Page 32 of Thirsty

Charlie leaned forward, a smile on his face like a set of cocktails was about to materialize between them. “Tell me more.”

Lorenzo zoned out as Dylan droned on about the history of the druids. He was more interested—more fixated, really—on Charlie. He was so incredibly at ease here; meeting someone new, asking all about them, joking around and fitting in. Charlie was every bit as smart and catty as Lorenzo remembered him being—well, maybe a bit less catty—but he was also as sharply insightful as Lorenzo remembered. And wasn’t that the real problem?

What was so wanting in Lorenzo that Charlie had spotted and disdained all those years ago? And why couldn’t Lorenzo find his same comfort and ease?

“Well, thanks,” Charlie said at length, flicking a glance over at him. “This has been so useful. So far, Lorenzo hasn’t taken me to meet a single witch.”

“Of course not,” Dylan said. “They hate vampires.”

“Not druids, though?”

“Oh, no,” Dylan said. “I get a ton of side gigs for the vamps.”

Other vampires, he meant. Lorenzo swallowed back his discomfort as Charlie flicked a curious glance at him.

“Side gigs?” Charlie asked.

“Mm-hmm,” he said. “I work vamp parties, mostly.”

“Parties? Doing what?”

“Well like, druids are nature mages,” Dylan explained. “So I can enchant human blood so it tastes like—anything.”

“Wow,” Charlie said. “Like what?”

“I can’t get into that,” Dylan said, leaning back. “Client confidentiality, you understand.”

Charlie contemplated that for a minute, and then turned to Lorenzo. “What would you want a human’s blood to taste like?”

Lorenzo felt his lips part.

He had no idea what to say.

Before he could embarrass himself, Dylan said, “Oh, Lorenzo’s never at those parties. He’s a stand-up guy.”

Lorenzo winced. “Oh yeah?” Charlie asked, his gaze lingering on Lorenzo as he fought a wave of prickling heat.

“Yeah. Those things can get pretty wild, when you’ve got a whole nest of vamps together,” Dylan said. “Dark stuff. But Lorenzo’s cool. More of a lone wolf. Or a lone...corpse.”

“Thanks, Dylan,” Lorenzo said quietly.

Charlie narrowed his eyes, glancing back and forth between them as a small smile grew on his face. “Tell me more about Lorenzo.”

“I think we’re done here,” Lorenzo said swiftly.

Dylan laughed good-naturedly. “I see how it is. Listen,” hetold Charlie, “Let me know if you ever want to come meet more of the circle. My cousin Jude does these crazy rituals, you could come see.”

“I would love that!” Charlie said warmly, offering his hand again. “It was so nice to meet you.”

Back in Lorenzo’s car, Charlie said, “So, about those parties...”

“I am not taking you to a vampire party,” Lorenzo said with finality. That was impossible for any number of reasons.

“I don’t want you to,” Charlie said defensively. “I just want to know.” He stared at Lorenzo for another moment, seeming to weigh his words, and then said: “What flavor blood would you pick?”

Lorenzo scoffed and didn’t answer, while Charlie wheedled him, smiling that ingratiating, silly smile that made Lorenzo want to do many, many things that he shouldn’t.

Charliewasinsightful, uncomfortably so—that much was true. But unlike the last time they’d known each other, this time Charlie was noticing him. Focused on him. He seemed to be waiting Lorenzo out at times, curious about him. This Charlie was almost...gentle with him.