Page 45 of Hot Vampire Next Door: Season Three

“It was a long time ago.”

“When, Kels?”

“Before my Pledge.”

“That was…nearly ten years ago.”

“I know.”

“You guys have been secretly seeing each other for ten years?”

She scrubs at her face and then looks at the ceiling. “Not all of ten years. Off and on.”

“Holy shit. How did I not know this?”

“You had your own life.”

“Yes, but this is…why did you turn him down?”

She looks over at me, fine lines deepening around her eyes. “I turned him down for you. To protect you.”

The guilt is immediate and overwhelming.

“If it wasn’t for me, would you have taken him up on his offer?”

She nods. “Back then, absolutely.”

“And now?”

“Now…we come with a lot more baggage now.” She laughs, but there’s nothing funny about it. “I would rather have more time, you know? Time to think about it and consider my options. But—” she pulls me back into her side “—you’re fae, Damien is a vampire—I’d be the only one getting old and gray. This is the best option. This way I can be around for you for as long as you need me.”

“I can take care of myself. You don’t have to do it anymore.”

She gives me an affectionate pat on my head like I’m a little kid again. “Let’s pretend that’s true.” When she laughs this time, it’s genuine.

“Hey.” I sit up again. “I have an idea.”

“Okay. What?”

“Remember when we used to curl up together on the couch and eat popcorn and watch cheesy 80s movies?”

The smile that comes to her face is genuine and lights up her eyes. “I do.”

“Let’s do that while our vampire boyfriends are out playing. What do you say?”

She considers it for just a second and then says, “That sounds amazing, actually. Which movie?”

“Easy.” I slide off the bed. “Footloose.”

Kelly lets out a quick burst of laughter. “I thought you were going to say The Goonies. Remember when you used to hide treasure around the house and then would draw me a map and make me go search for it? Classic Jessie.”

“I love treasure hunts.”

She follows me to the door and ruffles my hair. “I know you do, you nerd.”

We fall in step together as we make our way to the kitchen, joking about what used to be, how we were.

Come tomorrow, the MacMahon sisters will have been irrevocably changed.