Fake Dates and Fanged Mistakes by Alice Winters

Author:Alice Winters [Winters, Alice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

JULIAN

My phone rings just as I’m pulling into my driveway. It’s not dark yet, seeing as it’s seven thirty, but the sun will be setting here in twenty minutes. I know I didn’t give myself much time, but I wanted the least possible amount of time to be alone before Ezio arrived. As long as I’m in the house before dark and locked inside the metal crate before the moon can fully be seen, I’ll be fine.

“Hey, Mom,” I say as I answer the call.

“You’ve been suspiciously quiet lately. Have you deserted me for your phenomenal new boyfriend?”

“Ah, I forgot to tell you that was a joke,” I say as I grab my laptop bag and fast-food bag from the passenger seat.

Mom’s quiet long enough that I start to assume I lost the call.

“You… there?” I ask.

“Oh, I was just trying to mentally prepare myself. There was like… this moment where I was like ‘My beloved son would never lie to me and make me regret so many things that happened in my past.’”

“‘That happened’? Oh, is this about you telling Casimir you wanted him to suck the life out of you?”

“I did not tell him that. I said that in confidence and your brother ran off and told everyone who would listen.”

“And one of those people who chose to listen was my poor Casimir. He said he’s not sure he can even look you in the eyes again. It’s… traumatic. I’m not looking forward to our wedding where he has to face you again.”

“I can’t believe you lied to me.”

“Well… we did it in an attempt to help the vampires and weres get along. I’m… not positive it’s working but it’s sure doing something! You should see the look on Dad’s face every time he sees me! And I was going to tell you sooner, but I was having far too much fun.”

“Just… keep your nose out of things and be safe. It really sounds like you’re not. Oddly, it sounds like you’re looking for trouble.”

“I’m being super safe.”

“You better be. You want me to come over tonight?”

“No, a big bad vampire is actually going to sit with me.”

“That’s… good, I guess… I’m just worried that you’re getting caught up in things that could get you involved in something dangerous.”

I definitely won’t tell her about being chucked out the window… or being attacked in the woods… or dear god, the bomb. “I’m being super safe.”

“And the way you said that makes me feel like you’re not.”

“Super-duper safe.”

“You’re causing me stress.”

“Nah, don’t be stressed,” I say as I walk into the house and set my bags down. “I’m going to try to eat really quick before I go climb into my hidey-hole.”

“Okay. If you need me, let me know.”

“I will. I’ll make sure to howl loud enough for you to hear.”

“You better.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too,” she says before hanging up.

The smell of this cheeseburger is calling to me, so I grab it and pull it out as I text Casimir to ask how things are going.

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