We weren't the only ones who'd had bad days. “Sorry for being late and..." He motioned to his rumpled suit. "Like this. My uncle’s office is a mess. I've no idea how he did business in that kind of chaos, but before I open it, I need to get it organized. Being the only law office in town means there’s a lot of pressure to get it open as soon as possible.”
“It’s okay,” I told him and meant it. “Please don't worry about something like that. We’re all a mess, especially today, and there’s a reason we have so many late-night gatherings.”
Carol shot me a look filled with gratitude.
Bryan held up a small cooler. “Uh, would it be okay if I put this in your fridge?” The shame in his eyes broke my heart.
“Absolutely. Feel free to fill a glass. We’re doing red wine tonight, so you’ll blend right in.”
His entire body stiffened, and he looked around the room, then at Daniel. Shifters and vampires famously don’t get along. “Are you sure?”
"Positive. In fact, if you ever need to store some here, feel free."
Bryan's face relaxed a bit, but his gaze stayed on Daniel.
Daniel rose and walked over to me, while Bryan shrank back, looking scared in a way that made tears gather at the corners of my eyes. When Daniel reached him, he thumped Bryan on the shoulder. ”I’ll help you clear some room in the fridge and get you a glass. You’re lucky your stuff is so easy. When I go bear and catch fish, the whole thing is a big mess. Emma wouldn’t be so nice about me dragging my wet, messy dinner through this house.”
Before he led Bryan to the kitchen, Bryan's face turned into shock. As though there wasn’t a world where he imagined people would be okay with him bringing blood to a party and openly drinking it. Bryan better get used to it. If things continued the way they were going with Carol, she and Bryan would be married before too long, and he’d be part of the family. Fangs, blood, and all. As long as he was good to her, he’d never have to feel uncomfortable with us. Not for being a vampire anyway. We had a way of making people feel uncomfortable for completely different reasons.
I headed to the kitchen where Carol handed me a glass of wine and gave me a tight hug, showing me her gratitude for our treatment of Bryan without saying a word. Deva unpacked an array of tasty-looking dishes. We helped her carry them to the living room table, spreading them out for everyone to grab a piece.
Henry arrived with the remote to his gaming system in one hand and his headphones pulled off of one ear. He opened the fridge and stared in. “What’s in the cooler?”
“I-it’s mine,” Bryan stammered. “I can take it out.”
“It’s his blood, for when he gets hungry,” I told Henry. Henry was fine with all types of supernaturals, but he wasn’t the smoothest, so I held my breath, hoping for the best.
Henry reached in and pulled out a bottle of water. “Okay, cool. Hang out as long as you want. Alice and I are playing an epic campaign against the Trolls of Aggathayra, so we’ll be busy until late.”
“Thanks,” I told him.
Every time I worried I was cramping his style since coming home, he proved me wrong. He genuinely seemed to like having me here. Even with Daniel and my friends. As long as nobody touched him unnecessarily, which they never did, Henry had been the best.
Daniel and I sat on the couch together, and the others gathered around the living room table. Deva sat on the floor. Carol and Bryan snuggled together in one of our oversized chairs, and Beth sat beside us on the couch. Everyone hit their drinks hard, blood or wine, at least until we wine drinkers were feeling a decent buzz.
Daniel reached for a macaroon, but Deva stopped him. “Wait, these are all special.”
Beside me, Daniel groaned. “Can’t a bear just have some food?”
Bryan laughed, then looked embarrassed.
“This guy gets it,” Daniel said, then leaned forward and gave him a high five.
Bryan looked giddy, like a new kid asked to sit with the cool kids. Later on, I was going to hug Daniel extra hard. Maybe give him a little more than that. Wink, wink.
He'd been one of the cool kids growing up, yet he’d always been kind. Now, with Bryan, it was no different.
Deva went on to explain each of the dishes on the table, including their magical abilities. Some were intentionally made, she explained, some were accidental, but still fun.
Carol smiled, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “I have something I’ve been working on.” She stood and took a few steps back, then raised her hands in the air. Her magic filled the room, shimmering and sparkling like tiny stars had come down from the night sky.
Bryan gaped at her, but we were all watching in awe. She brought her hands together, and a light spread across the room. A faint smell of cinnamon filled the air, and lights exploded all around us. Like fireworks, but when one exploded right beside my hand, there was no burning. It was all illusion.
We oohed and aahed until the show finished, then we clapped. Carol took a bow and then sat neatly down. Bryan pulled her into his lap.
"Okay, these were a failed recipe, but if you only eat one bite the effects only last for a minute or two." She grinned mischievously at the group. "Anybody brave enough?"
I sprang to my feet. "Give 'em."
