Page 43 of Vampires Don't Suck

You are reading on AllFreeNovel.com
Font Size:

Page 43 of Vampires Don't Suck

“I’m sorry. We’re leaving you out,” Kerry said. “We should change the subject.”

“Not at all,” Heather said with a smile. “I’m learning things, and I’m still recovering from my trip. Don’t worry about me. I’ll put something in as I have something to say or I’ll go get another drink,” she lifted her half-full bottle, “or even go see what Aaron and the guys are talking about.”

“Oh, I can give you a good idea of what they’re talking about,” one of the women said. Heather wasn’t sure of her name. “I’m Beth by the way. Sadist is mine.”

Heather looked over to where the men gathered, trying to remember which one was Sadist.

“The blond with the —?” She motioned over her head with one hand, hoping the other woman would understand she meant his wide mohawk cut that reminded her of one of the TV shows about Vikings.

“Yep, that’s him.”

“What are they talking about?” Heather kept her eyes on the men, watching as they spoke, some waving their hands around as they spoke, others sitting nearly motionless.

“They’re giving Jake shit.”

“Why?” Heather frowned and turned to look at Beth, not understanding why Aaron’s friends would do that to him.

“A couple of reasons, number one being that that’s the way men are, they’re always giving someone shit. But the real reason is payback. He deserves it after the way he gave each of the men shit when they started bringing us around.” She used a finger in the air, spun in a circle to indicate all the women around the group. “While I do feel a little sorry for him, he earned it. Most of them will keep it just among them men, he didn’t have the same consideration with everyone.”

Heather felt her mouth fall open as she turned back to watch them men. Had Aaron been that rude? While she didn’t doubt these women’s word, somehow it didn’t fit the impression she had of him. Neither from when they’d been in school or this time around. He’d seemed too sweet, too nice.

“He did that?” she asked, still trying to reconcile what they were telling her with the Aaron she knew. Had the years changed him so much?

“He did. But I don’t think he did it maliciously,” Beth said, looking around the group, as if checking with the other women to see what they thought. “I think he either didn’t think about how it might make one of us feel or didn’t realize we were there or could hear him. He’s a nice guy, he just sometimes lets his mouth get ahead of his brain.”

“That much hasn’t changed,” Heather admitted.

He’d been that way in school too, often blurting out whatever popped into his head, whether it was appropriate, the right time, or not. But as irritating as that trait could be, it was also endearing. It made him more human, a little more approachable. Especially to someone like herself who knew she had baggage. Who would want to take on the shitshow that her life had become, what with Mitch and the assholes he’d apparently traded her to.

Conversation turned to the trip planned the next day. Heather knew there was something, it was part of why she’d chosen to come today instead of waiting, but she hadn’t known what, exactly. As they talked, she listened, wondering what Aaron had planned for her, she knew he was planning to go, but would he want her along? She hadn’t talked to him about it. If not, what would she do here? Maybe go into town, though she didn’t know what she’d do there. For some reason, the thought of going into town alone, especially when Aaron would be so far away, didn’t sit well with her. She’d have to talk to him tonight and see what the plan was. In the meantime, she listened in on what the women were talking about, so at least she’d have an idea what was going on.

23

Thatevening,afterdinnerhad been served, and cleaned up, they sat in groups around a couple of fire pits, talking, when Jake saw Heather get up, drop her empty cup in the trash and head into the bunkhouse. He assumed she was headed for the bathroom, but when she didn’t come back after a few minutes, he went looking for her.

“Heather?” he called as he stepped inside the bunkhouse.

“She went out the back door,” Talon said without looking away from the TV screen where he was controlling a car as it raced through the streets.

“Thanks.” He went out the back and noticed she’d turned on a couple of lights inside the trailer. From the shadow moving around inside, she hadn’t yet gone to bed. Good. He wanted a chance to talk to her and hadn’t had much of a chance with people around them all afternoon.

He went to the trailer and knocked on the door. He heard her moving around inside, then the door opened, swinging out over the stairs, and making him glad he hadn’t climbed them to knock.

“Hey.” She pushed the door open and stepped back. Jake stared at her a moment, not sure if she was inviting him in or what was going on.

“You disappeared. I got worried.”

“I needed some time to myself. I’ll go back out if they’re still there when I’m feeling better.”

“I can go if you want to be alone.”

“No. You’re okay. I just needed some space from all the other people. Come on in.” She turned and stepped farther into the trailer. Not seeing what else to do, he stepped up inside, closing the door behind himself. Most of the noise from the gathering was shut out, not completely silencing the loud music and low murmur of people talking but significantly muffling it. He was surprised by how much quieter it was in here.

“Are you okay?” He watched as she went over to the sofa and sat.

“Yeah, I just needed some time. I’m glad you followed me. I wanted to talk to you, but didn’t want to take you away from the others.” She patted the seat beside her, inviting him to join her.

“I wanted to talk to you too,” he said, moving to the sofa and sitting, “but I didn’t want to pull you away if you were having fun.”


Articles you may like