I never felt unwelcome. But everyone was already so busy with their lives, friends, and family. I’d been starting to think I was bothering everyone.
I stared down at the cookies and fought the urge to cry.
Considine slid his hand from resting on my waist to my hip. He hooked his thumb through a belt loop on my jeans, then gently squeezed me.
I finally found my voice. “That’s…that’s very kind of you.”
“I hope you enjoy them—I hope both of you enjoy them.” Mrs. Weston beamed at us. “Although now that I think of it, can vampires eat chocolate? I know dogs can’t, so I’ve assumed that means werewolves can’t.” She pursed her lips in thought as she crumpled the plastic bag in her hands.
Mrs. Weston cleared his throat. “Congratulations on your relationship,” he said with an awkwardness I sympathized with. He nodded first to Considine, then to me, before he leaned in. “Also, you two should join us sometime for a game of bridge. I’m sure it would be fun.”
Mrs. Weston peered down at her husband. “Why would two young kids want to hang around with a pair of dusty old people?”
“There’s no way the vampire isn’t older than us,” Mrs. Weston pointed out. “Which signifies Jade isn’t opposed to old-fashioned kinds of entertainment.”
“Alvin, use his name! Calling Connorthe vampireis so rude!” Mrs. Weston said.
“Actually,” Considine smiled, all charm. “My full name is Considine. I rarely use it around humans as it is so unusual.”
I glanced up at Considine, surprised he was volunteering information about himself.
He ignored me, focused on charming the older couple.
“Considine?” Mrs. Weston repeated.
Considine nodded.
“I see,” Mrs. Weston said. “How very regal!”
“I told you he was older than us,” Mr. Weston grumbled.
“So. Tell me all about it!” Mrs. Weston chortled.
For a moment, I thought she was referring to Considine’s history as a vampire, until she glanced at me and winked. “Just how did you realize you were in love with our Jade?”
“Wait!” Mr. Weston held his hand up. “No. You’re not getting the story without Elly, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“You have a point.” Mrs. Weston sighed in disappointment. “Very well. We’ll have to stop by again—with Elly.” She straightened her wool jacket, then smiled at us. “Enjoy the cookies—and good luck, Considine.” A flip of her leopard scarf, and she bustled off, heading for the elevator with Mr. Weston trailing behind her.
The elevator dinged open, and they disappeared inside. I was left standing in my doorway, holding the Tupperware container of cookies. “That really just happened,” I said.
“It did,” Considine confirmed. “But it’s not that surprising. Everyone in the building likes you.”
I shook my head. “Everyone is so nice, but…I’ve been trying so hard, I just couldn’t seem to say the right thing. But they…” I trailed off.
Considine—his thumb still tucked through the belt loop of my jeans—tugged me backwards so he could close the door. “Jade, no human in this building has ever thought badly of you. You’re the one who expects absolute perfection of yourself—perfection in your baking, in knowing what to say, in knowing how to interact with the other supernaturals on your task force. You think you fall short whenever you don’t reach that.”
“But it’s important to always strive to improve,” I said.
“It is,” Considine agreed. “If more vampires adopted that kind of mindset, they wouldn’t be so useless and prone to sleeping all the time. However. There is a difference between seeking improvement and demanding perfection.”
I stared at my door, chewing on Considine’s words as he flipped all my extra locks.
He could be right—logically I knew he was. But there was still something about it I couldn’t quite give up.
I had to be better.
“Do you want a no bake cookie?” I asked.
