Page 65 of Fangs with Benefits

‘You got her to come over for dinner,’ she remarks, and I can’t help the smile that tugs at my mouth.

‘Probably only because she’s curious about vampires.’ ‘She looked pretty charmed to me,’ she says.

‘Well, that wasn’t from compulsion,’ I say. ‘I tried a few times and she just laughed at me. Told me I was a loser once.’

Jellie tips her head back and cackles at this idea. ‘Brother, she’s perfect.’

‘She’s human,’ I say, sobering. ‘I meant what I said, we’re just friends.’

‘The kind of friends who have romantic candlelit dinners followed by cosy chats on the couch?’

‘That kind, yes.’ I grip the railing and hang my head between my shoulders for a moment. ‘She’s assured me that she’s not at risk of falling for me.’

‘And you?’ My sister bumps her arm against mine then leaves it there, comfort in the touch. ‘What’s your risk level?’

‘I’ll be fine,’ I assure her (or me, I’m not sure). ‘We won’t–it can’t be anything.’

Jellie rests her chin on her fist. ‘You know, some people want to be vampires. What’s to say the same wouldn’t be true for Molly?’

It’s like pouring ice-cold water over me, the way my body shuts down. ‘No.’

‘Elijah.’ ‘No, absolutely not.’

‘Thousands of vampires have been made successfully, including the pair of us. It’s not so outlandish to think that it could go right! Ada was—’

‘Don’t,’ I cut her off, my voice cracking on the word. It’s enough to silence Evangeline, and I can’t look at her face for the pity and heartache I know will be strewn across it.

‘Will you ever forgive yourself?’ she asks.

I shrug. I don’t say that forgiveness is not something I deserve, even over a hundred years past. As a human, Ada would be long dead by now but, as a human, she might have lived, might have had children and grandchildren and grown old. Instead, on the precipice of immortality, her life was cut short.

Jellie assures me it wasn’t my fault, but if not mine then whose?

‘I’ll look into the compulsion question. Your Molly is a new mystery.’

My Molly.

I don’t correct her. She does feel like mine.

Mason family group chat

Mom: Molly girl, the cutest bookstore just opened by us. I wish I could take you there. They put up a sign that they’re hiring booksellers and baristas and wouldn’t you just love it???

Dad: Yes…..I read something about a job shortage in NYC in the last year…….lots of jobs here.

Molly: good thing I have a job already!

Molly: store sounds cute though. We can go when I come to town in December. I get in on the 20th.

Caleb: stop the presses! Molly is coming to town. Worried my kid was going to forget you exist

Caleb: miracles are real

Molly: careful, my flight can be refunded at any time

Molly: and I FaceTime Hazel every week, don’t be such a dramaaaa

Mom: They do book clubs! I think you should work there and host a book club for your book!!