“Who wants dessert?” I ask, snapping my head up. Everyone in the room looks at me incredulously. “Lucas helped me make the pies,” I go on. “And he doesn’t even eat food.”
“You know I love pumpkin pie,” Kristy says, forcing a smile. “I’ll let everyone know it’s time for dessert.”
“I, uh, I’m going to go down to the wine cellar and get a lot more wine.” I exhale heavily. “You all better drink for me, okay?”
Melinda bobs her head up and down. “Okay. Need any help?”
“I’m good, thanks, though.” I need the few minutes alone to try and gather my composure. The air is tense when I leave the kitchen, and it’s only a bit better when I come back. I don’t think anyone is hungry for dessert yet, but we’re all gathered around the large island counter anyway. The file of crime scene photos has been closed up and tucked away, and I wish I could go back in time and save that conversation for another day.
“I’m really glad you all came,” I say, setting a bottle of Pinot Grigio on the counter. I hold my hand over it, magically pulling the cork out. “Who wants some?”
“Neat trick,” Melinda says and finishes the punch in her glass. “I’ll take some.”
“Me too,” Abby says, and by the look on her face, Phil must have told her everything he overheard. Lucas opens one of the cabinets and gets fresh wine glasses down.
“Are you sure you don’t want any?” Eliza asks Easton, coming up behind him. She’s wearing a pastel pink dress today, and her hair is hanging down around her face in natural waves. Usually, she has her hair up in some sort of elaborate braid, along with a full face of makeup. Today she’s uncharacteristically natural, and I think she looks even prettier because of it.
There’s no denying Eliza is beautiful, and her looks are the only reason Lucas chose her. He was seeking revenge after a military leader who attacked vampires. Eliza had several sisters, but they all paled in comparison to her.
She bats her eyelashes at Easton. “If you drink enough and I drink you, I’ll feel it.”
“I, uh, I—I’m good,” Easton forces out, unable to keep from checking Eliza out. She’s gorgeous, and if I didn’t enjoy being penetrated by a good old-fashioned dick so much, I might bat for the other team just for her.
“Well,” she starts and drags her fingertips over his shoulder. “If you change your mind, I’ll happily pour you a drink.” She runs her tongue over her teeth and looks at Julian. “It’s a shame you don’t eat or drink.”
“I am an angel of the Lord,” Julian says seriously, and for some reason, it does me in. I burst out laughing, unable to control myself.
“Sorry,” I say, bringing my hand to my chest, laughing so hard I double over.
“Are you alright?” Kristy asks, shifting her eyes from me to Lucas.
“I think she’s fine.” Lucas’s hand lands on my shoulders and I sharply inhale, wiping away tears from laughing so hard.
“I’m good,” I assure my friends, sucking in a breath. “I’m really glad you’re all here. This last year has been a bit intense.”
“You could say that again,” Evander mumbles, raising his drink.
“It has,” I agree. I met Lucas back in March, and I tried so hard not to fall for him. Flash forward to now, and we’re married with a baby on the way. If anyone had told me then what things would be like now…I’d punch them in the face. “So…thank you,” I conclude, knowing I’m seconds away from crying, and I really don’t want to cry in front of everyone. It’s bad enough Lucas gets to see me and my emotions in all their glory. Crying doesn’t solve anything, though Lucas has reminded me more than once my feelings are valid, and I shouldn’t be ashamed of any of them.
“And if anyone wants to take a walk around an empty graveyard to burn off some calories and make room for dessert, let me know.”
Abby laughs. “I would love to, but, uh, where is there an empty graveyard?”
“Right out back,” I tell her. “A good while ago I sort of accidentally brought back the dead. But Lucas and I got rid of the corpses. Most have been burned, so they’re gone and can’t even haunt you anymore.”
Easton reaches for the bottle of wine on the counter. I know for a fact he’s not a wine drinker. “I know there’s a story behind that, but I don’t want to know, right?”
“I want to know,” Phil counters, shrugging innocently. It has to be so weird for him and Abby to be the only two “normal” people in the room right now. What’s even weirder is that I have no freaking clue what that feels like.