the presence of two vampires scared people off.
Then Luis remembered what was different tonight–the shirt.The damn shirt.
Luis had had a few illicit experiences with random guys in college, but that was the extent of his experience being hit on or dating. Until a year ago he’d been living with his mother, and bringing a guy home there…hell fucking no.
So, he didn’t know what to do with this here and now.
“Oh. Uh. Yeah, I am. Single.” Luis eventually managed to get out.
Eric’s smile widened. Wow, those were some perfect teeth. Who had a smile like that?
Eric leaned closer. “Great. Do you think I could get your number?”
“He’s here with us,” Karim interjected, voice so cold Luis felt it shiver up his spine.
“I’m the DD,” Luis said quickly to clarify. He wasn’t sure if it was an apology or an excuse. He didn’t know how to feel about what was happening.
But Eric only nodded, as though Karim’s rudeness hadn’t at all phased him. “Yeah, of course. Hey, I don’t want to mess up a good night out, I know how it is. I just saw you across the bar and knew I had to at least take a shot. Here.” Out of his pocket, Eric pulled a cocktail napkin. On it was a clearly written phone number.
“For when you’re off the clock.” Eric paired this with a wink. Luis flushed harder.
“Oh. Okay. Thanks,” Luis said awkwardly, he could feel Karim’s frosty stare.
Then Eric was getting up, easy as anything. “Have a good evening, Luis. I look forward to hearing from you.”
“You too!” Luis managed to get out before Eric disappeared back into the bar crowd. Then he let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
