Chapter 18
“Jason, come on.”
In his attempt to extricate himself from being Jason’s pillow without disturbing the dog, Raven had only succeeded in getting Jason to slide down on the couch and use his arm as a pillow instead of his shoulder. The result was that Jason and the dog were now snoozing nose to nose.
“Hmm.”
“You have to wake up. Get up. Go back home.”
“Awake. Eyes resting. Just a sec.”
“If you can hear me, you can get up.”
“Nggh. No. My head’s sort of…meh.”
“That’s not my fault, okay?”
Jason moved his head, just brushing it against Raven’s arm. That was enough to push Raven away, out of his body. He wasn’t sure why it was happening, but there was a moment of un-syncing, of shifting away; seeing, but not feeling.
It scared him. The dog looked up. He had the cutest black eyes. He looked like he understood. He didn’t look away.
Raven put his free hand on the warm fur. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”
“Yeah, I know, but being hungover still sucks. Plus, this way, I get to make sure you’re still here.”
“Huh?”
Jason turned on his back and opened his eyes.
He had big black circles under them. “You fucking scared me, Rave. No. I was super fucking scared for you, okay?” He reached up and gave Raven an uncoordinated pat on the shoulder.
“Don’t fucking do scary shit again, okay?
Do boring shit. Super boring stuff. Write dictionaries.
Never leave the house. Always answer your phone. That kind of thing.”
“I don’t have a phone right now.”
“So get one.”
Raven sighed. “Yeah.”
“Fuck.”
“What?”
“I’m awake now.”
“Sorry.”
“You don’t sound sorry.”
Raven’s body was settling back around him. It’s not Jason’s fault, anyway. There’s something wrong with me. I’m the problem, me.
“Yeah.”
Jason looked back up. “Seriously, dude?”
“Huh?”
Jason narrowed his puffy eyes. “I’m the one with the hangover, not you.” He heaved a sigh, then stretched. “I’ll go look for Heath’s office. He told me the floor, but I forgot. Wanna come?”
Raven looked at the dog, who hadn’t moved and was still looking at him. Maybe he’s hungry. I can’t believe there’s a dog here suddenly.
“I guess. Find some food for this guy.”
The dog licked his lips as if he’d understood that.
Jason narrowed his eyes at the dog. “What’s his name, anyway?”
“I have no idea. He just… He was just looking to get away.”
“Yeah, understandable. Okay, I’m going to count to…uh…”
“Three.”
“That’s the number. I’ll do that, and then you give me a gentle push, and then we’ll go find Heath. And you bring the dog. That sound like a plan?”
I don’t know if I’m allowed to leave. Is Maxim going to keep me here even if I want to leave?
Raven shivered. A part of him, a scary big part of him, didn’t want to test this.
It wanted him to stay where he was until he was given permission to move.
To speak. To do anything at all. He was so afraid of what would happen if he did or said the wrong thing.
“Ah…”
“I’ll take that as a yes. You have to come anyway. In case gravity attacks me. If it does, you’ll protect me. You know, like you did that one time after that party.”
“I remember. You were so wasted.”
“Didn’t even have any blood then. Okay, one. You ready?”
“Look, Jason—”
“Two. Push, but gently, okay? Three.”
Raven wasn’t in a position to really help Jason up. Plus, there was the dog. But through much groaning, Jason made it into a sitting position, his head hanging as if all this was too much.
“You okay?”
“I… You know, it’s not that bad.” Jason lifted his head. “Let’s get going.”
Raven could see the staircase out of the corner of his eye. What if something happens when I try to leave? What if…something happens to Jason? No, that’s silly. Why am I even thinking that? Maxim wouldn’t hurt Jason. He hasn’t done anything to anyone.
“Okay. Um, dog?”
“Try Richard.”
“Richard?” The dog didn’t seem impressed. “Food?”
That did get his attention, and he licked his lips again.
“Umbert?” Jason tried.
