Page 88 of The Vampire and the Barista

“Thanks, Matt.”

AJ and Owen walked over and sat down with the others. Matt kept looking over at Adrian, who caught his eye each time and smiled the barkeeper’s way.

“See something you like?” Owen asked Adrian quietly.

Adrian nodded. “The fates have been good to me. I was too exhausted to take much notice of anything the last time I was here. If I had known he was my mate, I would have come back sooner.”

“Congratulations,” AJ said. “I take it, Matt doesn’t know yet?”

Adrian shook his head. “No, not yet.”

Matt carried the tray of drinks over and started handing them out. “These four are for the others when they arrive,” he said, looking at Adrian. “Forgive me for saying, but you look better than you did the last time you were here.”

Adrian smiled at him. “I am, thank you and thank you for your help.”

Matt blushed a little. “I didn’t do much.”

“Can you join us, Matt?” AJ asked.

“Unfortunately, I need to go and change a barrel and bring up another crate of booze.”

“Do you need any help?” Adrian asks him.

Matt touched his shoulder. “I’ve got this. Enjoy your drink.”

“Adrian,” he said.

Matt smiled. “Adrian.” And with what looked like reluctance, Matt walked back towards the bar, glancing over his shoulder, blushing and walking through a door.

Adrian watched his every move until Matt disappeared through the door.

“Go and say something to him,” Jamie urged him.

Adrian sighed. “I’m away a lot, it wouldn’t be fair to him. Plus, how do I explain I’m a vampiric witch doctor?”

“How about, ‘Hey Matt, the fates thought we’d make the perfect couple, by the way, I’m a vampire and a witch doctor’?” Owen suggested.

There were chuckles around the table, and Adrian gave a small laugh. He was saved from answering when the pub door opened, and Taha and Shelby walked in, followed by Luke and Hunter.

Gavin sprang up and walked over to Hunter as Taha spotted Owen and made his way over to him.

“Jamie, Adrian, this is Shelby and Luke, they work with Hunter and Taha,” AJ introduced.

Shelby plonked himself down in front of them both. “Are you both, you know whats?”

“I am a vampire, yes,” Adrian replied.

“Plus, you know a witch doctor,” Jamie put in.

“For real?” Luke asked, sitting next to Shelby.

“Yep.”

They looked at Jamie.

“I’m just a pesky human that can apparently see ghosts,” Jamie told them. “Mind you, I’ve only seen one, and that was at a lunatic asylum.”

“Seriously?” Luke asked. “We need to come on some adventures.”