Chapter 14
Fourteen
All day Friday, Tai wanted to text her. Something, anything.
But the risk froze him every time he had a minute of downtime at work, and there weren’t many of those anyway.
His job definitely had best and worst aspects, and today he was stuck at his desk fine-tuning budget reports to send to his boss, foundation CEO Holly Herron.
By the time he left the office at five-fifteen, all reports completed and emailed, he’d checked his phone at least ten times.
Claire hadn’t texted.
The why was too obvious for doubt. She’d woke up this morning to the realization that she’d kissed a bloodfiend last night, and she’d decided never to do it again.
He could have slaked at the bar, then insisted on silence while he drove Claire straight home.
He should be furious with himself for not doing it, and all day he tried to understand why he wasn’t.
As he stepped onto the elevator in his building and entered the code that would take him to the top, suddenly he knew.
Maybe Claire regretted last night. Maybe she’d shut him out tomorrow at the wedding.
But even if she did, he could never regret the tiny slice of time with her.
Once she knew the truth, once his minutes with her were numbered, of course he took hold of as many minutes as he could.
Tai had forgotten to hide from her in the simple desire to be with her.
He did wish they could have gone horseback riding.
He tugged his loosened tie from his neck and tossed it over a chair as he moved through his condo. From the pocket of his dress pants, his phone vibrated. He pulled it out, and his body went still.
Claire: I finally figured it out, why you’re so quiet today. You honestly think I’m over here wishing last night hadn’t happened.
Tai cradled his phone in one hand and stared at it until the screen went to sleep. Then he kept staring until it vibrated and lit back up.
Claire: So allow me to say I’m not sorry I experienced the best kiss of my life last night. Several times.
His mouth tugged with a slow smile of satisfaction and memory. If she stood in front of him now, he’d try his very best to outdo himself. Still his fingers weren’t ready to type a response.
Claire: Also. I’m sorry for how it happened. I’m sorry humans were hurt last night, and I’m sorry for how hard it was on you. But I’m not sorry I know more of you. I get it if you are, but I’m not.
He had to respond. He’d wanted to text her all day, and now he couldn’t find any words. Instead he held onto his phone, closed his eyes, and let her texts sink into his soul. Claire still wanted him.
She didn’t text again. It was up to him now, to return to hiding or to meet her here as their intensity last night had met and matched and built together.
One hundred percent friendship success rate, Ryker had said.
The friends who knew he was defective and didn’t slam their doors in his face, instead invited him into their home as if he were whole and normal.
Now here was Claire going further than friendship. As if he were whole and normal.
Tai began to type, backspaced and tried again three times before sending his final three-word draft.
I’m not sorry.
She must have kept her phone close; her reply came in less than a minute.
Claire: Glad to hear it, Tai Aksel.
Oh no. Tai groaned at his cathedral ceiling and dropped into his favorite chair. He kept hold of the phone as a stupid grin forced its way onto his face.
Claire: Tell me something I don’t know.
The heaviness finally washed all the way off him, like a tide returning to the ocean. He couldn’t stop smiling as he typed.
Until 1948, artists and musicians were included in the Olympics.
Also, all my favorite films are based on comic books, and a few of them are animated.
He got up, shoved his phone into his pocket, and crossed to the kitchen, which overlooked his living room from a peninsula.
He never let himself slake in the evenings before six.
It seemed a good practice, self-restraint and all, because he was often thirsty by five.
Last night had messed with him, though. Today his throat began to parch by a quarter to five.
He waited until his phone read 6:01. Then he got a blood bag from the fridge, poured it into a wine glass from the cabinet, and let himself drink.
The tang hit his tongue, and his whole body seemed to sigh with relief.
His throat opened, his fangs descended, and a weight eased off his chest. He drained the glass, rinsed it, set it in the sink.
His phone lit up.
Claire: That’s so interesting. Do you know why they’re not included anymore? And who are your favorite comic characters?
Tai found himself smiling again as he returned to his chair and began to type.
He had a few things to do tonight, most notably writing his toast for tomorrow, but he had time.
He wasn’t supposed to meet the bride and groom at the banquet hall until ten the next morning for final logistics.
