4 Vamp Versus Vamp (10 page)

Mel was fifty-fifty. There was a chance they could connect and things would work out perfectly, but there was also the risk that his body would reject her. She’d been with a human before, so there was a chance that her genetics were pre-wired based off that, or it could be that the transformation gave her a clean slate. I knew she regretted being with Ben, but when you’re young, you live in the moment. Repercussions aren’t considered. The idea that you may not be with the same person years from then isn’t conceivable.

“Well. I feel like a speck of dirt on the floor. Sorry, chica.” Gabi placed a soft hand on Mel’s back and rubbed gentle circles. “Take it from me when I say everything happens for a reason. We don’t quite understand it at first, but everything works out the way it’s supposed to. If you’re meant to be, then things will work.”

Craig reached between the
console
of the car and linked his hand with Mel’s. He didn’t say anything, but was silently offering her all the comfort and strength he could. That one move told me just how much Mel meant to him; he was a male who wasn’t getting laid yet was still completely devoted to his girl. That alone spoke volumes. It was said that if a man really cared,
he’d wait. He’d continue to be with you, even if there was a chance he’d never experience that part of you, because he loved you enough, because his connection to you was deep enough, strong enough without the physical union mixed in.

Chapter 10

When we arrived back at Mel’s house, her dad was waiting. Craig and Jack put away the shopping bags from the mall and what groceries were hers while we made the popcorn.

“Mind if I use the kitchen, Mr. Hartford?” I asked.

“Of course not, Lexi. I know things were different when she was around, but you don’t have to walk on eggshells with me.
Mi casa es su casa
.”

It wasn’t lost on me that he didn’t say her name, or that he got a faraway look in his eyes when he said
she
either. I knew he felt a loss; after all, she was the mother of his children, and, from what Mel had told me, the love of his life.

“Thanks.” He nodded before walking away.

I stuffed a bag of popcorn into the microwave and started it. I opened a cupboard and pulled out a small pan. I set it on the stove and poured a cup of sugar in the bottom, followed by half a cup of water. Turning the stove on low, I grabbed a wooden spoon and began to stir the ingredients patiently for a minute before allowing the mixture to sit and start bubbling on its own.

“Gabi, will you please pour all these packets into a cup or bowl for me?” I struggled to remove ten condiment packets of blood from my pocket for her.

“Sure.”

“Um, I’ll be in the living room sipping my human drink and setting up the movie.” Mel gagged at the sight of the blood dribbling into a bowl. At the restaurant, I’d discreetly mixed it into my salsa and poured it on my tacos like hot sauce.

Gabi and I chuckled together as she left the room, disgusted. I knew I would have reacted the same in her shoes, but as a vamp, I saw blood as my life source.

Gabi had all the packets emptied into the bowl in no time. I turned the stove off the simmering sugar. Carefully, I emptied the blood into the pot. I grabbed some cream from the fridge and dropped a splash of it into the sauce. I immediately began mixing the ingredients together, turning the concoction into a red-orange caramel sauce.

I pulled out a sheet tray and arranged half the popcorn on it. Dipping the spoon into the glaze, I drizzled the bloody caramel over the popcorn. I followed with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt.

“Oh, God, these look heavenly,” Gabi cooed. “Can I have one yet?”

“It might taste better if you let them cool first; it gives the caramel a thicker texture.”

“I can’t wait.” She grabbed two pieces and shoveled them into her mouth. “Oh. My. God,” she mumbled around a mouth full of food. She grabbed two more pieces and ate them with gusto. “Um, you know I’m not sharing, right?” She grabbed the tray and turned towards the back door.

“Gabi!” I laughed.

“Okay, maybe I’ll give a couple to Jack.”

“Knock, knock!” Aunt Claire called as she entered the house.

I peeked my head around the corner to see her walking in the front door. “Hey. We’re about to watch movies and eat popcorn. Do you want to stay?”

“How kind of you to ask the old woman who transformed nearly twenty years ago to join you, but I think I’ll hang out with the adult in the room. Hello, Mr. Hartford.” Claire smiled. She lifted her eyes to meet his with genuine welcome.

“Hello, Ms. Maxwell. Why don’t we go somewhere else and chat?”

“Oh, God, Steven. When did we get so uptight and formal?” She guffawed.

“Sometime after high school I suppose, though when I’m not sure. Seems the numbers just creep up on you.”

“I can certainly attest to that one.” Aunt Claire placed a hand on his upper arm and followed him to the office.

I walked into the living room, the surprise and confusion on my face evident, I was sure. “When did they meet exactly, and how long have they known each other?”

“Since elementary school, my dear Lexi,” Aunt Claire replied before she closed the office door.

“Well, that was a stunner.” Mel furrowed her brows, a wistful smile on her face.

“I’ve gotten more shockers in the last six months than I did all fifteen years of my life before then.”

“You can say that again.” She nodded her head in agreement, taking a sip of her Frappuccino.

“Hey, guys.” Kellan waved as he entered.

“Hey, K. Welcome to my preformation party,” Mel greeted.

“Preformation?” I cocked a brow.

“Egh. I’m still working on the perfect title.” She turned back to Kellan. “Oh! Vamptastic! Welcome to my vamptastic party!”

I placed my hand on her shoulder. She curved her head towards me. Her expression became unsure as she faced me. I shook my head, frowning. She shrugged.

“Hey, mate.” Kellan and Craig exchanged a fancy handshake.

“Show-offs.” Gabi rolled her eyes.

“Hey, Kellan.” Jack half-waved his hand from the love seat, his other hand fighting for the last few pieces of popcorn on the tray.

“Hey,” Kellan said as he made his way towards me. He planted a quick kiss on my lips.

“Lex, how much do you love me?” Gabi feigned childlike innocence.

