Page 72 of The Vampire and the Barista

CHAPTER 24

Ivan closed the door to his bedroom, pulling Jamie into his arms and hugging him tight, burying his nose in Jamie’s hair.

They left Karl and Kitty playing computer games with Jack, with strict instructions to go to bed at ten. Spencer was having his evening chat with Stefan.

“Hey now, what’s this?” Jamie asked him, wrapping his arms around Ivan.

“I thought I’d lost you,” Ivan said, not lifting his head.

“I’m right here, you didn’t lose me. If anyone should be upset, it’s me.”

Ivan lifted his head and looked at him, confusion on his face. “You?”

Jamie nodded, trying to look serious. “Not only did I get jipped in the no super abilities department, but I can’t even live out my secret fantasy of being a witch.”

Ivan chuckled. “Sorry?”

Jamie tried to scowl. “Why did you phrase that as a question?”

Ivan laughed. “No reason, sweetheart.”

“It’s a good job I think you’re cute and love you, isn’t it?”

Ivan moved his hands and cupped Jamie’s cheeks, smiling a happy, joyful smile. “Just as I love you, my darling.”

“How about we stop the whole talking thing and you ravish me. After our love declaration, ravishing has to happen.”

Ivan’s smile got wider. “Yes, why don’t I?” he replied, dipping his head and kissing Jamie, as he stripped them both before carrying Jamie to bed and totally and completely ravishing him.

It was the ringing of his phone that woke Jamie. He quietly groaned as he gently untangled himself from Ivan, who was snoring his head off. Considering it was still dark outside, he wasn’t surprised. He should still be sleeping, but he had to find his ringing phone before it woke Ivan. He followed the sound and found it in his discarded jeans pocket.

He saw his father’s name flash up, just as the phone stopped. It started ringing again almost instantly. Jamie rushed into the bathroom, pushing the door closed behind him and answered his phone.

“What do you want? It’s the middle of the night.”

“Where are they?” His father demanded.

“Who?” Jamie asked, feigning innocence.

“Those two wastes of space,” his father said, slurring his words.

“I don’t know any waste of spaces, so I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

“Your useless siblings. Where are they? You took them, I know you did.”

“Why, missing your punching bags?”

“Listen here, you little shit, bring them back now, or you’ll find out what I can really do.”

“That will never happen. Don’t call again, because I won’t answer.” With that, Jamie hung up and put his phone on silent. Straight away, his phone rang again, his father’s name showing, but Jamie just ignored it.

He leant against the sink. Why did his father want Karl and Kitty back home? Maybe he should have asked while his father was on the phone. it couldn’t just be so he could hit them again, could it?

Jamie sighed. Karl and Kitty were never going back to the parents; if needed, he would go to court and apply for full custody of them. But if they looked at his finances to see if he could afford to look after them properly, would having no money mean they would be sent home, or worse, into care? Would only being their half-brother affect his chances of getting full custody? Maybe it was best if he didn’t involve the courts.

He also had no idea how he was going to afford new school uniforms, and all the other bits they needed for school, and pay for his car to be fixed.

He literally had no idea what he was going to do.