Page 86 of Road Trip with a Vampire

“If you were friends for centuries,” Peter pointed out, “I have to think a few years without contact will mean nothing.”

I hoped he was right.

The man who opened the door to us was nearly unrecognizable as the person I’d been in cahoots with on so many past adventures. It wasn’t that he looked significantly different physically. No, his dark blond hair and his tall, broad-shouldered physique were essentially the same as they had always been. But whereas the Reginald I’d known years ago had dressed so flamboyantly thateyesorewas an overly kind description, the man grinning at me now looked downright…

Normal.

Respectable, even, in his blue button-down shirt and charcoal-gray slacks.

What had happened to my ridiculous friend?

“Grizzy!” he exclaimed, his arms outstretched. His eyes were bright, the grin on his face so delighted it left no room for uncertainty or guilt. “Come here, give us a hug.”

His embrace made me feel my old friend’s absence from my life more acutely than any other moment of the past decade had.

“It’s so good to see you,” I said, meaning it. “It’s been way too long.”

He gave me a mock scowl. “And whose fault is that?”

There was only teasing affection in his eyes. No recriminations. That only made the stab of guilt even sharper.

“I had to go,” I said, voice just above a whisper.

“I understand,” Reg said. I didn’t know if he meant it, but if anyone from my old life would understand the need to do something rash to build a better life, it would be him. “Mostly I’m just glad you’re back. You neverdidrepay the twenty bucks you owe me.”

I snorted. Leave it to him to defuse an emotionally fraught moment with humor. “Hey. I won that bet fair and square.”

“Sounds like something a cheater would say.”

A throat cleared behind me, interrupting our banter.

Peter.

He stood on the stoop awkwardly, eyes darting between the two of us as if waiting for one of us to make an introduction.

“Peter, you know Reggie,” I said. “And Reg, I assume you remember sending this guy my way a few weeks ago without so much as a warning.”

“Indeed,” Reggie said, still grinning. “Nice to see you again, Petey.”

Peter looked like he might have an embolism. “Don’tevercall me that.”

“Please, come in,” Reginald said, ignoring him. He opened the door wider and gestured to the living space behind him.

I took Peter’s hand, pretending not to notice the way Reg’s gaze caught on our entwined fingers, then led him inside.

The place was lovely, the exact sort of tastefully decorated condo I never would have imagined my old friend living in. Of course, some things never changed.

“I see you still have that poster of Edward Cullen,” I mused when we walked into the kitchen.

Reginald slid his hands into his pockets on a dreamy sigh. “Isn’t he lovely?”

“Yes,” I lied. I had never personally given two shits aboutTwilight. But Edward had always been special to Reginald for reasons passing my understanding. I was fine with playing along.

“Amelia hates it,” he continued. “Especially the way it sparkles when you turn off the light. She won’t admit it, but I think she’s Team Jacob.”

I adopted a look of mock astonishment. “Thenerve!”

“Right?” Reg said, sounding vindicated. “Anyway, it’s fine. I think her framed poster of the Internal Revenue Code table of contents is deeply weird, myself, so I figure we’re even.”