The dog ignored him.
“Food, but you’ll have to get up.”
Raven moved, and that did it. The dog jumped to the ground, stood there, and looked up at him expectantly.
“Okay, I can do this.”
Jason stood too. So did Raven. They made their way to the elevator.
Once they were in the entrance area in front of the elevator, Raven, instead of feeling afraid, started to feel guilty.
Should I have said something about leaving?
He’ll guess though, right? And he wouldn’t come looking for me.
He glanced at Jason. Can’t believe anyone went looking for me.
The elevator opened for them.
“This is really nice. It’s a movement sensor or something, right? So fancy.”
“Motion sensor.” Raven followed the dog into the elevator. The canine didn’t seem bothered by what had to be a strange environment for him. Raven couldn’t imagine he had lived in a penthouse before his stay at the shelter.
“That. Right,” Jason said. The elevator closed and started moving. “Motion sensor. Maybe it’s some super smart supercomputer that’s listening to everything we say.”
“I doubt that.”
Jason gingerly turned his head. “You’re wearing nice clothes, you know that? So bright, like hip beige.”
Raven couldn’t help himself; he huffed out a laugh. “They’re not mine.”
“That’s my point. They suit you though. Wouldn’t have pegged you for a beige guy.”
The elevator stopped, and the doors opened again. The hallway was nice and bright, airy, and Jason and Raven stuck their heads out while the dog went ahead and stepped off.
“Hey, wait! Dog! Wait.”
“Shh. Mind my head.” Jason put his hand on Raven’s shoulder and followed him while shielding his eyes from the brightness.
“Sorry. Hey!”
They followed the dog past an open-concept office to a set of large double doors.
“Maybe he’s a search and rescue dog or something,” Jason said. “They’re smart, you know. They can find all kinds of stuff.”
“Or it’s the kitchen through there. I did tell him food.”
Someone behind them cleared their throat, and Raven turned. I get where Jason’s coming from. It is pretty bright out here.
“You two looking for Heath?” a young brown-haired woman asked. She wore nice clothing, a blouse and pressed pants that could have looked formal, but she had a warm smile and didn’t seem to mind the two of them just barging in here.
Jason nodded, and that small movement made him flinch.
Raven decided to do the talking. “Yes. We’re… He’s expecting us.”
She smiled. “I figured. He looked a lot like your friend this morning. You can probably just go in. Cute dog, by the way.”
“Uh, thanks.”
Jason had the decency to knock twice, but then he pulled the door open without waiting for an answer. The woman retreated to her cubicle.
Heath’s office wasn’t as bright as the hallway, and that was nice.
Raven glanced at Jason, who relaxed too.
The dog seemed indifferent but made for a heavily upholstered seating arrangement, which in turn got Heath to look up from whatever he was bent over at a sleek, elegant desk set at an angle to the large windows.
“Oh, perfect timing. Raven, I have your phone.”
“You…found my phone? But they… It’s broken.”
Heath blanched. “N-no. I mean—shit. I’m sorry.
I mean your new phone. Remember I told you I was getting you a new phone?
I didn’t know which brand, but I just went for best overall performance.
You’re still good for casual gaming, and the night photography is nice.
They only had two colors at the store and ready to messenger over, and I got you pearl-gold. Is that okay?”
He held up a device that even at a glance was fancy. It was a creamy white with an elegant golden shimmer. It’s pricey. My old phone wasn’t anything like that.
Jason perked up. “Hey, nice! Do I get a new phone?”
Heath narrowed his eyes. “You know, that’s a good idea, actually. Fuck. I should’ve thought of that. It’s like unless my ass is on fire, I can’t find it.” He cleared his throat. “Metaphorically speaking.”
“Huh? Dude, I was joking.”
Jason took Raven by the arm and tugged him closer to the desk. Raven wanted to look anywhere except at the expensive phone. There was a nice, lush orchid on the desk as well as a shallow glass dish with a piece of grass growing in there as if it were a regular office plant.
