“Alright, boys. Let’s get you settled in, and then I’ve got lasagna in the oven for you.” Mom rounds the back of the rental car, popping the trunk to start grabbing our belongings.
Kip and I exchange a horrified look when she isn’t paying attention. Fuckity shitballs…we didn’t think about the fact that Kip is a vampire and can’t fucking eat human food! Mom is going to be hurt if he doesn’t eat…
I move in to whisper in Kip’s ear. “You’re gonna have to take one for the team, baby. If you don’t eat her lasagna she’s going to be devastated.”
Kip blanches. “But if I do I’m gonna get sick!”
“We’ll figure something out for future meals, but for tonight, you’re going to have to suck it up.”
“Are you going to make me unload this car by myself?” Mom calls out impatiently.
“Sorry.” I mouth to Kip, heading towards the trunk to help unload.
“You’ll owe me for this one!” Kip hisses, before joining me.
Our first week in Willowhaven flies by. We get settled in with Mom, sign a lease on the building for the gym, and start working on getting it set up.
Kip is absolutely enamored with the quaint town. Each place we go,he buzzes with excitement. He can’t get over the fact that places like this are real, not just something from TV and movies. It’s endearing, and makes me see the magic of my hometown again.
Kip sits on the bench next to me at the diner. He can’t eat the food, but he still wanted me to bring him here to see one of the town’s staples. It’s one of only three restaurants in town.
The diner, as most of the town calls it, is actually named Rosie’s. Rosie and her husband, George, opened it back in the fifties. They’re gone now, passed away several years ago, but now their granddaughter Beth runs it. It’s largely stayed the same since it opened. Updates here and there, but all of them preserved the original fifties style of the place, down to the black and white checkered floors and red vinyl booths.
Luckily, Mom has been busy for lunch and dinners since that first night, so Kip only had to eat one meal. He was not happy afterwards, poor guy. He was throwing up all night, crying ‘never again’. We’ve got to find a solution for the whole ‘eating’ problem.
Kip is telling me about his ideas for the gym, and I’m lifting a bite of syrupy and delicious chocolate chip pancake to my mouth when my eyes lock with someone’s across the diner.
My mouth is open, and I know the syrup is dripping everywhere, but I’m frozen. Panic, fear, and nausea flood my gut.
Jeremy makes a beeline for our table, leaving behind the woman and child he was with. The woman, who I’m now realizing is Hannah, a popular girl from high school, shoots a confused look at Jeremy. And then her eyes trail over to me, recognition lighting up like a bulb in them.
Kip pauses what he was saying. “Sweetheart?” He turns to look over his shoulder, his brows furrowing as he looks at Jeremy moving towards us.
Jeremy pulls to a stop at our table, scuffing his shoes on the worn tile floor. “Hi, Charlie.”
I drop my fork, syrup flinging in droplets over the table and my shirt. Fuck, keep it together. He has no power over you anymore, remember?
“Hey, I’m Kip. Charlie’s boyfriend. And you are…?” Kip pipes in, realizing that I’m not going to say anything.
“Oh, uhh…” Jeremy rubs the back of his neck nervously. “I’m Jeremy…I’m sure you don’t know who I am, but Charlie and I went to high school together.”
Kip stiffens, throwing his arm protectively around my shoulders. “I know exactly who you are,Jeremy.”
Jeremy blanches. “Ahh…ummm…listen, can I please sit? I have something I want to say…”
“Actually, no, you have nothing to say to Charlie. Ever.” Kip nods in the direction of Hannah and the kid. “And I’m pretty sure your wife and child are waiting for you, so you should probably go and fuck off.”
Jeremy’s gaze darts over to Hannah, and then back to me. “Please, Charlie. Just give me one minute, that’s all I want. One minute of your time, and then I promise I’ll leave you alone.”
I look at Jeremy, really look at him for the first time, and I’m taken aback by his drastic change in appearance. He’s changed a lot since high school. His once wavy brown hair is now basically non-existent, just a few wisps left behind on his otherwise bald head. He’s got a beer belly now, and his brown eyes are rimmed with red, dark bags underneath.
“Fine.” I grit out. “One minute, and then you go.”
“T-thank you, really. Thank you so much.” Jeremy’s body sags with relief.
“Are you sure, baby?” Kip whispers in my ear.
I nod. “I’m not doing this for you, Jeremy. I’m doing this for me. For closure.” I gesture to the booth across from us. “Now sit down, take your minute, and then leave so Kip and I can get on with our lunch.”
