Page 32 of Vampires of Eden

Maybe I am an arrogant purebred, because I feel disinclined to happily accept his apology. I don’t know what his story is, but he’s mean and I don’t trust him. If you’re capable of lashing out and clawing me like that, unprompted, it’s bound to happen again.

That’s the absolute last thing I need in my life right now.

“Sure,” is all I offer.

I leave the room.

After the truck is unloaded, Roland treats us to lunch—a hearty, comforting soup with green veg, tomatoes, beans and a zesty lemony finish. For once, there’s no meat for me to discreetly pick around, which is a nice change. There’s a bowl of strawberries, too. I try hard not to selfishly devour them.

Kathryn announces that we’re at the end of our budget for this round of renovations. I won’t have any more money to support them until next month’s allowance is released from my family’s primary account.

“We made it work, though—we stretched those funds a long way,” she says, gathering up her and Roland’s soup bowl and spoons. I stand to join her, picking up my own. I glance down at Daniel, who’s seated beside me and has been quiet through lunch. He’s not gasping and sweating anymore, but he definitely isn’t brimming with his earlier, snarky bravado.

His soup bowl isn’t empty, so I hesitate. “Are you finished?” I ask.

He looks up at me with an odd expression. Like I’ve said something funny. “Yes, thank you.”

I take his bowl and spoon, then join Kathryn at the counter. She’s running water and tackling the dishes. “Do you want me to help?” I ask.

“Nah,” she says. “You should finish your tiling. I know you’re excited about that part.”

She’s right, I am. Setting the dishes beside the sink, I turn to Roland. “Thanks for the amazing soup—and the strawberries. Everything was delicious.”

“You’re very welcome,” Roland says, grinning. As I leave the kitchen, I’m smiling, too. I don’t know what it is about this place, but even with the renovations and dust, it already feels cozy. Without question, it stems from Kathryn and Roland and the warmth they have for each other.

They’re lucky to have that.

Some of us never will.

But I’ve come to terms with this fact. There’s nothing I can do.

In the bathroom, I finish my measurements and estimation with my gauge and the tiles, then start marking the bottom of the largest wall. Roland told me that the corners need to be greater than half a tile to keep it from looking untidy, so I want to make sure I’m careful with my planning.

Next, I use the bubble level to elongate my vertical lines. Part of me wishes that we were doing something more exciting with the tiling than a basic grid. Asymmetric lines with a contrasting tile design or some interesting shapes, for example. This is my first time doing this, though, so simple is definitely best.

I’m switching over to my horizontal measurements and spacing when that prickling sensation rushes across my skin and makes me pause. Dropping my arms, I close my eyes because ignoring it is useless. After a minute, I look over my shoulder at the door.

Daniel is there, but he’s walked up quietly as if he was trying to be sneaky. “Yes?” I ask, not hiding my exasperation. What the hell does he want, now?

He steps inside the bathroom with his hands in his pockets. His navy-blue sweatshirt is back on, but not the ugly orange parka. “You’re measuring out the tiles, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll help. The bathroom in the front hall is finished, so I can work on this one with you.”

I shake my head, trying to be polite even though he obviously gives zero shits about being polite to me. “I don’t need help. Roland told me what to do. Thanks, though.”

Please go away. The last thing I want is to be stuck in this small bathroom with him.

“It’ll go faster if we do it together—you work slowly.”

I exhale through my nose, biting the inside of my cheek andpreparing my defense when Daniel lifts his palms from his pockets.

“I’m not saying it as an insult, you just do! It’s fine, alright? But we need to get this bathroom done so we can do the floors, then start on the big one upstairs. Do you have the pipe detector?”

This catches me off guard and I glance around the room. “No… what is that?”

The corner of his mouth quirks up in an amused smile. “You run it along the lines you’ve made to make sure there are no pipes or wires hidden behind the walls before you start drilling your batons. I’ll go find it.”