Page 46

“My point stands: we want youwalkinghome, not stumbling.” I made a second drink, cutting the alcohol in half. “You ready to talk?”

“Not yet.” I tensed when they took the glass from me, but relaxed when they only took a sip. “You first.”

Unsure of where to begin, I drank half of my vodka and Sprite—and cringed.Ugh, was that Sprite stale? “I don’t…”

“Trouble in paradise?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I was caught up with a vampire who wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with me. Sounded like some angsty teenage romance novel. “Guess you could say that.” Shi simply waited for me to continue. After a moment, I relented. “It’s time for us to take the next step. I thought I was as ready as he is.”

Shi’s face was already flushed from the booze, their eyes shining. Their first drink had hit. Hard. “I know the feeling.”

“Okay, I spilled. Your turn.” I nudged their arm and hid in my own drink, feeling exposed. Then I heard their breath hitch. Glancing over, I caught a single tear running down their cheek. I set my drink down and gave them my undivided attention.

“I’m not from here, you know?”

I shook my head. Shi had kept their personal life close to the chest.

“I’m from Texas. Houston. I’m a city kid, born and bred. I met a guy, fell in love… but he wanted to move back home. Smalltown life didn’t really appeal to me, but I loved him, so I did it.” They shrugged, as if it were the easiest decision they’d ever had to make. “But things changed when we got here. We fought. A lot. And not the usual ‘who put the peanut butter in the fridge?’ kind of arguments that normal couples have.”

I scrunched my nose. “Peanut butterin thefridge?”

“I get confused in the mornings!” They laughed, brushing away another tear.

“Continue.”

They avoided my eyes. “I guess he wasn’t as happy here as he expected he’d be. He wanted to go back to Houston, but I was already settled. To my surprise, I love it here.” Shi sniffled and wiped their face. “We’ve fought about it for weeks. This morning, it finally ended.” Shi’s voice broke—along with my heart.

“The fight, or…?”

With a sad smile, those tear-filled eyes turned to me. “Come on, Ryder. You’re smarter than that.”

“Well, I like to remain hopeful. I’m sorry, Shi.” I picked up my drink and downed the rest of it. “And here I am losing my mind because my boyfriend wants me forever.” At their silence, I continued. “It’s the forever part that scares me. Though I suppose I should be grateful.”

“Don’t think like that. Stress is subjective. Your feelings are valid.” They finished off their second drink before speaking again. “Did you realize that today is the first time you’ve referred to James as your boyfriend out loud?”

“No, it’s not.”

They shrugged. “First time you’ve said it in front of me.”

That feeling started creeping over me again: a fist tightening in my chest, blood rushing in my ears. Shi brought me back to the present with a nudge to my shoulder. “Hey. Don’t overthink it.”

I snorted. “I’m not usually one to overthink anything.”

“I can see that.”

I collected Shi’s glass from them.

“Is that a sign you’re not going to make me anymore drinks?” they asked as I walked toward the kitchen. I heard their voice calling after me. “Because I can make them myself. Yours just taste better.” I spun atthatopening, grinning at their groan of regret. They clapped a hand over their mouth. “Told you I was a lightweight—my filter’s already gone.”

“God forbid you give me a compliment, Shi Baby.”

Though they’d accepted the nickname by that point, they still rolled their eyes. “And stroke your ego? Not a chance.”

I threw them a wink. “My ego doesn’t need any help.” I continued to the kitchen, washed the glasses, then returned to the bar to stack them. “Besides, I’d much rather you stroke something else.”

They groaned. “I set you up for that one.”

“It was a team effort. Just the way I like it.”