Friday, and it will be Saturday.”
“Oh. I get it,” Emma said. “Sounds good.”
“Ava and Greg must come as well.” Cynthia dipped her chin. “I insist.”
“Ava’s not known for missing a party. I’ll tell her.”
“It’s set. No backing out. It’s going to be epic.” Dylan opened Cynthia’s door and motioned her in. “Right, Cyn?”
“As twenty-fifth birthdays should be.” She waved. “Bye, thanks for the movie. It was fun.”
“See you tomorrow, man.” Dylan pointed at Jake. “Weight room. You and me, buddy. Three o’clock.”
“Got it.”
“You only just met them before school started?” Emma leaned toward Jake as they meandered down the row of parked cars toward his.
“In the student center. All the tables were filled one day, so they joined me since I’d been sitting alone.” He wove his arm around her waist. “We… clicked. They found out I was new to the college and took me in.”
“I like them.” Emma let out a sigh. “You know, I meant what I said earlier about the getting used to normal. Kinda scares the crap out of me, you know?”
“Why?”
“People like me and you, we’re not normal.” Emma stepped away from Jake and kicked a rock. “Never will be. I barely know what I am and really don’t know exactly what you are either. And us changing at the same time, yet I was in Arizona, and you were in Minnesota.”
He tugged her to a stop and propped himself against his trunk, bringing her with him. The night blanketed them in darkness despite the weak lights spotting the lot. But that didn’t hide the sadness claiming Emma’s face. “What brought this on?”
“I’m just mental.” She shook her head.
Jake guided her that last step to him, and she melted into him. “What’s going on, Em?”
“God I want this , Jake. Normal. Me and you doing school stuff, hanging out with friends. Isn’t that what twenty-one and twenty-four year olds are supposed to do in college?” She rested her cheek on his chest and wove her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry. I’m just—well—tired.”
Now that was not normal to hear from a person who didn’t need to sleep. He opened his mouth to ask her what she meant, but she went on.
“Not tired as in sleepy. But, God, Jake. Two years. Hunting. Worried. Angry. Confused. And now, the Vamps are here in full force, but I just want to get lost in you. In what a normal college co-ed would be doing.” She nuzzled her cool face to his neck. “Not researching Vamps and keeping an eye out for lurking danger.”
“I hear ya.” Jake traced his hand up the curve of her spine and back down. “You’re not alone anymore, though. I’m with you now. We’ll do this together.”
A stream of dampness glided along his throat. He’d yet to see Emma cry. Always so tough and focused. For so long, she’d had to be. And she’d been alone until ten days ago.
In that short time, Jake had come to love this woman. This strong, fragile, brilliant woman. He didn’t want to see her in tears. To see her sad or hurt.
“It really hit home tonight for some reason. I’m sorry, Jake.” She sniffled. “Hanging with Cynthia and Dylan. They’re like a dream. So, totally in love. They finish each other’s sentences. Did you notice that?”
“I did.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to ruin our first date with the freak out.” She tensed to lean back, but Jake held fast, keeping her body close.
“You didn’t.” If anything, she’d intensified it with her openness. Made him fall harder for her than he already had. He petted her silky hair and kissed the top of her head. Always alone. Having to take care of everybody else, along with herself.
It was Jake’s job, now. He’d be strong for her. Find out what the hell was going on with all the recent attacks. No matter what it took, he would not fail her. He’d protect what was his.
And she was his.
EIGHTEEN
“Welcome to Horizon’s Elite, what can I help you find?” A petite
“Oh. I get it,” Emma said. “Sounds good.”
“Ava and Greg must come as well.” Cynthia dipped her chin. “I insist.”
“Ava’s not known for missing a party. I’ll tell her.”
“It’s set. No backing out. It’s going to be epic.” Dylan opened Cynthia’s door and motioned her in. “Right, Cyn?”
“As twenty-fifth birthdays should be.” She waved. “Bye, thanks for the movie. It was fun.”
“See you tomorrow, man.” Dylan pointed at Jake. “Weight room. You and me, buddy. Three o’clock.”
“Got it.”
“You only just met them before school started?” Emma leaned toward Jake as they meandered down the row of parked cars toward his.
“In the student center. All the tables were filled one day, so they joined me since I’d been sitting alone.” He wove his arm around her waist. “We… clicked. They found out I was new to the college and took me in.”
“I like them.” Emma let out a sigh. “You know, I meant what I said earlier about the getting used to normal. Kinda scares the crap out of me, you know?”
“Why?”
“People like me and you, we’re not normal.” Emma stepped away from Jake and kicked a rock. “Never will be. I barely know what I am and really don’t know exactly what you are either. And us changing at the same time, yet I was in Arizona, and you were in Minnesota.”
He tugged her to a stop and propped himself against his trunk, bringing her with him. The night blanketed them in darkness despite the weak lights spotting the lot. But that didn’t hide the sadness claiming Emma’s face. “What brought this on?”
“I’m just mental.” She shook her head.
Jake guided her that last step to him, and she melted into him. “What’s going on, Em?”
“God I want this , Jake. Normal. Me and you doing school stuff, hanging out with friends. Isn’t that what twenty-one and twenty-four year olds are supposed to do in college?” She rested her cheek on his chest and wove her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry. I’m just—well—tired.”
Now that was not normal to hear from a person who didn’t need to sleep. He opened his mouth to ask her what she meant, but she went on.
“Not tired as in sleepy. But, God, Jake. Two years. Hunting. Worried. Angry. Confused. And now, the Vamps are here in full force, but I just want to get lost in you. In what a normal college co-ed would be doing.” She nuzzled her cool face to his neck. “Not researching Vamps and keeping an eye out for lurking danger.”
“I hear ya.” Jake traced his hand up the curve of her spine and back down. “You’re not alone anymore, though. I’m with you now. We’ll do this together.”
A stream of dampness glided along his throat. He’d yet to see Emma cry. Always so tough and focused. For so long, she’d had to be. And she’d been alone until ten days ago.
In that short time, Jake had come to love this woman. This strong, fragile, brilliant woman. He didn’t want to see her in tears. To see her sad or hurt.
“It really hit home tonight for some reason. I’m sorry, Jake.” She sniffled. “Hanging with Cynthia and Dylan. They’re like a dream. So, totally in love. They finish each other’s sentences. Did you notice that?”
“I did.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to ruin our first date with the freak out.” She tensed to lean back, but Jake held fast, keeping her body close.
“You didn’t.” If anything, she’d intensified it with her openness. Made him fall harder for her than he already had. He petted her silky hair and kissed the top of her head. Always alone. Having to take care of everybody else, along with herself.
It was Jake’s job, now. He’d be strong for her. Find out what the hell was going on with all the recent attacks. No matter what it took, he would not fail her. He’d protect what was his.
And she was his.
EIGHTEEN
“Welcome to Horizon’s Elite, what can I help you find?” A petite
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