“As much as I want to, I think tonight has been exciting enough,” I tell him. “But you’re coming to my house for dinner tomorrow night, right? What if you stayed over?”

“Your parents…”

“I’m an adult, Jay. And they won’t mind. It’s you.”

He tilts his head. “Are they real, your parents? They’ve always been too cool.”

“My mom’s just that awesome. And my dad… Well, he’s literally the stuff of legend.”

He grins. “You should still wash up before you go back. Don’t want to push your luck with them. They might kick you out, and then you’d have to come live with me.”

My heart flips. “Is that an invitation?”

“Absolutely.”

I return his smile, but then I hesitate. “I want to, I really do. But I think I need to stay with my parents through the end of the summer. I need to get comfortable with myself again, Jay, and you’re a part of that, but I want to have some alone moments, too. And time with my parents before I become a vampire. Does that make sense?”

“So much sense.” He curls my fingers in his. “Just know that you have a home here, anytime you want.”

His eyes glow with so much love that I flush, dropping my gaze, a smile of ridiculous joy spreading over my face. “I think we should tell my parents about the vampire stuff when you come over. I’ve made some iffy choices in the past several years, and I want to let them know that I’m becoming a vampire. Not for their permission, but for their input.”

Jay cups my hands in his. “Whatever you need.” And he kisses my forehead.

The forehead kiss stays with me while Henry drives me home. I love all Jay’s kisses, but that one in particular felt special. It didn’t ask for anything, or want anything. It was simply a gift, a sign that he sees me. And loves me.

28

We have a formal dining room at my house, but we never use it. We prefer the big table in our enormous kitchen, which offers quicker access to second helpings and condiments and feels more comfortable and friendly. Jay’s visit is no exception. He’s family, after all, as I remind myself repeatedly, every time my stomach twists and turns over the big revelation we’re planning. Somehow I manage to eat enough roast chicken and creamed corn to stave off any concerned looks from Mom.

After dinner, Jay dives right into his confession. He tells them everything, from the moment he ran away, through the entire showdown with Wolfsheim at the party. I cringe through parts of it that I personally would have chosen to soften a bit, for my parents’ sake.

Jay concludes with wanting to turn me into a vampire. And then he goes perfectly still, and waits.

My mother is as white as the flour canister on the counter behind her. My dad starts to swear, and then bites it back, as if he still thinks we’re kids and he needs to set an example or something. It’s hilarious.

“So you…um… Sorry, I’m not sure where to start.” Dad looks over to me. “You say your ability works more powerfully on vampires? Is that why you were asking me about it the other night?”

“Yeah. With humans it’s just a strong sort of persuasion, but with vampires it’s total compulsion.”

“My ability allows me to compel humans,” Dad admits, with a glance at Mom. “I’ve sworn not to use it,” he adds hastily to Jay. “And it doesn’t last more than a day or two, though usually that’s enough time to secure the results I want.”

Like when he secured the job he wanted. He’s always been my mild-mannered, super-nerdy, scientist dad, but now I’m seeing this ruthless edge to him, and while it’s a little scary, it’s also kind of cool.

“I wouldn’t judge you, sir,” Jay says.

“Oh, but you should. See, I’m judging you right now, son, based on your decision to involve my daughter in all of this.”

“It wasn’t his fault,” I protest. “You heard how it happened.”

“Yes, and I’m wondering if we’re getting the whole story. Forgive me if I don’t trust you both on such an important topic. They say the ones with something to hide are always the most suspicious, and as you know, I’ve been hiding my power for years, so I have become a very suspicious person. I’m curious about how my ability would affect a vampire, and I’m vested in finding out the whole truth. So in the interest of doing both—Jay, would you be willing to help me with a little test?”

Spoken with that firm tone and steely gaze, it isn’t really a request.

“Of course,” Jay says.

“Come into the other room.” Dad is smiling, but it’s a faintly menacing smile. “I’ve also got a few questions about your intentions toward my daughter.”

“Dad! Seriously?”

“It’s fine.” Jay rises from the table. His throat bobs as he swallows. It’s kinda cute that he’s nervous.

They go into the living room, and Dad tells Serenity to close the sliding pocket door—which pisses me off, because I wanted to listen. I’ve never been so jealous of vampire hearing.

“Jay will be just fine,” says Mom, standing up and stacking plates. “Help me load the dishwasher.”

She clinks the dishes extra loudly and runs the water longer than normal, just to keep me from hearing the voices in the other room. By the time Jay and Dad return—after fifteen freaking minutes—I’m a mass of nerves and frustration.

“Well?” I snap.

“I can compel vampires,” Dad says smugly. “Don’t look so ferocious, Daisy. He’s fine. Right, son?” He slaps Jay on the back.

“I think so?” Jay looks a little dazed, like vampires usually do after they’ve been compelled. “I can’t really remember what we talked about.”

“It was better than truth serum.” Dad yanks the fridge open. From my angle, I can see that he reaches for beers before grabbing two Cokes instead. Because Jay doesn’t drink. The whole men-sharing-beer ritual is kind of old-fashioned, but it’s also a little endearing that Dad wants to do that with Jay. What did Jay say to him in there? It must have been good.

“You have to tell me what you guys talked about,” I say.

“Nope.” Dad opens his Coke with a satisfying hiss. “But I’ll tell you later, sweetheart,” he says to Mom.

“No fair. He’s my boyfriend and I deserve to know—”

“You deserve to know?” says Mom crisply. “You’re the one who’s been stacking up secrets this summer—things your dad and I deserved to know, since you’re living under our roof and all. So while we’re talking about knowledge that people deserve access to, maybe you should apologize for that.”

I glance at Jay, but he only sips his Coke with a sheepish expression like This is all you.

“Fine,” I mutter. “I’m sorry. I thought if you knew about Jay, you wouldn’t want me dating him while I was, as you say, living under your roof. And I couldn’t risk that. I needed him. Especially after Tom. I never told you all the things Tom said to me, the things he did—”

“What did he do?” Dad’s face darkens.

“Nothing you need to worry about now. He’s out of my life. But Jay is different. I’m…I’m kind of my best self when I’m with him, if that makes sense. And he’s my… He’s… I need him.” My stupid voice is trembling. I have nowhere to hide the oncoming tears. I’m naked and exposed and vulnerable.

Until my mother wraps me in her arms. “I love this for you,” she says quietly.

I can’t answer. I’m too busy blinking hard and trying to hold the sobs in.

“We wouldn’t ask you to stop seeing him,” says Dad. “You’re an adult now. And after what Jay told me… Well, it would just be cruel to separate you. But please try to stay out of dangerous situations. And about the vampire thing—”

But Mom interrupts him. “I’ll take this one, Liam, if you don’t mind. I’ve been thinking about it while Daisy and I were cleaning up.” She hesitates, releasing me from the hug and gripping my hand instead. “The happiest moments of my life are when all three of us are together, on the couch or in our beds. When we’re all under one roof, safe and healthy. That’s when I feel like I can actually relax, like all the pieces of me are in place. And Jay, you’re telling me you can keep Daisy safe all the time, that if she gets into a wreck it won’t kill her, that if someone attacks her she’ll be strong enough to fend them off, that she won’t ever have to be sick again?” She drags in a shuddering breath. “And you want to know if I’m okay with it? Hell yes, I’m okay with it.”