Page 121 of Inhuman Nature

“Well, you’re not getting an invitation to the bed,” Rake said.

Kit wrinkled his nose. “Wasn’t vying for it.”

Rake opened his laptop. “We’ve been ignoring everyone,” he said to DJ.

The Gaymers group chat had almost a hundred unread messages in it. DJ gave them a quick scan, seeing that Van, David and Sophie had been spamming it to ask why neither of them had turned up to work. Their managers hadn’t bothered to contact them. At least their incompetence had made their lives easier this one time.

“Wait, what day is it right now? Tuesday? Wednesday?” DJ asked, reaching for his pocket before remembering Lawrence had crushed his phone. “I suppose we ought to put in our notices.”

“Right,” Rake agreed. “But…” He trailed off, his brow furrowing so severely that it formed deep lines on his forehead.

“What?” DJ asked.

“What are we going to tell your parents?”

“My… what?”

Hisparents.

Rake made a distressed noise in the back of his throat and Shaun’s eyes went wide with concern. Kit conspicuously left the room.

DJ swallowed around a lump in his throat and addressed Shaun. “What can I tell them?”

Shaun’s mouth pressed into a line before he spoke. “Not that you’re a vampire, unless you plan on recreating them both.”

The thought of that was so odd it made DJ laugh, high-pitched and frantic. “No. I can’t do that.”

“Then lie, lie, and lie again,” Shaun said. “You won’t age. You can’t eat food, or go out into the sunlight. We’re being thrown out of the city. We don’t have many options here.”

“Shit.”

“I’m so sorry. This is all my fault,” Shaun said.

DJ gave him a stern look. “No, it’s not! I might have stumbled into the whole”—he flapped his hands around—“supernatural thing, but I put myself in your path. And I’m glad I did.”

“I have no regrets,” Rake agreed.

“You’re both too good for me,” Shaun said.

“I mean this in the nicest of ways, but fuck that,” DJ said. He pointed at Rake without looking at him. “Don’t you dare reprimand me for my language.”

“Wasn’t going to,” Rake huffed. Hedefinitelyhad been going to.

DJ gazed into Shaun’s eyes. “You survived Lawrence. You’re so strong. I don’t think many people are capable of going through what you have and coming out the otherend with so much capacity for kindness. You’re sweet and fun and beautiful and loyal. We’re not too good for you. I’d like to think we’re just right for you. Like the Goldilocks of boyfriends.”

“That was super heartfelt until you added the kinda incorrect fairy tale reference,” Shaun said through a bashful grin.

“How haven’t you grasped by now that pop culture references are my thing?”

“I’m well aware.”

DJ’s smile faltered when he thought again about having to deal with the issue with his parents. “Will I still be able to see my parents at all? What if my mum tries to feed me?” He turned to Rake. “She’ll try to feed me! And my dad will want to take me to the football, or to the pub. Oh my god. Can I not drink alcohol any more? I’ll never get drunk again!”

“You’re panicking,” Rake said.

“Yes, I’m panicking! I think I have every right to be panicking. You would be too, if you were in my position.” The words left his mouth before he’d even realised what he’d said, and Rake’s face fell. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he rushed to add, but the damage was done.

“I get it. You’re close to your family. I’m not.” Rake’s voice was a monotone. He pretended nothing got to him, but DJ knew it still hurt.