Page 63 of The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends

“There’s no easy way to say this,” Tony said. Brennan dug his fingernails into his palm. Tony exhaled a sigh. “So I’ll just say it.”

Brennan waited a beat before Tony spoke again.

“I want to shoot my shot with Mari.”

The words hovered in the air like static for a long moment before the relief registered and Brennan’s body slackened from the tension that had gripped him.

“You want to ask Mari out?” Brennan laughed. “Awesome. Congrats. What, do you need my blessing, or something?”

Tony’s brows furrowed. “Are you sure? I mean, Bro Code is, like, super important to me. And I know you’re always, like,awkwardwhenever she and Cole come over.”

“I’m awkward all the time,” Brennan defended.

“Yeah, but especially then.”

“Wait,” Brennan said, brain catching up with the rest of Tony’s words. “You think I like Mari?”

“Don’t you?” Tony almost seemed offended that Brennan didn’t.

“Oh my god. No. I don’t have a crush on her. Ask her out. Seriously, go for it.” He must have suffered some sort of stroke, because he tacked on a “bro” and then lightly punched Tony’s shoulder. He immediately wished he hadn’t.

Tony laughed, then squinted at Brennan for a long few seconds before it dawned on him.

“Wait,Cole? I didn’t realize you were…”

He trailed off and Brennan prickled with worry that Tony would be weird about this.

Tony held out his fist for Brennan to bump. “Right on,” Tony said. Cautiously, Brennan returned the gesture. “Sexuality and gender are spectrums or whatever. You do you.”

Somehow, coming from Tony, that meant a lot.

“Right,” said Brennan. “Thanks. And good luck with Mari.”

“Same to you with Cole, bro,” Tony said. “I won’t lie, I thought you were gonna be a weirdo when we were first figuring out housing. And you kind ofarea weirdo. But you’re a good dude.”

Brennan was certain Tony intended it as a compliment, but he couldn’t help feeling slightly insulted. He appreciated the gesture, though, and respected that this, for Tony, was friendship. He slipped around Tony and crept toward his room.

“Have a good night, Tony.”

1222

BRENNAN’S PHONE

COLE MCNAMARA HAS INVITED YOU TO ATTEND “MARI’S 22 BIRTHDAY BASH!!!!”

You were invited by Cole, alongside 84 others.

Hey y’all! This Nov 20 is the 22nd birthday of our lovely Scorpio queen, Marisela. As 22 is the sacred taylor swift birthday, it shall be treated with the same sanctity as 18 and 21. RSVP, invite your friends, we will have a keg but BYOB, and DM me to help organize!!!

14 comments / 64

> MARI: I disagree with the taylor swift thing but will accept any excuse to binge drink

> TONY: get ready to RRRRAAAAAAAAAAGE!!!!!!!!!

You have created a group chat with: Soon-Hee Kim and Nellie Adams

Brennan