Page 74 of The Vampire and the Barista

CHAPTER 25

Jamie was humming to himself as he wiped the side down. He’d had a sudden rush of customers, but now he had a moment to wipe down and tidy up.

“You look remarkably happy today, Jamie,” Max said, walking to the counter.

Jamie turned around and grinned at him. “I am. I have a partner whom I completely love, my brother and sister are safe, and soon you, me, and Dave will be working together, with old books and manuscripts, without having to deal with the public.”

Max laughed. “Always a bonus.”

Jamie looked Max over. “Talking of happy, you’re beaming.”

“Bert is taking me out on our first date tomorrow. I’m kind of excited.”

“Only kind of?”

“Okay, very excited,” he said, grinning. “Thank you for making me see things clearer.”

“That’s what friends do. Oh, I have lunch for you again today, courtesy of Thomaz,” Jamie said, bending down, pulling a lunchbox out of his bag and handing it over.

“Thanks. Are you having lunch here?”

Jamie shook his head. “No, I finish at twelve today. I have to pop to the shops, so Ivan’s picking me up in a bit. Did you tease your man about the asylum trip?” Jamie asked, grinning.

Max laughed. “I did, and he grumped. He’s sending his brother and Ian a stupid amount of work to do to stop them from having time for fun.”

Jamie shook his head. “That’s just mean.”

“But funny.”

“Afternoon, Max, Jamie,” Lucy said, walking over and around the counter.

“Hey, Lucy,” they both replied.

“How was this morning?” she asked.

“We had a sudden rush not long ago, but apart from that, quiet,” Jamie told her.

“Are you better, Jamie? You phoned in sick yesterday?” Lucy asked.

“I wasn’t really ill, I needed the day off,” Jamie confessed.

“It happens, I worked all day yesterday, so I didn’t mind. But now it’s time for you to go.”

Jamie laughed, took his apron off and picked up his bag. “In that case, I shall depart. Have fun this afternoon.”

“We will,” Max said. “Have fun shopping.”

Jamie laughed. “I will.”

With a final wave, Jamie walked out of the library humming to himself. He couldn’t believe he could actually shop without having to worry about where he would find the money. He also couldn’t believe Ivan was a billionaire, that all the vampires were, but it would make sense, what kind of vampire would want to live forever broke?

He was walking down the street, not paying attention to anything, when he was shoved sideways into an alleyway. He went crashing into a wall, his bag falling to the ground. “What the hell!” he exclaimed, straightening up and turning to look and see what had happened. “Dad,” he gasped.

“Did you think ignoring my calls would stop me?” his father demanded.

“I spoke to you last night, remember, or were you too drunk to remember?”

His father loomed over him. “Where are they?” he demanded.