Heath shook his head. “No, it’s a good idea. Want to leave your old one with me? I’ll just upgrade and transfer your data over to the new device.”
Jason turned to Raven. “I’m not sure if I’m still drunk or not. Is he joking? You’re sober, you figure it out.”
“Uh, I, uh…”
Heath held the phone out to Raven. “Here, take it. Let it scan your fingerprint. They have trouble with face recognition for vampires sometimes.”
“But—”
“I put my number in there. And the old bat’s. But don’t call him if anything’s wrong; call me, and I can assess the situation like a grown-up. If you want stupid running commentary, call him, by all means, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Jason pulled out one of the guest chairs in front of the desk and slumped into it. “Isn’t he your dad though?”
Heath nodded. “That’s my point. I’m the grown-up.
He just goes around like some big old weirdo.
Apparently in his pajamas sometimes.” He looked directly at Raven, who was debating whether to take the phone or decline.
“I don’t know what he was thinking, dragging you along for that. I hope it wasn’t too weird?”
“Oh.” Raven reached for the phone, mostly so he didn’t have to keep looking at Heath. How do I explain what I did? And to his father. I can’t tell him that. “I just wanted to get some fresh air.”
Jason pulled his phone from his pocket and held it out to Heath, who took it, turned it over, and nodded.
“They’re going to have this year’s model.
Okay, let me just call them—Raven, don’t just look at it, let it scan your finger.
” He wiggled his own and grinned. “After you peel off the protective film. I left that on for you.”
Raven looked up from the device. “I can work for this. Pay it off. Anything. I can clean your office if you’d like, or…I can type. Secretarial work.”
Heath blinked. “But…you can’t work. You have to go to therapy.
Shit. Not right now or anything, and not for the phone, but…
Shit. I mean, um…” He scratched his head.
“The phone is a present. I’m giving it to you.
For free. Because…because you just became a vampire, and I think that should be celebrated. ”
Raven bit his lip. “But…”
He had no idea how to frame it. This scared him. He wasn’t exactly sure why. He didn’t know Heath, and while he seemed nice, the small, super slim device in his hand seemed to weigh as much as a dozen bricks.
Jason cleared his throat. “You said you need a temp person, so can’t Raven temp with me? Can’t we share the work or something?”
Heath straightened. “Yup. Yes. We can totally do that. That’s earbuds as a bonus for thinking well.” He wrote something on a notepad in front of him. “I love rewarding employees who are good at the thinking part.”
“Sweet.”
Heath frowned, then looked at Raven. “I’d give you a set as a signing bonus, but as a vampire, if you’re not used to it, you’re not going to like the way they distort the sound of your surroundings.
At least at first, when everything changes.
You’ll actually want to try out a few models after that.
I can schedule something down the line though. ”
“I really just want to work for this.” Raven did his best to lift the heavy-not-heavy phone for emphasis.
Heath turned to his computer. “Of course. I’ll just call the store, and then I’ll do the contracts.” The corner of his mouth ticked up. “And I’ll order us some blood snacks. Some food for you, Jason.”
The dog made an un-doglike yipping sound, jumped off the couch, and came over.
Heath cocked his head. “The fuck?”
“He doesn’t have a name, but he understands the word ‘food,’” Jason said.
After a moment’s thought, Heath shrugged. “Weird, so that figures.” He gestured at Raven. “Sit down, get comfortable, do the fingerprint thing. I’ll get them to bring up some dog food too.”
Raven took the other guest chair next to Jason’s, and the dog came over to lie on his feet, presumably waiting for food.
Raven peeled off the plastic film, the screen coming to life as he did so.
This is still satisfying. I’ll pay it all back though, all of it.
I’ll make up for everything I did wrong, and then…
I’ll just focus on paying this back first. The screen told him exactly what to do to get his fingerprints scanned. There was a strange comfort in that.