The tall blond hostess showed us to a table by the window, where there is a view of the harbor across the street. The lights glimmer against the water, a beautiful contrast to the dark purple night sky. I look across the table right into Edyth's eyes and my heart trembles seeing the sparkles in her eyes a far more vibrant than those that danced on the water. Her lashes fell against her cheeks and I can almost make out a light blush on her cheek as she smiled. I couldn't help but smile back.
"Your server will be here soon," The hostess giggled as she touched my arm. My face burned. I had a feeling that she could tell by my nervousness that this was a date. I didn't want to call it that because I couldn't pay for it, but I was here with Edythe and that was all that mattered at the moment. Especially, considering the night I'd had.
Edythe looked up at me again, "What are you staring at?"
My heart skipped again, "You're beautiful," I blurted.
Her eyes fell again, "You're too much," She giggled silently.
"I don't want to keep you out too late."
"It's a little late for that."
Her hazel eyes shot up, "Really?"
"No, I mean, it's already late," I chuckled nervously, "I'm fine. I've cheated death twice already, this will be worth it." I sighed, "Totally worth it."
She looked down at the table and smiled again, a spiral curl falling to her face drawing my attention to her ripe lips.
"Good evening," I looked up and noticed a red-haired guy, in a dress shirt and black slacks, "I'm Jeremy, I'll be your server this evening." His eyes trailed toward Edythe and his voice got low, "Can I recommend the chef's special tonight.
I looked at my menu but kept an eye on Jeremy and his low eyes at Edythe, "What's the special?"
He licked his lips and his eyes never left Edythe, "That would be the Penne Vodka and the Fusilli Alfredo." It was like he was trying too hard to have an authentic Italian accent, "You should try the Ravioli Pomodoro," He smirked, "It's to die for." He even winked, and I was right there.
I looked at Edythe, who was looking back at me with low eyes that made my stomach do somersaults, "What sounds good?"
It took me a moment to realize she was talking to me.
I looked down and found the biggest word that I know how to pronounce, "The Chicken Parmigiana sounds delicious." I smiled at Edythe, "Well will you have sweetheart?"
She fanned her glittery fingernails through the air, "I'm on a diet, honey."
The waiter sat on the table facing Edythe blocking my view, "We have amazing salads."
"No thank you." Her small voice had a little more force behind it. Not exactly how she talked to those guys that robbed me, but she's seemed to make her point.
"What to drink?" He grumbled.
"Water." I shot him an annoyed smirk.
"Right." He snatched the menus and walked away.
My blood was beginning to boil. I took a breath and tried to let it go. Edythe was here with me, and she seemed as annoyed as I was. "He seems friendly."
I heard Edythe huff. "Men. You can live a million years and never understand why they have to be so pretentious." Her eyes trailed to mine and she smiled, "I'm sorry. No offense."
I chuckled, "None, taken. I
"Maybe he was just working a little too hard for a tip."
She sighed angrily. Even she didn't believe that.
"It could just be an off night," I said, not understand why I was still vouching for that jerk.
She huffed again, "He's a college drop, his parent pay for everything, he's just here because his parent told him to show some responsibility, and thinks of women like disposable toys."
My mouth dropped and I blinked hard. "Maybe he's Sagittarius?" I said still attempting to lighten the mood and gloss over what she'd said. Hoping no one had heard her, "I'm a Virgo. My horoscope says I'm sensitive, and artistic. Which is weird because I could never draw my way out of a paper bag."
Edythe just laughed, which was what I decided was one of the most beautiful sounds in the world. "What is wrong with you?"
I chuckled, "I don't know. Is that rhetorical or do you want the comprehensive list?
Her gorgeous widened, as they glittered in the candlelight , "There's a list?"
My voice deepened like the waiter's, "Oh there's a list." I winked.
Edythe let out a small sigh as she caught her breath, "I think there is more good about you than you give yourself credit for Beau." She cocked her head letting her shiny curls droop to one side, " You're a good friend."
Then my heart fell. Was she calling me just a friend? "A good friend?"
She giggled pressing her fingers to her chest, "No. I didn't mean...I meant you protecting your friend's books like that."
My eyes narrowed, "How did you know it was for my friend."
"What do you mean," Her eyes fluttered like she was trying to play innocent.
"I just told you it was an angry librarian."
"He must have been some librarian." She giggled.
I cocked my head again as my mouth twitched as I noticed the twitch in hers as if she was trying to tell me something, "Who said it was a he?"
"Only assuming. Maybe it was a her."
I licked my lips, "I'm on to you."
She cocked her head and nodded, "Really?"
"Are you sure there is nothing I can get you? It's on the house if you want." He cocked his head toward me.
"I'm fine." She spat.
I noticed him pulling his notebook out of his apron and an exchange of him trying to slip her a piece of paper. It wasn't discreet enough. I wondered if I should have spoken up.
"No thank you,"She snapped, " But you should call your mom, and see a doctor about your issue." Her eyes flicked to his waistband and back to his eyes, "And no does mean no, even if she's drunk." She smiled.
His eyes got big and he slowly walked away.
"I'm sorry, Beau." Her eyes got big.
"For what?"
"I usually don't do that." Her lips thinned.
"Well, you got rid of him."
When he brought my food, he didn't even look up. I almost felt bad.
I looked at the food that smelled delicious and my stomach rumbled, "I'm almost scared he spit in it."
"I'm sure he didn't spit in it," She giggled, "You should eat."
