Page 51 of The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends

Brennan kept his eyes on his carefully inked words.

“ Things I know about Cole McNamara: Cole is the legendary campus cryptid, the Cute Library Blanket Guy. Cole knows almost everyone on campus, including faculty and staff, and everyone knows and loves Cole. Cole is a coffee-loving, record-playing, ‘you’ve probably never heard of it’ hipster.

All this to say, Cole is kind. Cole cares about other people. Sometimes more than himself.

“Things I know about myself: I’m a nobody with no friends because I push people away, and I gave up on being anything special. But, also, I’m a literal vampire. I’m an anxious, overthinking, self-destructive mess. It never made sense to me why you liked me.

“I hurt you. I’ve hurt the people close to me before. I don’t—I don’t mean to, but it happens. It’s not fair, and I’d love to blame it on mental illness, but that’s not an excuse because these were decisions I made.

“I thought if I worked hard enough I could handle it on my own. I thought you were way too good for me and everything I did wrong or every weird vampire thing that came up was another reason for you to realize I’m too much. Or not enough.

“But I know that you get enough protectiveness from Mari, enough people telling you what to do and how you feel from your parents. I was so worried about not fucking things up that I made everything worse.

“I want to be better. I want you to know that you have me, all of me, if you want. I mean, I understand if your feelings changed. We haven’t talked since—well.

“But. I also know that, without me, you’ll never read a word of poetry outside of Rupi Kaur, and I can’t allow that.

I know that you laugh seventy percent more when you’re with me than with others, because I kept a tally for a full week.

I know that the noise in my head goes quiet when I’m with you.

“ So… this is everything. ” He gestured to the box of pamphlets, his journal.

“ All my research, all my notes and ramblings, all of Nellie’s pamphlets and brochures.

Everything you could possibly want to know about vampirism.

And, um, you can ask me anything. About any of it.

About me. In case you didn’t feel like you could before.

Assuming you still want anything to do with me. ”

Brennan finally forced his eyes from his letter to take in Cole’s reaction. Cole’s eyes were round as he chewed on his lower lip.

“Is that the end?” Cole asked.

“Yeah.”

Cole surged up from his seat to his knees and leaned across the space between them, and then kissed Brennan so hard they nearly toppled back onto the blanketed floor.

Brennan caught Cole the best he could and kissed back like his life depended on it, the weight of Cole’s body a comfort, the press of his lips intoxicating.

“Full marks,” Cole said. “Apology accepted.”

Brennan pulled Cole back to him by the back of the neck, and Brennan melted into him for a moment before the other things he needed to ask nudged at his brain.

He pulled back. “Have you heard from your parents? Are you okay? Everything happened so fast afterward…”

“Yeah. I’m okay. I’ve been ignoring their calls, actually.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s kinda funny. For so long, I couldn’t stand disappointing them. But fuck that! I’m disappointed in them. I think I’m gonna quit the internship and come back to the library, if they’ll have me. I’m done doing what they want. I’m doing what I want.”

Cole’s eyes shone and his chin jutted out and Brennan couldn’t have been more proud of the boy he was in love with. “You’re amazing,” Brennan said. “I hope they come around.”

Brennan ducked back farther to peer at Cole.

“But more important…” He searched for a mark on Cole’s neck.

“Are you okay?” He found the two little puncture marks, small but noticeable when looking for them.

He touched the skin below, afraid it might be sore.

“How are you feeling? Were there any side effects? Faintness, dizziness?”

“No, no, none of that.” Cole tried to wave him off, but seemed pleased at the concern. He still wasn’t used to being the one taken care of. Brennan wanted to change that.

“I feel fine,” Cole said. Brennan dared brush a thumb over the tiny scars and Cole shivered. “And honestly, you’re really hung up on the bite but… in a different context, I might actually be kinda into it.”

“Okay, no, too soon,” Brennan scolded, but he was laughing, too.

Cole’s responding giggle was light. “I thought so as soon as I was saying it, sorry.”

Brennan finally let himself lean in again, Cole meeting him halfway, always keeping up with him.

“Thank you for this,” Cole said, barely pulling back, their foreheads pressed together. “I want to be part of your world, if you’ll have me.”

“Oh, I would certainly have you, just say the word,” Brennan said.

“Bet,” said Cole.

Cole tugged Brennan back in by the shirt, and their next kiss wasn’t warm and hopeful, it was hot and explosive.

Brennan kissed with all the love and desperation he couldn’t put words to from the last few days and Cole kissed with enthusiasm and intention.

His hands were everywhere and found their way under Brennan’s shirt and—

“We’re still in the library,” Brennan managed to protest between kisses, but his hands pawing at Cole’s waist and hips probably gave mixed messages.

Cole raised an eyebrow. “We’ll have to be quiet, then.”

Brennan could do that.