Page 27 of This Blood That Binds Us

“No. I’m okay. No hospitals.”

I didn’t let go of his arm at first. I was convinced that, if he were to have let go of me, I might turn into a puddle on the sidewalk.

“What happened? D-did you see who that was?”

“No. I couldn’t tell. They were too fast. I pushed them off of you, and they bolted.”

I blinked a couple times, letting the cool raindrops run over my face. Every moment, I was more aware of where I was and what had happened. “Someone bit me...They bit me! Oh my god. Check me.”

Aaron pulled my hair over my shoulder and wrapped my arms around my waist to steady myself.

“It doesn’t look deep. I think I got to you pretty quickly. I don’t think they took much blood.”

“You got to me right on time.. .What were you doing? Following me?”

I scanned the courtyard, expecting someone to jump out from behind a tree. Everything was eerily quiet for a Saturday night.

He let out a nervous chuckle. “You made that sound weird. Technically, I was, but I heard about what happened at the party, and when I saw you leave your car, I wanted to catch up with you and make sure you made it home safe. I was worried about you...for good reason, apparently.”

“You seem. ..sober.” I finally released the iron grip I had on his arm and dusted off my plaid dress.

The rain had picked up, and I was getting soaked. My body was still shaking with adrenaline, and the cool breeze wasn’t helping, either.

“Well, to be honest, I’m still a little drunk. But it wears off pretty quickly for us. Plus, I sobered up a lot when I saw someone jump you. I didn’t even think—I just went.”

I gasped. My attention turned to the empty sidewalk ground. My purse was gone.

“They took my stuff! What the heck? What kind of vampire steals women’s purses?! What am I going to do? My keys and everything are in there. Without my keys, I can’t get into my dorm or my car.” I buried my head in my hands. “What is going on? I thought this was over. Why does this keep happening to me?”

“Hey! It’s gonna be okay. I promise. We’ll figure this out.” Aaron smiled, and I could see why he said he was a little drunk; he was a little too excited when he delivered his next line. “In the meantime, it sounds like you need a place to stay. You know, a safe, warm place. With plenty of vamps to protect you.”

I opened my mouth to protest but quickly shut it. I needed help. I couldn’t do it alone, and I didn’t want to. I was exhausted. I needed a place to sleep, and no other place around was offering vampire bodyguard service.

I sighed. “All right. Lead the way.”

The windows ofthe OBA frat house loomed ahead just as the rain picked up. Kimberly was next to me, teeth chattering and arms wrapped around her body. I’d have offered her the shirt off my back if it wasn’t also soaked. But I felt bad for her sloshing around in her platform shoes. I’d offered to vampire run us to the frat house, and she declined. I was only slightly disappointed.

I tried my best to keep Kimberly calm and distracted as I scanned for any signs of danger. The rain made it hard to hear anything and left me blind. But I was determined, drunk or not. Nothing was going to hurt her with me around.

I still hadn’t fully processed what had just happened. I never imagined Kimberly and I would ever talk again, let alone that she’d come to one of our frat parties, and she’d get attacked on the way home.

We trudged up the steps until we stood in the porch light, the rain around us creating a roar under our covered patio.

“Welcome to my humble abode. Yes, you’ve already been on the tour. But there is still lots to see.” I put my hand on the door handle.

She grabbed my shirt and yanked me back a few steps. “What? No, no, I can’t walk through there. I don’t want you to march me up there like one of your—your conquests.”

“What?! Who do you think I am? I totally don’t do that. Plus, I told my brothers you’re just a friend. If I told them what happened, minus the vampire part—”

“Aaron, you don’t understand ...” She looked at me with beads of water dripping from her hair to the ground below. “I don’t know. I don’t exactly want everyone to know. You trust them, but I don’t know them.”

“It’s okay. I get that.” A sly smile curved on my lips. “I have a plan for an alternative, but I don’t think you’re gonna like it.”

“What is it?” She sighed and crossed her arms, her weight shifting from one foot to the other.

“I’m gonna carry you up there, like, through my window. Now just come here and wrap your arms around my neck.” I inched closer to her and patted my back.

“Oh, no.”