Page 123 of The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends

SUNNY’S PHONE

LOCKED

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[The lock screen is a selfie of Sunny and Nellie together. Sunny is posing perfectly for the camera, pursed lips, and Nellie is smiling at Sunny.]

Instagram comments:

@amiahreads270: Girl where are u!!!

@kristen.baby.420: This is the longest she’s ever gone without posting lol

@themargotmyers: Hey don’t listen to all these haters! Take a mental health week! We don’t always need to be producing content!

A Facebook comment:

@Soon-Hee Kim: Can anyone get back to me about the dress code? I messaged Nellie but haven’t heard back.

After, Cole held one hand to the spot on his neck that Brennan had bitten. He said, “I’m tired. Let’s go home,” and those were the last words either of them spoke for a time.

Brennan wordlessly scooped up a wobbly Cole, carrying him on his back to campus. It was the least he could do.

The worst part was, he was still thirsty.

Brennan’s brain was a storm of overstimulated senses and guilty self-flagellation. Cole’s shivering breath in his ears and heartbeat against his back weren’t comforting anymore—they were like a time bomb, ticking down to zero before he or Brennan blew.

Twenty minutes passed before they were approaching Cole’s apartment, both soaked to the bone. Brennan stopped a few buildings down to help Cole back to his feet, making sure he was steady before withdrawing completely. The street was quiet and empty, just rain on the pavement and the glow of streetlights.

Cole made no move toward the house, hunched into himself, head down. Brennan said the only thing he could think to.

“I’m sorry.”

It felt so weak and small and empty next to all the self-hate Brennan was boiling in.

But the words worked like a switch, and Cole straightened up, unfurling, looking at Brennan for the first time since it happened. His face was carefully blank—or, trying to be, but not quite managing, his lower lip wavering.

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Cole said, trying for a smile. “I just need some sleep. Thanks for walking me home.”

It was the distant politeness Cole usually reserved for people being loud on the silent study floor of the library. It was a slap in the face, a thousand times worse than Cole being mad. This wasn’t petty library drama. He’d literally gone feral and sucked Cole’s blood.

“Uh, no,” Brennan said, “there’s alotto apologize for. Why are you letting me off that easy?”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Cole said on reflex, and maybe it wasn’t justified, but it pissed Brennan off. He wanted Cole to be upset. To yell, cry, throw shit, do anything besides hide behind a mask.

“Itwas,” Brennan said. “I thought Travis was sketchy but I brought you there. I knew Dom was at the restaurant but I didn’t tell you.”

The pent-up energy and adrenaline made Brennan need to move, and he couldn’t keep looking at Cole’s face trying to act like nothing happened, so Brennan started pacing. The words raging in his head finally spilled out into the open:

“If I keep you out of things, you’re at risk of getting hurt. If I involve you, you get hurt,” Brennan said. “And now, you’re hurt. I drank so much of your blood you almost passed out. How is that anything but my fault?”

“You didn’t have a choice,” Cole said, and at least he didn’t sound like he was trying to convince himself this time.

“Butyoudid.”

Suddenly Cole stopped Brennan in his pacing, turning him around with hands on his shoulders. Brennan was overwhelmed with the scent of Cole and blood. There were pinprick scars forming on Cole’s neck and once Brennan saw them, he couldn’t look away.

“And mychoice,” Cole said, slow and purposeful, “was to be there for you.”