“Ugh, you’re right. It didn’t sound whiney and pretentious enough. Not believable at all.” Tyson gnaws on his bottom lip. “Maybe this trope is too played out anyhow. I mean, wouldn’t it be more poetic if you just ghosted him, like he ghosted you those other times?”
I want to laugh right in Tyson’s smug fucking face. He obviously doesn’t know about our bond. It’s not something that we chose. We’re literally connected by some mystical woo-woo shit. I guarantee that Kip’s will tug at him and help him find me, just like mine helped me find him. It’s only a matter of time. But I’d rather keep that little tidbit to myself, let it surprise Tyson.
Instead, I go with diversion. “You’re really obsessed with him, huh?”
Tyson balks, but then quickly deflates. “You caught me, alright? I’m in love with him. And it’s about fucking time he finds out about it. I’ve been waiting for him to fucking notice me, but all he ever wanted was to clap randos he met at the club. Never me. And then, the kicker is that he meets you and suddenly he’s monogamous? How is that fair? It should be me, not you. I waited for him to figure it out for himself, but he’s too dimwitted, so now I have to force it along.”
“The funny thing is, I told him you were in love with him.” I laugh, a mean, vicious thing. “It’s so fucking obvious, but he didn’t believe it. So, really, how did you ever expect him to notice you? You were his best friend, and that’s all you were ever going to be…that is, until you fucking blew it.”
“I didn’t fucking blow it!” Tyson roars, standing up and knockinghis chair over in the process. “This is all your fault. And that stupid cat of his. It was all going the way I wanted it to, before the two of you came along and fucked it up!”
The asshole part of me wants to keep riling him up, wants to see how far I can push him. But the self-preservation in me says woah, we need to slow down because he’s a vampire and could snap me like a twig.
I’m not ready to die today.
“Okay, okay. Let’s relax. So, you get rid of me…what then? Well, actually, is your plan to like kill me…or do I get another chance here?” Not that I’d really take the chance, if it meant that I had to let Kip go. Life isn’t worth living without him. But maybe I can make Tyson think I’m going along with it? Just until he lets me go and then I can go to Kip and get this all sorted out.
Tyson huffs. “Look, I’m not heartless, alright? I don’t reallywantto kill you. I just want Kip. You’re the one making me go this far. But, that doesn’t mean I won’t kill you if it gets me what I want.”
“I get it, Tyson. Kip is special. Obviously. I mean, we both fell for him, right?”
Tyson growls. “Don’t.”
I hold my hands up in placation. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just saying I understand where you’re coming from.”
“God, what does he even see in you? You’re so fucking obnoxious. You know that thing I literally just said about not killing you? You’re making me want to take it back.”
Okay so clearly Tyson is unhinged. He gets mad when I’m sympathetic, he gets mad when I needle him. I mean, seriously, what does he want from me? You know, besides my disappearance from Kip’s life. Which is not going to happen.
“I’ve got it!” Tyson cackles. “He thinks he’s in love with you, right? Well, I’ll make him choose your safety. He’ll break up with you to keep you away from me, and then I can swoop in and have him all to myself!”
My jaw drops. “Uhh, you’re really delusional, aren’t you? You really believe that by forcing him to break up with me, it’ll end with the two of you riding off into the sunset? Are you fucking nuts?”
“It’s brilliant, really.” Tyson taps his chin, not acknowledging me at all. “Before you, there was only me. Once you’re gone, I’ll be all he hasagain. Then I’ll finally get my chance.” Tyson pulls out my phone again, holding the bright screen to my face to unlock with facial recognition. “Here we go: ‘Kip, help. Meet me in the basement of Blood Rose. Hurry.’” His smile is maniacal. “Yes, that’s right. We’ll keep it simple. Aaaaand send.”
“I’m not sure how Kip thought you were a normal guy for all those years.” I mutter, shaking my head. Tyson has officially lost it. Or maybe he never had it to begin with.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Kip
Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun
My phone buzzes on the nightstand, waking me up. Groaning, I pat around the bed, looking for Charlie. My hands meet cold, empty sheets. Huh.
“Baby?” I call out, only to be met with Nacho’s meowing. “Hey, buddy, where’s your other dad?”
Meow.
I squint open my eyes, the room barely illuminated by the rising sun. No Charlie in sight. What time is it?
When I grab my phone, I’m met with a text.
Charlie: Kip, help. Meet me in the basement of Blood Rose. Hurry.
What the fuck? I’m awake now. Why would Charlie be at the Blood Rose? And in the basement, no less? My blood run cold at the thought of Charlie being in that basement, where I spent so much time alone in the dark. There’s no reason for him to be there. And if he really is, that’s not good.
I struggle out of bed, tangled up in the sheets, and then hop around the room quickly throwing on clothes.
