Page 21 of Vampires and Violas (A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening #2)

20

Sheriff Thompson only stays a few minutes longer, and then he leaves us to figure out our mess.

Even though he vouched for Noah and Cassian, it takes hours to convince my parents this isn’t an elaborate hoax. Thankfully, the prescription bottles of blood, the new security cameras, Kevin’s obituary, and all the news reports surrounding his murder scandal are hard to brush off.

It’s almost ten when my mother pulls me aside. “Your father and I would like you to move back home for a little while.”

“Home? As in…with you and Dad?”

“I don’t think I need to list all the reasons why staying here alone with that man is a bad idea.”

“Mom, I’m a grown woman, and this isn’t Victorian England.”

“You’re not going to like this, but you need to break up with Noah and ask him to move out.” She clears her throat. “Obviously, he’s good friends with Cassian, so I’m sure he can stay with him until he finds his own place.”

“Mom.”

“He’s a vampire , Piper.”

“I’m a vampire, too,” I point out.

“No,” she says harshly. “You are pre-vampiric—that’s what you said. You’re not…what he is.”

Part of me wants to be indignant, but Noah is a vampire. Of course they’re going to be freaked out. Who wouldn’t be?

“Please, Piper,” she begs, looking like she’s two seconds away from a mental breakdown.

I study her, feeling torn. “Listen, it’s late. I’m tired; you’re tired. You had a long drive today. Let’s talk about this more tomorrow.”

“You’ll come home with us?”

“No,” I say gently. “This is my home. I pay Grandma and Grandpa rent every month, just as Noah has paid me. We’re both staying.”

“ Piper. ”

“He’s in the guest room. I’m in the master bedroom. Nothing questionable has happened, I swear.”

She lowers her voice to a whisper. “What if he attacks you in the middle of the night?”

“He’s not going to attack me.”

“How can you be so sure?” she demands. “While you argued with your father, I read through those pamphlets. Do you know what happens if you’re bitten again?”

“I do know, but you’re going to have to trust me,” I say gently.

“People make bad decisions right after they get out of a relationship, and what happened with Kevin was no small ordeal. It’s only been a few months, and I’m afraid you’re too emotionally overloaded to see how dangerous this situation is.”

“It’s a medical condition, Mom. A disease.”

“It’s different.”

“It’s a virus. ”

“Fine, let’s say it is just a virus. I still don’t think you should be living with that man.”

“We’re not sharing a bed . He’s in a separate room. I even sleep with the door closed.”

“I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to like it.” When it looks like she’s going to keep arguing, I say again, “Tomorrow, all right? Let’s talk more tomorrow.”

She stares at me for several long seconds, and then her shoulders sag with defeat. “Fine, but lock your bedroom door tonight, okay?”

“Mom.”

“Piper, I swear?—”

“Fine, yes. Okay? I’ll lock my bedroom door.”

“Good.” She studies me, looking seriously freaked out. “You swear you and Max aren’t messing with us?”

“We’re not.”

“It’s too bizarre.” She rubs her hands over her face.

“I know.”

“All right. I’m going to try to get your dad out of here.” She starts to walk away and then turns back and pulls me into a tight hug. “You’re really okay?”

And now she sounds like she’s going to cry.

“I’m fine—I promise. I have regular appointments with a dietitian, my stalker is in prison, and I’m attending support groups. It’s all good.”

“Okay.” Her watery eyes narrow. “But if something like this ever happens again, you will tell us, all right?”

“I promise if I ever become a vampire again, I will call you immediately.”

“Piper.” Her voice wavers.

I laugh, exhausted. “I’m fine . And look at the bright side—Max got a great new job out of all this. The benefits are top-notch.”

She shakes her head, laughing mirthlessly, and then heads into the living room…

Where we find my father and Noah.

Alone.

“Yes, sir,” Noah says, his expression sober. “I understand.”

What does he understand?

“Good.” Dad scowls at him for another few seconds and then turns his attention to my mother and me.

“Where are Cassian and Max?” I ask.

“I sent them out,” Dad says, like he’s some kind of dictator who can move people across a playing field like pawns.

“Out where?”

“Outside.” He waves his hand toward the back of the house. “I don’t know where they went.”

“It’s time to go, Robert,” Mom says. “I’m exhausted, and I need to get these contacts out.”

I turn to my mom, realizing she’s not wearing her glasses—probably because she broke them. “Are they uncomfortable?”

“No, they just dry out my eyes.”

“I used to wear contacts,” Noah says. “I switched to a different contact lens solution, and it helped.”

Mom turns to him, wary. “Used to?”

He suddenly looks like he wishes he hadn’t brought it up. “I don’t need them anymore.”

“Did you have corrective eye surgery?” she asks.

“The virus took care of it.” He clears his throat, looking super awkward.

It’s rather adorable, but he’d hate me for thinking it, so I bite back a smile.

“It fixed your vision?” Mom asks, suddenly intrigued.

Not liking the direction the conversation is headed, Dad says, “Go pack an overnight bag, Piper, so we can go.”