I licked my lips and picked up my fork. I was hungry. I couldn't stop looking at her. It felt weird eating, and she didn't eat anything.
She blew out a breath and leaned he lavender scent mixing with the warm smell of my food, "I read minds...or more...hear their thoughts" She pushed her lips together, "no I can't read yours. As far as I know, you're the only one who I can't read," Her lips thinned, "You're sister and your dad are iffy, though."
"My sister?" I cocked my head, "When did you."
"Yes, I follow you." She sighed as if getting it off her chest, "Only to keep you safe." She looked up at me again, " Like I said, you shouldn't wander off on you own," She rolled her eyes, " I know, you're seventeen, and you practically an adult, a no I'm not reading your mind. I just know that look" she smiled revealing a dimple in her cheek it was almost cute. Who was I kidding it was cute, "Now I'm babbling. Eat.
I stabbed my fork into my food and talked low, "So um...you read minds. "
She shrugged as if it was nothing, "Everyone in this room if I focus I can zero in on various internal dialogs. Most of them want, sex, money, Sam and Dean Winchester." Her eyebrow quirked.
"So you can't read my mind?"
"No, but I've been reading minds long enough to read body language, and facial cues, and micro-expressions. "
"So you know if I'm lying to you. "
"Exactly," She puffed her chest out pridefully.
"So you are a," I whispered, "A cold one."
She sighed, "There are a lot of different terms, that one, I guess."
"You're a vampire," I whispered.
She drew in a deep breath and let it out. She looked at me and nodded. Her eye big and almost sad, like she was afraid to tell me.
I licked my lips, letting it sink in. Edythe had just told me she was a vampire, and all I could feel was a relief. Now I knew what she was, and now we didn't have that between us. Even better she trusted me to know. The fact that she probably could kill me at the drop of a hat didn't matter, but she could have eaten those guys that attacked me.
She looked past me, "We'll talk more about it another time."
I ate, and of course, Edythe paid. She even drove me to my car. She actually offers to take me home in her car. I didn't want to tell her but I had been emasculated enough for one day. I was happy she saved my life, treated me to dinner, and was trying to be intimidated by an assertive woman, I wanted to be her knight at least once or twice.
"So your family. They are too?" I asked egging on the conversation as she pulled drove trying to keep my mind off the twisting in my stomach as Edythe flew through the streets in her car. I was surprised she didn't get pulled over though the streets were basically empty. I clutched the sides of the seat trying to keep face, wondering if she could hear my frantic heart.
Even though I didn't want the night to end, but then again, I knew by now Charlie had the police in several cities over looking for me, by the way, Edyth was driving it would be off an embankment. I didn't want to think that way.
"Yes, but we are a special kind." She looked at me and held my gaze a little too long to be driving as fast as she was, or it could have just been me, "We are what others call vegetarians."
I breathed as I was pushed back into the seat by force, "You mean you eat vegetables?"
"It means we only eat animal. It does the trick with our hunger but not exactly as filling."
I thought, "Not like human blood."
"No, not at all."
"So you still want to eat me."
She licked her pink lips, "More than I've ever wanted to eat anyone." She made a cute wince and she bit her lip as she made a sharp turn and my stomach flipped hard, "Your blood is like my own personal grade of heroine. You're like chocolate, and I've been on a long diet," She breathed.
"I'm sorry." I groaned.
She licked her lips again and turned toward me, "It took me a while to be able to resist, but I can now...I think."
My face felt cold and eyes narrowed, "You think?"
She shot me a weak smile, "Yeah."
She stopped suddenly and I couldn't hold it. I swung open the door and there went the dinner I just had.
"Beau," Edyth said within moments she was behind me and I was leaning against her car, my truck behind her.
I brushed my sleeve over my mouth, and sucked in the salty air tilting my head back at the starry night sky, "Do I still look appetizing?"
I heard a breathy laugh and I tilted my head toward her.
She handed me a bottled water. I took it twisted the cap off and rinsed out my mouth spitting on the ground, brushing my hand over my mouth. My face burned.
She pushed my books under my arm and tugged my arm, pulling into her and I rested my head on her forehead, biting my lip trying not to breathe, " I think I'm falling you Beau, I shouldn't."
I pulled my head back and cradled her cheek, "No way you could be falling." I said softly.
Her big eyes look into mine and my heart swelled.
"Why." She said softly.
"I've already caught you E." I murmured.
Her eyes widened and she searched my eyes. My eyes trailed to her lips. If I hadn't had lost my dinner, I would have kissed her. She pressed her lips to my cheek, and gently to my forehead, and finally cradled my cheeks and pressed her lips to mine. She groaned creating a soft sensuous vibration and pulled away. I tilted my head and let my lips linger on hers feeling the electric warmth radiating from them.
I pulled away and brushed my nose against hers kissing her between the eyes. My body wanting more, but resisting.
"Good night, Beau." She stepped back to her car.
I waved her off and smiled, "Bye, Edie. We should do this again. I'm paying."
She looked back at me from her car, "Goodnight, Beau."
I watched her get in her car and start up her engine when I dug my hands in my pockets remembering, I'd gotten robbed. I'd felt the frame of my phone, my wallet and even my keys in my pocket.
Edythe's car went flying out of the parking lot, and I just stood for a moment dumbfounded. I shook it off. Now I had to get home and face my fate. At least, I got to spend my last moments with Edythe.
