She laughs, loudly, which causes me, Jack, and Sarah to erupt with laughter too.
“I think I love you Bash.”
“Well now,” Jack responds, whistling low.
“Awe!” Sarah squeals behind her, pantomiming a swoon.
“Why don't you reserve declarations of love for sober Elina?” I kiss her forehead and she pulls me against her, half across the bar.
“Ok, but I’ll still love you in the morning!” And she dances away, swaying provocatively to the music in the bar. I hope she does still love me tomorrow.
She dances back to me, spinning a little. “I forgot, we have a datal dub…no a dating dub...no adouble-dateon Sunday with Sarah and Ethan.” With that, she’s gone again. I am so entertained by this version of her, this new twist on Elina that I am excited to try and bring it out of her when she’s sober. I see her talking to a man with a hat and coat on, handing him a glass of chardonnay. He is speaking quietly and seriously. I intentionally start to listen in.
He has a French accent.
“You’re in a good mood tonight,crepuscule.” Twilight. Why is he calling my girl a nickname?
“I am.” She smiles at him and he leans in, like he is trying to get closer to her light. I don’t want to overstep when I’m not invited.
“And that’s a beautiful pendant you have on,” he tells her, pointing to the protection pendant I gave her.
“Who the fuck is this guy?” Jack asks me, eyeing the stranger.
“I’m not sure, but it’s not the first time he’s been here.”
“You’re the second Frenchman this week to comment on it. Isn’t it gorgeous? My boyfriend got it for me. He’s over there.” She waves in my general direction. Second Frenchman? Boyfriend? I'm so distracted by this new title that I forget everything else. I spiral into hope. Maybe shewillhave me.
“Is that so?” He doesn’t look in my direction. “See you soon, littlecrepuscule.”
What the hell is going on?
“Elina, get away from my customers. I can’t believe you’re drunk behind my bar,” Rian tells her lovingly, putting a steadyhand on her back. “Sebastien, can you take Elina home—I can’t have her here like this.”
“Oh no, we’re in trouble.” Jack laughs at Rian’s interruption, looking like an innocent choir boy.
“Of course, Rian. Come alongTesoro. Let's sober you up.” Since it is still early in the night, right after midnight, we have most of the next six hours to ourselves. I intend to make the most of them. “Do you want to come to the loft or go somewhere else?”
“Let’s go dance, Prince!” And off she dances into the night.
“Bash, you realize you’re one lucky man,” Jack tells me, watching Elina’s ass bounce in her skirt. Despite the fact that vampires are pretty free with our sexual encounters, I would normally be pretty defensive, jealous even. But Jack is different. If she wanted him, I don’t think I would stop her. I know his commentary is harmless unless she indicates otherwise.
I throw an arm over his shoulders, “That I do, my friend, that I do.”
“Well, I’m going to go find some sort of trouble to get into tonight, since you’re busy and I don’t think you’re going to share.”
“You know I don’t make the rules, brother. And I don’t think she’s interested.”
“Bye, Elina! You look gorgeous baby!” And Jack disappears into the night. Her laughter at his parting words fills the space around us.
Following behind her, I feel spellbound by this precious human. In the distance, there is a roll of thunder as lightning illuminates the sky above us. Just ahead of me, Elina squeaks in surprise, then laughs. A sudden downpour soaks us in minutes but instead of running for cover, Elina runs to me, taking my hand and tugging me into the street.
“Dance with me!” she yells over the rain.
Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her against my body until we feel like one person. We dance to the rhythm of the rain and I feel her heartbeat hammer against my chest. Looking down, I capture her lips with mine and kiss her with all of the feeling I have in my body. Her kiss is like electricity surging through me. It’s love. It’s summer rains and dancing in the street. It’s warm nights and home. I surrender myself to her mercy and give her all there is of me. If this were the last moment of my life, I would gladly flame out in her arms.
As the rain subsides, our dancing slows and our clinging arms relax. I feel like there is a shift between us—like we just crossed the point of no return. Spinning her slowly to hear a little more of her laughter, my senses sharpen. A shadow in the dark alley shifts and my head snaps up. My entire body tenses.
“What is it, Bash?”
