Page 133 of The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends

When Tony emerged from the storage room, Brennan whispered, “Do you think this is kind of—”

“Gay?” Tony finished.

“Cheesy,” Brennan said, rolling his eyes. “Or, I don’t know, too little too late?”

A girl studying nearby with an intimidating set of colored highlighters and pens shot them a glare for whispering and Brennan offered a sheepish smile.

Tony jerked his head toward the storage room in question, and they ducked into what used to be Cole’s Library Blanket Guy room, now lined with fairy lights. The table at the center of the room had a box of pamphlets, Brennan’s journal, and an envelope.

“Look, man,” Tony said, “it’s definitely cheesy. The gesture alone was bad enough, and the string lights brought you into rom-com territory.”

“Awesome. Great.”

“But that’s the point. It’s prettyyou.And Cole loves cheesy romantic shit, that’s why he lovesThe Bacheloretteand company so much,” said Tony. “Mari, too, secretly. If there’s one thing I learned with her, it’s that if you know what you want, you gotta put it out there.”

“Yeah?” Brennan said. “What’s the deal with you guys, anyway?”

“Eh, you know.” Tony shrugged. “She wanted to get serious, I was afraid of committing, nowIwant to get serious but she doesn’t trust me, so we’re kind of hate fucking. Don’t get me wrong, the sex is amazing—”

Brennan cleared his throat.

“But I should have been real about what I knew I wanted from the get-go. You never know if it’s gonna be too late.”

“I’m sure it’s not too late for you guys,” Brennan said.

But that was exactly what Brennan was afraid of, with Cole. That it was too late. That he’d fucked it up beyond repair.

“Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Live and learn, and all that.”

Brennan nodded slowly, going back to the storage room’s door to peek out into the library. His phone buzzed, and he fumbled for it.

Mari

incoming!

the eagle has gone rogue, I repeat, the eagle has gone rogue

Brennan blinked and read it again, still halfway through the door between the room and the library. He scanned the study space, the rows of tables and chairs surrounded by the stacks.

He angled the screen to Tony.

“What does this mean? Which one of us is the eagle?”

Tony leaned forward.

The doors from the stairwell across the floor burst open, slamming against the walls, and Cole stormed in wearing a full suit, hair wild, beautiful as fucking ever.

Rows of students twisted in their seats to show their discontent at the noisy entrance, and Brennan swiftly ditched Tony in the storage room, darting through the middle of the study space to meet Cole halfway.

Cole came to a stop in front of Brennan and crossed his arms over his chest. Brennan was distantly aware of the library-goers’ eyes on him, but his senses were fully focused on Cole. He took in his skewed tie, the dark circles under his eyes, the determined jut of his jaw, the ever-lingering smell of coffee.

“Listen,” Cole said. “Everyone’s telling me to hear you out, but first,youneed to hearmeout.”

A few people hissed shushing noises. Cole continued.

“You didn’t want to listen before? Fine. I’ll say it again. I don’t regret it and I’d do it again. I chose what I did.”

Brennan blinked, once again overwhelmed by Cole in his presence, by Cole so determined and fiery. It was kind of hot.