“Not enough to make more popcorn. Plus, I used the last of my packets.”

“I was serious about the bakery thing. Hell, I’d even sign on as a silent partner if it meant I got to be your permanent taste tester.” She tossed the last piece of popcorn into her mouth as
a punctuation
to her offer.

“You definitely have a knack for it. I can’t say I’ve come across any other vamp offering it either.” Jack slid his arm around Gabi.

“You haven’t even dipped your piddles in the glutten hops yet, mate.” Craig pointed at me as he spoke to Jack.

“Sugarplum. Now I’m super curious, Lex. I mean
,
you have a room full of vamps all ready to claw each other up for your stuff. It must be good.”

I felt myself blush.

“I volunteer for Lex to make you a bloody cake for your special day, Mel. Of course, if you want to make it past your first day as a vamp, you’re going to have to share.” Gabi beamed.

Mel shrugged. “I’m game. But don’t you dare make it until I have a pair of fangs.”

Kellan burst into laughter. I faced him. I knew he was remembering just after my transformation when I’d asked about my own fangs. “You’re so wrong for that.” I shook my head negatively, but my lips betrayed me by lifting into a smile.

“What’s the daffle over, Ellen?”

“Don’t you dare!
”
I pointed my index finger at him, giving him the evil eye.

“I guess we’re not going to watch any movies,” Mel sighed, clicking the television off with the remote.

I looked around. Jack and Gabi were making sweet faces at each other; Kellan and Craig had started a blast-to-the-past conversation, which left
me and Mel twiddling our thumbs on the couch
. “Guess not. Is there anything else you want to do as a human?”

“Jump off a bridge.”

“Seriously?” I threw my head back to study her.

“Those MTV challenges make it look fun. I know doing it as a vamp won’t be the same because there’s no risk for me then.”

“Other than decapitation by a rock.”

“Please, like I’d be dumb enough to jump into a rock pit.”

I glanced at the clock. It was a little after six. “If we go now, we’ll make it back in time.”

Her eyes widened, excitement glittering in her sapphire eyes. “You’re serious? I mean, Bible, you’ll take me now?”

I checked on the others, confirming they were still deep into each other. “Let’s go.” I leapt up, grabbing her hand and pulling her along.

At the door, I realized Kellan had my keys. I dropped Mel’s hand and raced back to him. “Mel wants Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream. We’ll be back.” I kissed his cheek and grabbed the keys from his pockets.

“Be careful,” he tossed my way.

“Always.” I smiled devilishly.

Craig blew Mel a kiss from the couch. She pretended to catch it before tossing one back. I chuckled softly. At times, I swore they were more in love than Kellan and me.

Mel and I ran to the car, laughing like the schoolgirls we still were. Once inside, I turned on all the security features before pulling out and speeding off.

“I can’t believe they went for the ice cream bit. Seriously, their vamp hearing is lousy,” Mel stated.

“They were just focused.”

“Yeah, well, you see how easy it is to miss the obvious.”

“Hold that thought.” I punched in the phone number for the only vamp I knew who would help me with this mission of insanity.

“Hey, Leka.”

“Hey, Kai. I have you on speakerphone in the car. I have a big favor to ask you.”

He hesitated. “Details.”

“Will you help me and Mel bungee jump off the Cooper River Bridge for one last human hoorah?”

Mel was biting her lower lip, leaning into where my phone was docked on the dashboard. Her hands were clasped together as she anxiously awaited his response.

“Who else is with you?” he asked.

“No one.”

“I’m in. I’m at the condo downtown, so I can be there in fifteen. Drive towards Mount Pleasant and park on that side of the bridge. I’ll meet you there.”

“Yay!” Mel exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

Kai hung up. For a brief second I panicked, worried I’d made an irrational decision bringing Mel out like this, but the moment I saw her utter elation, I pushed past it. We would be safe. Kai would take care of us. Worst-case scenario, I’d go diving in the Cooper River after Mel.

Chapter 11

It took longer than I expected to cross the bridge and find parking on the Mt. Pleasant end. The roads were busy, despite the height of rush hour being over.

“O.M.G. I can’t believe we’re actually going to do this,” Mel said as she got out of the car.

Kai ambled towards us as we closed the car doors. Ropes and harnesses were encircling his buff bicep. He had a military appearance, serious features, and an air of confident deception. His hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, his civilian clothes dark yet alluring, like him in the moment.

I ran my hands along my curves. “Are we going to get in trouble for this?” I warily studied the trail of cars crossing the bridge.

“How could we?” He locked eyes with me, reminding me of the control we had over the situation.

A shiver ran down my spine. There was something in the depths of his eyes that shook me, a cold, hard desire so basic and savage my heart skipped a beat. He thought this was his moment, a moment to get close to me again without Kellan. I swallowed hard.

He cocked his head, frowning. “I’m not Jacob.”

I felt my mental block firmly in place, so he must have read me another way. I needed a distraction, something to pull me out of him in this moment. “Has everyone read that series?” I chuckled softly.

Kai pursed his lips, recognizing my initiative. I turned to Mel.

“Craig hasn’t. I’ve been trying to get him to, but he keeps saying he’ll never sell his soul for a pufferbull story, whatever that means.” She looked back at the water. Her body was stiff. She was afraid, yet eager to push her human self one last time. She shook her head slightly, pulling herself back to the moment. “So, are we gonna do this?” She tucked her hands in her pockets, looking expectantly between Kai and me.

“After you, ladies.” Kai indicated for us to walk ahead of him.

It took us thirty minutes at a safe, human pace to reach a few yards from the center of the bridge. We were stationed on the opposite side of the crosswalk to avoid causing a scene or unwanted attention. The sun was sinking below the horizon, the cover of night helping us.