Saved By Your Hot Book Boyfriend

27. Bring Your Hot Book Boyfriend to Work Day

27

Bring Your Hot Book Boyfriend to Work Day

You

“Okay, now what do you say if someone asks who you are?”

“That I’m your boyfriend,” Ziros says, slinging an arm around your shoulders where you stand in front of the cafe. “Obviously.”

You blush, despite how many times you’ve been over this.

Something about hearing him say that gets you every time. Even if you know he’s only acting.

“And why are you at work with me today?”

“Because it’s your birthday and we already made plans, so I’m just here keeping you company.”

“Good.” You nod approvingly, glad Ziros has his answers memorized.

Of course, you’re not sure what you’ll tell your coworkers if he has to keep tagging along on future shifts, but at least this first one should be fine.

Should .

In theory.

“Okay, I think we’re ready,” you say, opening the cafe door.

The familiar little bell overhead jingles your arrival and the warm scent of coffee and baked goods fills your lungs as you step inside.

The cafe is always open—aside from during the pipe burst incident, that is. Normally you’ve been working nights, so you weren’t sure how busy it would be at noon. Fortunately, it seems popular but not so packed that it would be a problem. And it looks like you’ve just missed the lunchtime rush.

There’s no one in line, just Mel, your boss, behind the counter. And a few people scattered at tables here and there, already drinking and eating.

“Thanks so much, June,” Mel says, barely glancing up from her laptop, still typing and clicking away while she talks. “Lizzie is gonna be here later to cover when you’re done, but I’m still dealing with insurance over that pipe. We got it patched and everything’s cleaned, but it’s been a real nightmare. Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. I’ll be in and out, so you’ll be alone most of the shift—”

She pauses, glancing up as if finally noticing Ziros at your side and realizing you’re not actually alone.

“ Oh ,” she says, eyes widening. “Who’s this?”

“I’m her boyfriend,” Ziros says, holding out his hand for Mel to shake, and this dude could be an actor, the way he’s following everything you rehearsed so perfectly.

Is there anything he isn’t good at!?

“Wow, well, welcome,” Mel says, blinking like she’s confused. Maybe because you’ve actually told her a decent bit about your life, but never once mentioned having a boyfriend.

You know.

Because you don’t have one.

Not really.

Or…You glance sidelong at Ziros. You didn’t .

Your boss is still looking at Ziros like she’s trying to figure out what to make of this new development. Or—based on the scheming gleam in her eyes—maybe she’s already deciding whether or not she can put him to work.

“Did I interrupt your birthday plans?” She asks, glancing apologetically at you. And maybe she’s now figuring she’s interrupted a date. “Sorry to call you in so suddenly, especially on your birthday.”

“It’s okay. He’s just going to hang out with me while I work, if that’s okay.”

With any other boss, they might say it’s not okay. But Mel has always been extra cool about this kind of stuff.

She’s actually pretty great as far as bosses—and people—go.

She just shrugs. “Sure thing. Just be sure not to do anything that would get me in any legal liability, and that’s all good.”

Maybe it’s because she used to work here as a barista herself before she bought the place.

“Oh! Speaking of your birthday!” She ducks under the counter, pulling a small, wrapped rectangular box out from a shelf. “I know it’s not much, but I got you a little something just to say happy birthday and thank you for being such an awesome employee.”

You smile, grateful, but a little embarrassed. You don’t make big bucks at the cafe, but little gestures like this always make you feel appreciated.

Ziros half-watches all this from a few feet away, a distant look on his face. And something tells you he’s not really paying attention.

That’s fine.

It’s not like he needs to.

But—

“Open it!” Mel urges, practically bouncing on her feet. Despite being a good decade older than you, sometimes she feels way too young to be your boss.

In the best way possible, of course. She’s bubbly and friendly, the kind of outgoing person that’s probably perfectly suited for a job like this, even though you still don’t understand how a person working at your wage level managed to actually purchase the cafe in the first place.

Maybe she won the lottery or something.

Either way, you’ve never felt like you could ask, since it happened before you started working here, and you didn’t want to pry.

You carefully peel open the wrapping paper, revealing the box inside. It’s nice, the kind of black cardstock-covered hard case some small, fancy trinket might come in.

You glance at Mel’s waiting face as you pull open the box, thoroughly uncertain what you’ll find inside.

It’s…a letter opener?

Yeah.

A letter opener shaped like a very realistic little sword.

It’s actually pretty cool, complete with a glinting black blade. You reach for it without thinking, absently wanting to feel the smooth curve of the blade with the pad of your finger.

“Watch out,” Ziros growls, grabbing your hand before you can touch it. Sure, now he pays attention. “That blade is sharp.”

You pull your hand back, wondering why on earth someone would make a letter-opener with a real sword blade.

Then again, that’s probably the only way it would actually be useful. So there’s that.

But…what would have happened if you’d cut yourself?

Probably nothing, since Ziros didn’t exactly go crazy with bloodlust like most of your favorite book vampires the first time you got injured. Which is probably for the best.

Now that you think about it, he’s actually got a remarkable amount of self-control for a vampire.

But still. Better not to cut yourself here and test it.

Maybe he’s got such good self-control because he’s only half.

Half—you glance at his face, wondering what his other parent was. His other parent must have been a supermodel.

Or vampire genes are just super dominant, because he definitely looks the part, all angles and piercing steel blue eyes fit for a book cover.

