My best friend and her monster-romance obsession.
I’ve read several of her book recommendations, though. And, well, I get it. However, I would never admit that to her out loud.
Nor have I ever confided in her about my dreams.
I simply keep telling her that this project is for academic purposes, not personal ones.
She doesn’t believe me.
That’s fine. I don’t believe my motivations most days, either.
Hey, it’s stupid early here, so I’m going back to bed. I just wanted to make sure you haven’t been eaten by a vampire yet.
I huff a laugh and shake my head again.Go back to reading, G.Because we both know she’s not actually sleeping. She was probably up all night with a book.
Let me know when you find your vampire. I need to know if his dick glitters.
I send her a sun emoji, then set my phone down to stare at my computer screen. It’s… way too late to try to recount my journey here. I’ll just do it in the morning.
After I get some much-needed sleep.
And food, I think, my stomach rumbling as I put my laptop away.
I can’t remember the last time I ate. I don’t even really know what time it is, either. Just that it’s late here. Although, Bra?ov appeared to be very much awake when I parked my car on a nearby street.
Grabbing my bag and room key, I put on my shoes and leave to explore the main plaza outside my hotel. There are numerous places to eat, along with a myriad of people wandering about.
But I pause to just… admire the view.
It’s nothing like Columbus, Ohio—where I’ve lived my entire life. It’s flat there. Busy in a different way than this, especially on campus. And just… freer. Maybe it’s the nearby mountainscape, or the fresh air, or the fact that I don’t know a single person here. However, I feel liberated. Like I’m entering a new world.
I stare up at the city name built into the mountainside, my lips curling into a smile. The letters are lit up for everyone to see, creating a stunning sight that I merely admire for a few moments before shifting focus to my food options.
Most of the places are still open, and a quick search on my phone says they don’t close for another hour or so. Seems the area caters to late-night meals. Or maybe ten is normal here. I’m not sure. That wasn’t part of my research preparations, but I make a mental note to look it up later.
Entering a place only a few yards from my hotel, I request a table and then peruse the menu. It’s all foreign. Not surprising, considering where I am.
Fortunately, my phone helps me translate, and I eventually settle on some sort of meat dish. “Good choice,” says a male voice to my left, shortly after the waiter leaves.
I blink at the tall man, wondering if he’s talking to me.
Given that his dark eyes are locked on mine, I assume he is, so I reply, “Er, thank you.”
He smiles, allowing me a glimpse of matching dimples on each pale cheek. “Want some suggestions for dessert?” he asks, his accented voice warm and a little too alluring.
I can only imagine what Gaby would be saying right now. She’d probably be cheering me on, demanding I mix business with pleasure, and blah, blah, blah.
But I’m not her. She’s confident. Beautiful. Goes after what she wants.
Meanwhile, I date fellow graduate students, none of whom have ever held my interest for long.
However, this stranger smiling down at me doesn’t know any of that.
And he’s still waiting for a reply.
“Sure,” I force out, wanting to appease my inner Gaby-inspired voice.
The handsome male slips into the chair across from me and drags his fingers through his silver-blond hair, the ends of which touch his muscular shoulders.
