Tim runs a hand through his hair, looking distressed. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be insensitive. I don’t want to break up.’
I humph and look away.
He says more softly, ‘You mean a lot to me, Sadie.’
‘We’ve been seeing each other casually. It’s hardly a committed relationship,’ I say weakly.
But it is nice to have a convenient blood source upstairs. And he’s not bad in bed either.
Tim takes off his apron and hangs it on the back of a kitchen chair. The frown is gone and has been replaced by a look of mild apprehension. ‘What I’m about to say will hopefully change that. I was going to do this during dinner, but since you’re taking dinner with you ...’ He dives into his suit trouser pocket and drops down onto one knee.
Oooh, wow. Shit!
‘Sadie Bouffant, I love you. Will you marry me?’ Tim beseeches.
I gaze at the red velvet box he’s presenting. It contains a diamond ring and not a cheap one either by the looks of it. He makes good money doing whatever he does in his suits, so he can afford it.
I swallow and kick myself for not breaking up with him sooner. Even if I did have feelings for him, there’s no way I can marry him. He doesn’t even know I’m a vampire.
‘That’s a lovely gesture, Tim. But I’m sorry, my answer is no,’ I state.
‘Just like that? You won’t even think about it?’ His frown is back.
‘You’re a great guy, Tim, and I like you a lot. But I won’t make you happy…’
‘Youdomake me happy!’ he says emphatically.
‘I’m a free spirit. I hate being tied down ...’
‘You’re just afraid—’
I can’t help laughing at that. Me, afraid! I’m not afraid. He has no idea who I am. I can slam a grown man against the wall.
Tim leaps to his feet and shoves the ring back in his pocket. ‘You think this is a joke?’ he says angrily. ‘That my feelings are a joke?’
‘I don’t,’ I say hurriedly. ‘It was just—’
‘Get out,’ he says. ‘I don’t know why I’m even bothering. You have no feelings for me. You’re a stone-cold freak.’
Pain stabs my unbeating heart. Ouch, OK, that hurt. I growl softly in the back of my throat. I’ve a good mind to show this human some manners. But I rein myself in. Tim is a nice person in general, and he’s only lashing out because he’s upset. He doesn’t deserve to be ripped to shreds for that.
‘You need to go out with someone else and forget about me,’ I force myself to say gently. ‘I’m only going to end up hurting you.’
Tim looks at me and doesn’t reply.
‘Thanks for the clothes. I’ll make sure that—’
‘Your cousin can keep them,’ Tim interrupts gruffly.
‘Well, OK. Thanks.’ I take a stepbackwards. ‘Goodbye, Tim. I’m sorry.’
He stares at me morosely while the the coq au vin bubbles away on the stove. From the smell of it, I do think it’s actually burning now. But I don’t comment, just leave.
As I walk towards the front door, I spot a red Walkman lying on the sideboard and put that on top of the Tupperware container. Tim can easily buy another one, and I’m sure Elliott will appreciate having some music to listen to.
After managing to get out of Tim’s flat with all his stuff, I lean against the wall and close my eyes. Fuck, that was awkward. Why did Tim have to go and propose right then and there? It’s completely my fault. I shouldn’t have let it go as far as it did. I knew he was thinking along those lines. But I wanted to keep enjoying myself, and it was nice to have him pursuing me. Now I’m not going to see him again. Ever. Unless I bump into him in the stairwell or the entranceway or outside ... Hmm, I think I need to call a flat meeting. We’re going to have to move.
Chapter 13
