“What I mean is, I see Jericho differently. He and I… we’ve realized what we mean to each other, and I think we’re more than friends now. He’s my… boyfriend.” Excitement flutters in my belly saying that out loud, but it feelsright.Jericho might think it’s fast after only one kiss, but no. We’ve been building to this for years. “Or we’re heading there anyway. I can feel it. I really care about him. More than I ever realized.”
Mom pulls my hand closer. “Oh, honey. Do you really think I’m surprised?”
I whip my head up. “You should be, because I sure as hell am!”
She chuckles. “Maybe a little, but I’ve always seen how close you two are. It’s deeper than normal friendships, which is something I’ve always wanted for you.” She hesitates, before brushing some hair away. “Besides, I don’t think you would have spent so much time, energy, and money looking for him if you didn’t love him.”
I blink hard. Did she really see it before me? Andlove?Do IloveJericho? As more than a best friend?
“You’re really okay with it?”
She pulls away, taking a deep breath. “The only reservation I have is because of what he is, not that he’s a man. I’ve seen the dark side of vampires, and it just scares me to think of what he might do. I mean, you saw him tonight. You saw how close he was to losing control. If Grant hadn’t been there…”
“He could’ve shoved Grant away and he didn’t,” I say quickly. “He has more control than you think.”
“Are you sure of that? You hardly know him like this, Evan.”
When I say nothing, she tilts her head like only a concerned mother can. The look that says, “You know I’m right.” I want to hate her for it, because deep down, I know she is. Jerichowasbarely in control tonight, and that scared me. But seeing him hurt? Seeing him in pain? That scared me even more.
If nothing else, tonight is a reminder that Jericho and I need to have a serious conversation.
“You’re my son, Evan,” Mom says softly. “I will always worry about you.”
I give her a side hug before pulling her in for a bigger one. I squeeze her hard, pleading with her to understand. “I trust him. I always have. Whatever happens, I know he won’t hurt me, because he cares for me just as much as I care about him.”Maybe even loves me.
She pulls back to search my eyes. “Then I’ll try to trust him too. Just be careful, okay?”
“I will.” I get up and head to the door. “I’ll let you sleep. See you in the morning?”
She looks at the pillows, then the mug of steaming tea. “Or in two days, if I have any say in it.”
I laugh. “Love you.”
“Love you too, hon.”
I close the door behind me then head straight back downstairs in search of Jericho. When I reach the medic room, I come to an abrupt stop. It’s empty, except for Red who is mixing some sort of creamy goop in a bowl.
“Where’s Jer?”
Red looks up, then smiles at me “He went to take a shower.” He tips his head toward the door across the hall.
My cheeks burn, and I quickly avert my eyes. Yet, slowly, my attention drifts to the bathroom door. Jericho’s in there? Naked?
Fuck me…
“Feel free to join him,” Red teases. “I wouldn’t judge.”
“Oh, I don’t know that he’d… I mean, I don’t know if we’re… ” I stammer, backing away. “I’ll just wait for him out there.”
“Suit yourself,” he says.
I turn on my heel to leave the room, but when I reach the stairs, I think better of it. The truth is, I want to see him. I need to. Honestly, I’d love to climb in the shower with Jericho, just to hold him. Especially after the stress of the morning.
But this isn’t how I wanted it to be when we touched each other for the first time. Not with Jericho’s leg all torn to pieces and possibly still dripping blood. He needs to heal first. And we need to talk. Like,really talk. Because deep down, I know my mom is right. I reallydon’tknow Jericho in this form at all.
IwantJericho. I know I do. But am I truly okay with all of this? With him? He’s a fucking vampire! He survives onblood! And let’s not forget the people he’s killed, all because he wasn’t in control. Was he really in control today, or was Grant the one holding him back? He could’ve easily thrown Grant aside and come after me, but… he didn’t. And I don’t know how much of that was because of Grant, or himself.
The truth is, if he did come after me, there was little I could do to stop him aside from aiming my gun at him. I couldn’t do that. No matter what happens, I couldnotshoot Jericho.
