Part 12 (1/2)
The question was like a vise sliding around my heart and cranking a couple of notches. ”Next Friday,” I managed after swallowing the lump in my throat. ”It'll all be over by then.”
”I did it,” Nina One declared when I answered my cell an hour later. I'd just walked into my apartment and picked my way through the maze that was now my living room. ”Rob's out of here.” Her words confirmed the fact that she had no clue Rob had come crawling to me for a place to stay. ”Yesterday's news. Gone. Adios.”
If only.
I toed a pair of dirty socks that sat near the coffee table. Several empty bottles of blood lay strewn atop my InStyle collection.
Rob wore a pair of faded black sweatpants and nothing else. He lay stretched out on the couch, his eyes closed, the TV blaring.
”Good for you,” I told her as I bypa.s.sed the mess and headed for my bedroom.
”So you think I did the right thing?”
”Don't you?”
”Of course. Better to nip it in the bud before things get really complicated. I mean, what was I thinking? No way could I actually settle down right now. I'm in the prime of my afterlife. I like sleeping around and sucking on the cutie of the moment. We were getting way too serious. Your mother made me see that. I'm not ready to pledge myself to one vampire. I don't know if I'll ever be ready.”
”Not ready. I totally get it.”
”And Rob's not ready either,” she rambled on. ”Even if he thinks he is.”
No kidding. Rambling.
”Just weeks ago,” the ramble continued, ”he was s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around without a care in the world. Boffing anything with a v.a.g.i.n.a and a pulse. He doesn't want to be saddled down with a mate and responsibilities and my ma.s.sive credit card bills.”
”I hear ya.”
”It's better this way.”
”Much better.”
”Did he say that?”
”Say what?”
”That it was better not to be saddled with a mate and responsibilities and ma.s.sive credit card bills?”
”Not in so many words, but I know he's glad you ended it and saved him the trouble of having to do it.”
She went silent for several heartbeats. ”He wanted to break up?”
”What does it matter? It's over. You don't want to be with him.”
”Yeah, but I thought he wanted to be with me. I mean, why wouldn't he want to be with me? I'm one of the hottest vampires out there, right?”
”Absolutely.” ”From one of the wealthiest families.”
”Definitely.”
”With one of the highest fertility ratings.”
”You're off the charts.”
”So what's his problem? Don't tell me, he's gay.”
”He's not gay.”
”Then how could he possibly want to break up with me?”
”He was probably just blowing off steam, running his mouth, s.h.i.+rking his responsibility. You know how men are. ” When she didn't say anything, I added, ”Stop worrying about it. This is all for the best. You know it. Rob knows it. Let it go. Go out, have fun.” Realize how lost you are without him and come crawling back.
I know, I know. Nina is a heteros.e.xual born vampire. Immune to my mojo. But cut me some slack. At the moment, my brother's a.s.s was making a permanent indentation in my couch.
”You're right. There's no need to dwell on it. I'm over him. It's finished.”
”Exactly. Forget all about Rob.”
”d.a.m.n straight.”
”And his hideous foot ma.s.sages and spur-of-the-moment gifts like that diamond bracelet from Tiffany's and those cool earrings from BCBG. Talk about lame. And what vampire in her right mind wants a male who brings her breakfast in bed?”
”I kind of miss the breakfast in bed,” she said after a long, quiet moment. ”And the way he stroked my hair after I finished feeding. And the way he held my hand when we fell asleep. And that cute little way he snores when he's just falling asleep.”
My ears perked to the thunderstorm now vibrating the walls of my living room. ”Cute isn't exactly the adjective I'd use, but suit yourself.”
”Oh, it is cute. Sure, it's a little loud, but that's what makes it so endearing. It's bold and powerful and, well, I get tingly all over just thinking about it-”
”Forget Rob,” I cut in before she started pinpointing tingle locations and really creeping me out. ”This dwelling will only make you second-guess yourself and your decision. You aren't second-guessing, are you?”
Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease- ”Hardly. I'm just saying that it wasn't all bad.”
The admission sent a burst of excitement through me and confirmed what I'd known all along-she'd fallen for Rob. What can I say? I had a sixth sense when it came to these things. I was an expert, after all. I made my living by finding and orchestrating love.
This was my thing. My bread and b.u.t.ter.
Or, in my case, my AB+ and O-.
”We actually had some pretty good times,” she added.
My ears perked. This was it. She was going to admit the truth. Embrace it. Say it. ”And?” I gave her a little nudge. And you were right, Lil. I love him. I love him. And thank you for helping me realize the truth. You're the best. You're a master matchmaker. A true professional who knows her business in and out and is destined for major success. A Park Avenue apartment. An overflowing bank account. And the a.s.surance that you will never, ever have to file unemployment or wear a lime green polo s.h.i.+rt for a living.
”And nothing,” Nina said. ”It was good. Then it was bad. Now it's over. Time to go.”
”But-”
”No, really. I've got to go. I'm meeting Ernesto in five minutes. He's the new bartender downstairs. He makes a mean Mexican Firing Squad.” A smile touched her voice. ”You wouldn't believe what else he can do with a little lime juice and some tequila.
Things should get really interesting.”
”Don't you think it's a little premature-”