The wedding would be at four in the afternoon, the reception at five-thirty.
Given the matron of honor and her husband were the only humans present, the reception would last until the hall closed and then would likely move to Laurence and Senna’s home so the party could continue.
Vampires didn’t party often, but when they did, they kept it up until the next sunrise.
Re: Olympics, most artists and musicians who competed for medals turned out to be professionals, which went against the spirit of the Olympics at the time. So the committee decided to include them as exhibits rather than competitions.
Claire: Wow, you really know your Olympic history.
You had a horse phase. I had an Olympic phase. I learned things all the way back to the first modern games in 1896, well before there were categories for vampires to compete.
Claire: And comics? Who do you like and why?
I don’t have a single favorite character. For me it’s the ensemble, everybody’s personalities bouncing off each other, sometimes getting along, sometimes fighting, but ultimately sticking together to save the world.
She didn’t reply for a few minutes. Maybe she’d put her phone away. Just as Tai was about to do the same, to get on with his evening, his phone lit up.
Claire: I’ve never thought of comics that way before, probably because Ember is a casual fan with some very not casual loyalty to her favorite heroes.
He laughed. He wished Claire were here, taking up space in his space, making his home a little brighter with her wit, her flashing eyes, her effortless shimmer. Maybe one day soon, she would be. She knew the truth, and she hadn’t kicked him out of her life.
He’d keep repeating it to himself until he believed it.
His phone buzzed again.
Claire: I really like that concept. Ensemble for the win.
When they signed off for the evening, Tai went to his study for a pen and a steno pad. He could wing a toast if he had to, no problem, but this was Ryker’s wedding. He would do his best to write a tribute worthy of his friend.
Tai arrived at the hall at ten, within minutes of Hannah Farthering, the matron of honor. Ryker, Leslie, and both sets of parents were already there.
“So you’re allowed to see each other,” Tai said as Leslie wrapped him in a quick hug.
“I have to finish the centerpieces,” Leslie said. “Also, down with outdated superstitions.”
He laughed. “Okay then.”
She grinned. “He hasn’t seen the dress, though.”
Tai had applied all his organization and efficiency skills to his job as best man, and Hannah had been a great partner on wedding logistics all the way from Harmony Ridge, Tennessee.
They’d texted back and forth about venue, catering, music, and everything else for the last couple months, taking over the execution of booking things once the bride and groom knew what they wanted.
After a few minutes it became clear that, other than the centerpieces, everyone was here more or less to check in before going their separate ways to get dressed.
One of the banquet tables held short lengths of twine, carefully selected clusters of flowers, and simple yet elegant gold metal hoops that slid into clear plastic stands. Leslie hadn’t wanted the flowers to wilt, but she also hadn’t wanted silk.
Tai pitched in alongside Hannah and Ryker.
One centerpiece was finished, its flowers woven around the hoop and secured by tying a length of twine into a bow.
Leslie had set this model in the middle of the table.
Tai picked up a hoop and a cluster of flowers that matched the finished work.
He kept his eyes on the model while his fingers replicated it by feel.
After a few seconds, Hannah’s hands went still as she gaped at his.
“You’re almost as good as Leslie,” she said.
“It’s a vampire thing.”
“I knew y’all’s hand/eye coordination is basically flawless, but I’m not even needed here. You’ll be done with all ten of them in a few minutes.”
“Nonsense,” Leslie said. “It’s about the memory of doing this together. I don’t care if you finish only one.”
Hannah did indeed finish one in the time it took the other three of them to make three apiece, but Leslie declared that one her favorite.
A few hours later, Leslie, Hannah, and the bridesmaids had disappeared into the suite set aside for them. Tai hardly caught a glimpse of Claire before every woman in the party retreated, including the mothers of bride and groom.
Ryker’s wardrobe room was basic, but the men took only a few minutes to get ready.
Jake and Mackey were naturally low-key personalities, and Logan’s humor was on a more subdued level today than it had been at the bachelor party.
In comparison, Ryker buzzed like an exposed live wire.
At three-forty-five, Logan eyed him from across the room and shook his head.
“You’re killing us, man.”
“My eternal’s waiting for me,” Ryker said. “Just a few rooms away.”