The Vampire's Second Chance novel Chapter 2

Christine

Mom observed me, her lips gently parted. Justin looked about the same, but his eyebrows rose above his head waiting. Not breaking their stares, my lips searched for the bright red straw that hung close to the rim of the glass. My lips finally found the ever fleeting straw, I sucked down the rest of my hard lemonade.

The harsh sounds of the glass emptying caught my attention instead. Smacking my lips together, I turned away from the stares only to glance at the pitcher of lemonade. I shrugged my shoulders.

Oh, hell.

Pouring another glass, they watched me until I began sucking on the straw again. Clearing my throat, I set down the mason jar with a click to the glass coffee table. “I’m sorry what was that?” Leaning back in my chair Justin just blinked his eyes back to Mom who gripped his hands tightly.

My hand reached out to grab the mason jar again for mom to tug it away. “That’s enough, Chrissy.” Her voice stayed gentle. Tutting I leaned back in the chair. Rubbing my eyes, surely messing up the thick mascara. I groaned.

“Mom, I’m really not in the mood for jokes. It was a long drive and I’m getting a killer headache.”

“Because you are drinking too much,” she mumbled. Darting my line of vision to her I wanted to talk back. ‘Well you offered,’ my subconscious screamed.

“This isn’t a joke,” Justin now had a thick accent like he was from bloody England.

Ha, see what I did there?

“Mother,” I chastised which had my Mom standing up. She gave me the same stare when she caught me coming home at 5 a.m. hanging out with my friends and soap bombing the town’s water fountain. “What?” I fiend innocence.

“He’s serious, Chrissy.” Justin stood up wrapping his arm around her protectively. Did he think that I was going to hurt my own mother? Taking offense I stood up to walk to the other side of the room. Mom’s eyes softened, gripping ahold of the lapel of Justin’s suit jacket.

“I,” my voice cracked. “I don’t understand?” Reaching down, I picked back up the mason jar of liquid courage.

“I am a vampire, I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. We’ve been around for a long time, we don’t hurt humans. Most don’t anyway,” Mom nudged him in the ribs only for him to grip her waist tighter.

“Prove it,” I whispered. The nagging feeling in the back of my head me question my sanity. Was it the strength of the alcohol that had me beginning to believe what he was saying was true? Cold hands, the house was freaking dark, and his dentist had some freaky magic whitening stuff to make those canines stand out.

“How do you want me to prove it?” He ticked his lip upwards. Mom giggled, patting his chest. Stepping forward, his feet clicked with the hardwood floor, having me back up. The back of my leg hit against the side table, and the glass lamp tipped. Reaching for it so it didn’t fall, Justin was already in front of me and his hand had already placed it back.

“How did you…?” Mom grabbed his hand pulling him away from me.

“He’s fast, really strong and yes he does drink blood,” she whispered. “He drinks animal blood but also consenting humans,” Mom’s smile did not go unnoticed.

Ew, does she let him eat off her?

“Do you sparkle too?” I snorted, covering my mouth.

“At least she is laughing,” Justin gave a fanged smile. This time, the questionable canines were longer. He let it all hang out as I studied him. For a moment I thought they could be stuck on fangs, a lot of people did that right?

Mom shook her head, reaching for the end table drawer and pulling out a brown paper bag. “Oh no, her laughing isn’t a good thing, hun.” I began laughing, laughing so hard, tears welled in my eyes. This was not happening; my Mom was not dating a vampire and I was not going to call him dad either.

She was talking about having babies with his man! Was my mom still young enough to do that? She’s pushing fifty while this guy looked to be my age! Mom pulled my hands away, putting the paper bag over my mouth, the laughing turned into hyperventilating.

If I didn’t just have the shock of my life just three days ago, I think I could have handled this. I could have powered through and not need the bag but damnit my life was a mess. Breathing in deep, my Mom led me to the couch, Justin just watched, albeit very concerned as he stepped away for Mom to take care of me.

That’s right, you stay over there.

After sitting on the couch, I felt a cool cloth put to my head. Justin stared down at me, now noticing the red eyes flickering. “Eyes,” I blabbed. “Red.” I pointed like some two-year-old.

How the hell did he get a rag and back to me so fast!?

“There, there,” Mom patted my shoulder, “you’re are doing great.”

After twenty minutes of breathing into a bag, I had the courage to look at the couple on the opposite side of the room. Mom held such admiration toward the vampire that it made me question not just my sanity but hers too.

“How old are you?” I whispered. It was so low I swear he wouldn’t be able to hear it but low and behold he turned to me, kissing my Mom’s hand.

Gross.