Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“I bet that guy still has his mom wash his clothes.”
“You can’t know that from a picture.”
“Oh, yes, you can.”
“He has a good job—”
“Lemme guess,” I said with mock excitement. “Tech start-up.”
“Why do I even call you?” Rena bitched. “You always do this.”
“That’s exactly why you call me. I bring your happy ass back to earth.”
“My feet are fully planted.”
“They are not, as evidenced by the fact that you went out with that guy.”
“Well, he asked me on a second date,” she replied smugly.
“Of course he did.” I hopped in place, waiting for the light to change so I could cross the street. “You’re gorgeous, own your own business, and have an ass that won’t quit.”
“Stop trying to flatter me when you’re being irritating.”
“It’s not flattery when it’s true,” I argued, finally crossing the street. I could see my office building in the distance, and I increased my pace. “And I’m always irritating.”
“I just want to find a guy I can settle down with,” Rena said with a sigh. “I’m not like you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You know what I mean. You’re all, I’m an independent woman, I can butcher a deer and make mouthwatering steaks, why would I need a man?”
“That happened one time.”
“But I want a partner,” she whined. “Like, a solid, not going anywhere, sees me at my worst and still thinks I’m hot, brings me coffee in the morning, and puts a ring on it—partner.”
“See, you think I can’t sort through that shit and pull out the important piece, but I can. Get a fucking maid and have her bring you coffee in bed.”
“I need a Vampire.”
I groaned, long and loud. “When are you going to stop with that shit? We’re not thirteen anymore. For all you know, Vampires are shit in bed and out of it. They probably don’t even drink coffee.”
“I heard that they’re devoted to their mates.”
I snorted.
“Oh, stop it. I read all about it.”
“You realize it’s probably all bullshit, right?” I asked as I reached the front of my building. I waved at the security guard, Larry, as I pulled open the glass door. “They’re notoriously private. Anyone giving out information is probably lying out of their ass.”
“It was a news article, actually.”
“Sure, it was.”
“I don’t know how you’re so blasé about it all. You work with them, so it’s not like you don’t have—”
“I don’t work with them,” I corrected for the thousandth time.
“Yeah, yeah. You just prepare their meals. You’re their chef.”
I let out a startled laugh and choked on the spit in my mouth.
“I mean, basically,” she said innocently.
“I’m a blood tech,” I corrected as I made my way down the carpeted hallway. “I literally move blood from tiny containers to larger containers.”
“So gross.”
“I make good money, and I don’t have to talk to people. It’s the best job ever.”
“You know I could match your salary if you come work for me.”
“Did you miss the part where I said that I don’t like to talk to people?” I asked distractedly, opening the door to our offices.
A man in jeans and a pea coat was talking to our receptionist as I scooted quietly through the waiting area. The lobby was mostly for show. It was so rare to have anyone stop in that it was kind of startling to see Abby speaking without a telephone propped between her shoulder and cheek.
“No, but you’ll talk to Vampires,” Rena said sarcastically.
“I don’t talk to Vampires,” I hissed, pushing through the door and into the lab. “There are two couriers. One is a brown-haired girl who looks like she’s about twelve, and the other is an old man who looks like he’s ninety.”
“Sure, they are.”
“I have to go,” I said quickly, hanging up as my boss leaned out of his office doorway.
“Late,” Noah called, raising his wristwatch into the air. “Don’t you live like three blocks away?”
“They’re long blocks.”
He just stared at me.
“I was having a hat problem.”
“Still no blow dryer?”
“Kenny says he’s going to buy me a new one.”
“He said that last week.”
“Well…” I came to a stop in front of his door.
“I can order you a hair dryer,” he said calmly, watching as I pulled the blue spiked abomination off my head. “If you can’t afford—”
“You know I can afford it,” I replied, waving him off. “It’s the principle of the thing.”
“You’d rather bitch about it and wear that thing on your head,” he mused, wrinkling his nose at my hat.
“Basically.”
Noah shrugged. “You’re the one who looks like a six-year-old boy.”
“Hey, I resent that comment,” I shot back. “Just because I don’t have boobs—”
“You cannot say boobs in here, Reese,” he hissed, his eyes wide as saucers.
“You’re the one who said I look like a boy!”
“I meant the frigging hat!”
“Sure, you did.”
“Jesus,” Noah mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“You can’t fire me, or your husband would murder you in your sleep,” I reminded him cheerfully.