Chapter 53
EDWIN
Edwin: Sis, you around?
Baxter: Sup, lil bruv? Your dick fallen off yet?
Edwin: Don’t be crude. And obvs not.
Baxter: Mate, you’re king of crude. So what’s wrong? Do I need to hurt someone? Please say I do!
Edwin: No! Ffs calm your tits. I wanted to ask if you’d check up on Bluebell & Trace’s place. He said I can tell you where his spare key is. Also, pls let Terrance know we’re staying away longer than planned.
Baxter: Terrance I can do. He’s been here for the past 24 hours. Tapped on the kitchen window, said he was bored. I’ll bike over tonight. I take it the lurve fest is continuing?
Edwin: *happy sigh*
Baxter:
Edwin: So cynical. Long-haired lover boy with the puppy dog eyes not working out?
Baxter: Who told you what he looks like???
Edwin: Lucky guess til now. You have a type.
Baxter: Fuck you, Eddie.
Edwin: In your dreams, Princess.
Baxter: Jeez, stop. Just no. We’ll catch up when you’re home.
Edwin: We will. Bax? I’m actually in love. I have a boyfriend. TWO boyfriends! We discuss shit & make compromises etc. Proper adulting.
Baxter: *ruffles your hair*. Aww, the baby of the family’s all growed up. #ProudSister
Edwin: I resent that! Gethin is the baby.
Baxter: Oh you sweet summer child. Gethin was probably born an adult. Plus he could knock you flat on your arse at 20 paces by lifting one eyebrow.
Edwin: I should have emailed. I hate you.
Baxter: Sure you do.
Edwin: I don’t really.
Baxter: Jesus, Eddie! Stop harassing me with nonsense when you could be getting railed. I love you, you overgrown blond himbo. See you when you’re home.
Edwin:
I threw the phone down on the bed cover and sighed up at the ceiling.
Trace and James had gone exploring in the town, but it was late afternoon and the sun lingered persistently above the horizon, so I was stuck indoors.
I didn’t resent them heading off in the daytime, but it made me realise how much I’d got used to it being the three of us.
Before James had arrived bedraggled and beaten on Sorley’s doorstep and my instincts to protect him had gone into overdrive, I’d been content with my lot, working hard, usually in Baxter’s basement, and playing even harder, trawling pubs, bars, and clubs for blood and hook-ups.
That life seemed empty to me now, which I was self-aware enough to realise was me and not anything wrong with that life per se, but a shudder ran through me at the thought of losing everything I now held dear.
Part of me secretly wanted James to agree to being turned.
He’d be so much less vulnerable as a vampire.
But, I had to admit I would seriously miss his delicious blood if he agreed, and he showed no wavering from his vow never to give up his humanity, especially as I knew how much he loved the sun.
I admired that about James. He knew who he was, even if apparently he wasn’t as human as he’d thought, and he was happy with himself.
Or as happy as any of us were. I wondered if he would attempt to track down his father.
My fingers itched to message Saffi to get the ball rolling, but it wasn’t my business.
I shoved the phone in the drawer, rolled off the bed, and headed to the living room, where I carted all the furniture into a huddle, then put my body through a series of stretches, followed by a hundred sit-ups and the same number of push-ups.
I didn’t need to, but the gentle buzz it gave me made it worthwhile when I could be arsed.
Still no boyfriends. I pulled out a sketch pad and pencils and clamped headphones over my ears, playing old swing tunes while I calmed my impatient nature by drawing. As usual with art, I lost myself so thoroughly, I was shocked to hear the click in the lock as my lovers returned.
Trace bent down to kiss me. “I’ll get the shopping away then make some dinner. We’re starving. Did you have fun?” He indicated the pile of sketches on the floor next to me.
“I, uh,” I thought about it, “I guess I did. I’ve got a whole new set of drawings of the area I thought might make cute postcards. If I can find an outlet for them, of course.”
“Sweet. You should put them on your website as a side hustle.”
James plopped down beside me. He smelled of sunshine and fresh sweat.
“I had the best ice cream ever. We walked bloody miles, but it was nice to be out.” He too required a kiss.
“I had a text off Sorley. I didn’t know he even knew my number.
” He stretched, giving me a view of the lovely bulge in his shorts.
“He wants to know if we fancy heading up to visit him and Gethin. I haven’t answered it yet, ’cause I wanted to check with you it’s really him. ”
“My paranoid Padawan,” I said fondly. “Show me?”
I confirmed it was indeed Sorley. “What do you think?” I got to my feet and crossed to the kitchen. “Trace, your opinion on visiting Sorley and Gethin?”
We discussed the possibility of extending our holiday even further as Trace cooked and James laid the table, they ate, and I cleared up.
Afterwards, I fed from James — which led to a frenzied, threeway bout of fucking on the sofa — then we headed out when it was late for another prowl across the beach.
We walked, and talked, and held hands. Sometimes we paused to kiss.
Everyone stayed fully clothed and sober and I realised, this was what I needed.
My men, in whatever form they showed themselves to me.
Travelling this path called life, for as long as we had together.
Nothing was promised, not even for a vampire.
I was going to stop looking for trouble and attempt to curb my own paranoia.
Right now, I had the gods of several worlds shining down on me.
We were going to be just fine.
END