Page 61 of Vampire Pack

"This is a fucking mess," he said.

"Isn't our life always?"

He chuckled, and we got out of the car.

His arm went back around my shoulder, and I tucked myself close to his side again as we headed into the crowd.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

carmen

Two hours later, all four of us were sprawled out on the couches in the pack's living room.

"That was kind of fun," Jude remarked. "Other than the part where I was rejected by the woman of my dreams."

Hollis smacked him on the arm.

King threw a pillow at him.

I threw a second pillow, hitting him directly in the face with it.

"Don't fuck around with Mallory," King grumbled at him. "She's pack now."

"Packmates should supply each other with their delicious blood, don't you⁠—"

Hollis cut him off by whacking his face with one of the pillows we'd just thrown.

"Ow. Alright. I get it. I'll ease up."

None of us pointed out that he hadn't agreed to leave her completely alone. There was no point. Jude would do whatever he decided to do.

He looked at Hollis. "What happened with you and Paige? That didn't look promising."

He grimaced, and his face reddened. I'd never seen him blush before. That was new.

"I don't fucking know. She started a conversation. I tried to talk to her about dance. Somehow, it went to hell. She left pissed."

Jude sighed dramatically. "We have got to get you in classes for this. Maybe we should suggest it to the university. How to talk to hot women when you're an awkward, sexy hockey player. People would sign up."

"One person would," King drawled.

"I should probably apologize to her. Maybe I'll bring flowers or something," Hollis said.

"Chocolate," I corrected. "Bring chocolate. You can't go wrong with chocolate."

"You say that, but there are ways to go wrong. What if I brought milk, and she only wants dark? What if she was allergic to nuts, but the whole box was contaminated? What if I showed up to drop it off, and accidentally offended her again? Or⁠—"

I interrupted him. "Take a breath. I know Paige. She loves all kinds of chocolate, and she's not allergic to anything. Just admit that you have a hard time talking to attractive women, apologize for unintentionally being an asshole, and give her the chocolates."

"Then leave before you can say something stupid again," Jude added.

Hollis nodded.

"Anyone up for a movie?" Jude asked. "I had much higher hopes for the way tonight was going to go."

I didn't ask if his hopes had to do with Mallory.

Some things were better left unsaid.