“I’m not going with you.”

“You’re not staying here.” He jerks his hand at Noah. “Not with him.”

“I am.”

“Robert,” Mom says, sounding weary. “Let’s go, hon. We’ll talk to Piper more in the morning.”

He looks at her like she’s lost her mind. And though he’s more than willing to fight with me, he doesn’t want to fight with her.

“Fine,” he says, though he doesn’t like it. Then he turns to Noah, pinning him with a look that would make most men wince. “You will remember what I said.”

“Yes, sir,” Noah responds stoically.

What did Dad say to him?

Fifteen long minutes later, they’re pulling out of the drive.

I sag with relief and walk away from the window, glaring at Max, who’s once again inside. “What were you thinking? That was a disaster.”

“It was fine. You had to tell them sometime, or you’d be like Jennifer. You should have heard about her camping trip. What a nightmare.”

“What did you do with Hillary?”

“She said she’d catch a ride with Ashlyn and Colin. She texted when she got home—she’s fine.”

“I hope you don’t get fired for skipping your first support group.”

“It will be all right,” Noah assures us both. “Hillary is a seasoned pre-vamp. No one will care that Max had to leave for a family emergency.”

“Does this really count as an emergency?” I cock my head to the side, questioning him.

A smile ghosts over his face. “It felt like an emergency when your parents showed up while you were gone.”

“I’m so sorry—they didn’t give me any warning.”

“I figured.”

Cassian stands. “Well, now that that’s over, I’m going to head out.”

“Me too,” Max says.

“Thanks for coming to my rescue. Sort of.”

My brother grins and follows Cassian out the door. “You’re welcome, Pip.”

As soon as they’re gone, Noah turns to me. “Are you okay?”

“It’s a miracle my dad didn’t drag me out of here.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t.” He frowns down at me, his eyes worried. “What did your mom say when you two disappeared?”

“That she doesn’t want us to date, that I need to kick you out, and that I had better lock my bedroom door tonight.”

“Because I’m a vampire?”

“Obviously. But also because you’re a man. ” I rub my temples. “What did my dad say to you?”

“That he doesn’t want us to date, that I had better be out by tomorrow, and I had better not even think about touching you.”

“It’s nice that they’re so in sync,” I joke darkly.

“He’s probably going to start whittling stakes as soon as they get home.”

“I doubt he even sleeps,” I agree. “He’ll be in the garage all night, building up his armory.”

Noah groans, hanging his head back. He looks as stressed as I feel. When he looks back at me, I don’t like his expression. I don’t like it at all.

“Whatever it is you’re going to say, keep it to yourself,” I tell him.

His eyes soften like he’s about to deliver bad news. “I don’t want to go against your father’s wishes. It’s not a good way to start a relationship.”

“What are you saying?”

“He told me to break up with you.”

“And you agreed?”

“He’s your father. ”

“And I’m an adult!”

“After he cools down and comes to terms with all this, I’m confident he’ll change his mind.” He gives me a lopsided smile that’s tinged with sadness. “I can be pretty charming when I want to be, don’t you think?”

“Stop being adorable. I’m not happy with you.”

He laughs a little, incredulous. “Because I want your parents to like me?”

“Because you’re willing to bow down to my father’s ridiculous demands.”

“Piper.” His face goes solemn. “They’re not ridiculous. If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t want her dating a vampire either.”

I growl at him, unable to find the words to respond. Because the rational part of my brain knows he’s making sense. But it doesn’t matter.

I want Noah.

“ I don’t care that you’re a vampire,” I say.

“I know.”

Tears sting my eyes, making me angry. “I hate this.”

“I do, too.” Noah steps forward, pulling me into a hug. But being next to his warm, safe chest isn’t helping the crying situation. “But it’s just for a little while, okay?”

“Are you going to move out, too? What if Larissa was right and someone is watching the house?”

He rubs my back. “Maybe you should move in with Max for a while.”

I pull back just enough I can look up at him. “Do I need to remind you I work from home? My flowers are here. I can’t leave. ”

He frowns at my silent tears, and then a smile tugs at his mouth. “Stop it.”

“Being frustrated?” I ask incredulously. “Being sad ?”

“No.” He swipes the pad of his thumb across my cheek. “Being adorable.”

“You stole that from me.”

“I’m so gone for you, Piper,” he says.

His words hit me right in the heart.

“I don’t want to break up on Day Two,” I whisper.

“We’re just going to take a step back, that’s all.”

I shake my head, refusing.

“Just for a little bit,” he says softly.

“I have a better idea—let’s run away to Fiji.”

“You’ve been talking to Cassian.”

“He has a place there, you know?”

“I’m aware—I’ve been there.”

“Really?” I perk up a little. “Is it nice?”

“Yeah.” He smiles down at me. “We should probably go to bed. Have you taken your blood yet?”

“No, have you?”

He shakes his head. Then he releases his hold on me and heads toward the kitchen.

I follow, resigned to the fact my parents came home and tossed a grenade into my life.