“You’re a vampire. You can see in the dark.”
“Not as well. Things are all shadowy and shit. You don’t know my history. I have a fear of the dark.”
“Bullshit. I’m fine. You’re treating me like glass.”
I walk over and sit down on the couch on the other side of Artemus. “What a dinky little place. Is that better?”
He sighs, but nods. “You can stay for a little bit, but only because I like your dog and I don’t want him to leave yet.”
He leans against Artemus who licks his face, getting a grumble out of him, but they both seem too content to move. He seems drowsy, probably from the pain pills, and within minutes, he’s asleep.
Chapter Nine
FINN
I wake up confused. Even more confused about why I find wiry hair jabbing me in the face. Quickly, I sit up before realizing that I’d been using Marcus’s dog as my very own bed. Which means…
I quickly look over and find those golden eyes shifting to me. “I was so confused. I woke up and thought like your bush was in my face or something.”
His eyes narrow. He must have relocated to the recliner at some point, as well as put his crop top shirt back on. “Do you… normally use people’s bushes as pillows? Is that a thing?” he asks, like he’s concerned.
I snort. “What? Do I not look like the type of man to snuggle up to a bush and take a nice long nap?”
“The main issue with this is that my dog doesn’t look like pubic hair.”
I look over at Artie, still snoozing away as he takes up more of the couch than I do. “Are you sure?”
“This is what I deserve for showing a human kindness.”
“What time is it, anyway?” I ask as I pick up my phone and realize with horror that it’s seven in the morning. “Oh my god, you just slept in a chair all night? Why didn’t you wake me up? Kick me off the couch? Take my bed?”
“If you’re used to waking up with bushes in your face, there is no way in hell I’m interested in crawling into your bed.”
I shake my head. “No, that’s never happened. Don’t go spreading rumors about me at work.”
He looks down at his phone. “It’s too late. I told them all that the human has sexually harassed me by sharing his bush fetish. Brooks says you’re fired.”
“Lovely. Thanks. You’re still trying to get me fired, are ya? You’d think after over a month with me, you’d just be used to me by now. It’ll be our two-month anniversary before long, and you’re still trying to get rid of me.”
“I can’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind.”
“You’d miss me so much at this point.”
“I can assure you that I wouldn’t.”
I lean into his dog. “Do you hear him, Artie? Going on about firing me, yet slept in a chair to keep me company. It’s kind of cute.”
“Don’t call me cute. That’s like calling you tall.”
“I don’t need to be tall; my huge personality makes up for my height. Imagine if I was tall too, I’d be overwhelmingly perfect. Would you buy me flowers and take me on dates then?”
“Nope, because you’d still be a human.”
“What’s your aversion to humans?”
“Everything.”
“Wow… you just hate everything about me?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
“I hate how you always smell so fruity.”
I start laughing. “My sister left her bodywash here and I ran out of the Aggressive Men scent.”
“I hate how you think you’re funny when you’re not.”
“I’m hilarious.”
“I hate how you’re always smiling, all sweet and charming, and everyone instantly loves you because of it.”
“Wait a minute…” I say thoughtfully. “I asked what you didn’t like about humans, and instead, you’re giving me a whole list of what you don’t like about me.”
“Ah, shit, you know what? I think you’re right. I got confused.”
I snort and lean against the couch, keeping my left arm tucked against it, like not being able to see it will help him forget. “Try again, but with humans as a whole this time.”
“Okay! I can do this!” he says, like he’s trying so hard. For some reason, it makes me smile. “Let’s see… hmm… Everything.”
I glare at him. “You have to have dated a human at some point, right? What are you? Old as the earth?”
“The sun, actually. But no, I’ve never been in a relationship with a human.”
“Oh, I get it! No one could stand your personality! It all makes sense now!”
His eyes narrow. “Or I refused to date humans as they flocked around me, begging for me to love them.”
“Why?”
“Joking aside, it’s very risky. Being in love with someone makes you more emotional around them. Emotions make you mess up easier. I’ve seen many vampires accidentally attack their human partner when they’d been hurt. They couldn’t control it and then their partner fears them and it tears their relationship apart. I will not date a human. I’ll let you snuggle your face against my bush dog, but that’s it.”
I lean back as I think about it. “This is because of my prostheses, isn’t it?” I ask.
Marcus looks horrified, and I can barely hold back a grin. “No! I didn’t like you before I knew, remember? Did you forget me trying to make you piss your pants?”
“It’s not my fault I’m not as… whole as the others,” I whisper. The look on his face almost makes me break.
“Finn, don’t do this to me. Don’t you dare try to guilt me. I know you’re joking. You’re joking, right?”
I hug my chest as I look down at the dog. “A-At least dogs don’t judge me or treat me differently.”
“You are evil!”
I bat my eyelashes. “I always just… wanted… it’s stupid… I shouldn’t even say the only thing I’ve ever wanted.”
“You are not cute, and your personality is rotten.”
“Just a simple date where you tell me how much better I am than you,” I say wistfully.
“This feels like blackmail. Is this blackmail? I knew better than to stay here!”
I love that I’m taking his moment of weakness and kindness, where he cared enough to stay, to turn it around and make him take me on a date. “Oh! My heart! I’m not sure… I’m not sure my heart can handle this,” I whisper as I collapse onto the dog.
“You’re so conniving, did you know that?” he asks.
“Me? Are you now verbally bullying the wounded man? Oh, my throat! I’m having flashbacks of you trying to bite me!”
His sigh cuts through my drama. “Where do you want to go?”
I grin at him and his eyes narrow.
He shakes his head. “Look how happy you are that you’ve gotten your way.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course not.”