Page 26 of The Donor’s Dilemma

They pulled out of the car park to find the sun high. Verity had never been in a car designed for vampires before and marvelled at the luxury, as well as the anti-sunlight tint. The seat was comfier than her bed and smelt of leather and pine.

The guilt coiling in her gut was making her queasy.

“I’m sorry, Theo. Please say something.”

“You lied to me,” was all he said.

“I… didn’t,” Verity said, but she barely believed it herself.

“No?” He pulled the car over and turned on her. “So, you didn’t tell me you wouldn’t go there?”

“Well, I… I said I wouldn’t accept an invitation, and I wasn’t invited.”

“Seriously? So, I need to watch what I say around you in case you twist it? And so much for the date, huh?”

“I never said I had a date.”

“No, you just let me believe you did like a fucking idiot.”

“No…”

“Oh, I bet you had a right laugh, stupid fucking Theo. I’ll just flirt with him, so he won’t…”

“No!”

“Is that why you got me a present? Butter me up before you go and do the single, most reckless thing you possibly could!”

Verity’s lip trembled as she looked away, sniffing.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, and she prayed he believed her.

Theo put his head in his hands.

“If you had any idea what you’ve just done,” he said, before shaking his head and putting the car in gear.

“Theo?”

“I need to see what I can do about this,” he said, heading for her parents house.

“What do you mean? The others go all the time.”

“Not the same, Verity.”

“Why?”

“Not now.”

“Theo?”

He pulled up to the house.

“We’ll talk Monday,” he said.

“Why not now?” she asked and Theo scowled at her.

“Are you not listening? You have just put yourself in one hell of a dangerous position. I don’t think I can fix this, but if I’m gonna try, I need to do it now.”

“Is there anything I can do?” she asked.