“Isn’t it just the coolest?” Mel asks, breaking you from your thoughts as she beams down at the little sword where it rests in foam inside the box. “I wanted to get you something useful.” She points at the box. “See, it even has a matching sheath!”

You carefully take the tiny sword out, wondering what any of the cafe customers would say now if they walked up to the counter and saw you all gathered around a tiny, very sharp sword. Maybe it’s for the best that it has a sheath.

You carefully slide the sheath over the sword, surprised at how heavy and well-made it is. It’s so realistic.

Just…miniature.

“Wow,” you say, genuinely impressed as you slide open the sheath just enough to catch the glint of the blade in the light as you hold it up. “This is like, a real sword.”

Mel laughs.

“Yep.” She looks pleased that you seem to like it. “ Exactly like a real sword, because it is a real sword,” she adds with a wink, turning away.

Wait, why’d she wink?

What the heck was that supposed to mean?!

“Anyway, I’d better scram,” she says, shutting her laptop and sliding it into her bag. “I’ve got some errands to run, but you have a good shift, and I’ll see you later if I’m back before Lizzie gets here. You’ve got my number if anything comes up!” With a nod at Ziros, she says, “Both of you feel free to grab a pastry from the display. Thanks again, June, for coming in on your birthday!”

With a wave, she disappears out the back door.

As soon as she’s gone, the cafe feels oddly quiet, even with the customers eating and drinking up front.

Ziros lets out a hard breath of air, almost a laugh, as the door shuts.

Shaking his head, he says, “There’s something odd about that one, but I don’t know for sure yet, hu— ouch .” He stops mid word as you elbow him, giving him a sharp look before he can finish calling you ‘human’ in public. “Right,” he grumbles. “Nevermind. Just be careful around her, okay?”

“She’s honestly super nice,” you say, not really sure why he’s worried. “Is it because of the letter opener?”

He starts to reach for it, but you pull it away, sliding the sheathed blade into your pocket before he can take it.

“Nah-ah. No way you’re stealing my cool tiny sword.”

“Hey. I just want to look at it again.”

“Not right now,” you say as the door chimes and a pair of new customers walk in. “Here, you sit down over there while I greet these folks.”

Ziros begrudgingly agrees, dropping onto a barstool at the far edge of the counter.

And there’s something concerning about the way he stares out the window with a grim expression on his face. It’s got you on edge, but you shake it off, focusing on your work as the door chimes again and more customers come in.

Looks like you’ll be busy for a bit.

By the time the next wave of customers has finally all been served and most have trickled out again, it’s already been over an hour.

Then, finally, blissfully, the cafe is empty again. You know it won’t last, and you’re not about to waste this opportunity.

That’s right—the trash can behind the counter is so full, you can’t add a single additional item without it overflowing.

You’ve got to take it out.

“Hey, can you watch the counter real quick?” You ask Ziros as you bag up a nearly-overflowing bin. “I’m headed to the dumpster. I’ll be back in a second. Just make sure no one steals anything or breaks anything—and do try to look friendly if anyone walks in, okay? I’ll be right back.”

That’s what you say, anyway.

You’re fully intending to be back in a snap, but it seems life has other plans.

Plans that involve a giant, plated monster with a body like a scorpion. The kind with glowing red eyes and way too many legs.

You freeze, swearing under your breath as it turns, red eyes flashing. Too late. It’s already seen you.

Crap .

You swear again.

Crap, crap crap crap crap crap .

“Next time, I’m asking Ziros to take this out,” you grumble as you break into a sprint. The skaddler launches itself toward you, claws clattering and scraping against the back alley pavement as it corrals you further from the cafe door.

The golden cuff at your left wrist grows softly warm. Can Ziros sense that you’re in danger? Or is it just that you’re getting near to the limit of how far you can go away from him?

Maybe—

That gives you an idea.

If you run far enough, maybe the magic will yank him out here after you.

Fortunately, it’s still early afternoon, early enough you can plainly find your way through the mess of narrow alleys.

You just need to avoid all the refuse and bits of broken glass, and you’re good.

And preferably not drop the bulging bag of trash you’re carrying.

“ Come on ,” you mutter under your breath as the cuff at your wrist grows hotter. “Just a little more.”

But the skaddler is faster, and you’ve got alleyway-chase-déjà vu all over again as it corrals you into a dead end.

Ahhhh, crapola .

The skaddler rears back, claws brandished as it swipes at you.

And…it’s a hit.

You groan in disgust as it slices through the trash bag, scattering rubbish across the alleyway, and sending you lurching back onto your butt.

Ooof .

You groan, hauling yourself back to your feet.

Ziros still hasn’t come to your rescue.

“What’s taking him so long?” You mutter, groaning as you haul yourself to your feet with one hand on the brick wall at your back.

Panic pounds through your chest as the skaddler rears up again, ready to slice you in half.

You should probably move, but your very helpful survival instincts seem to have suddenly turned to one mode: freeze .

All you can do is close your eyes and hope for the best, praying Ziros appears to save you in time.

Unless—

With your last bit of bravery, you hurl the remains of the trash back at the monster, vowing to clean every last piece of litter up if you somehow survive this incident.

And…it’s a hit!!!

Well.

…unfortunately, all that does is slow the monster down.

Trash scatters all over the alley like rain, and you cringe as you run, trying to get away while the monster is still slightly distracted.

But, naturally, you only run straight into another dead-end.