“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.”
“The side effects—” Jay begins.
“Drinking blood, photosensitivity. I still say yes.”
I squeeze her hand. “You’re literally the coolest mom. And Jay can turn you guys too, if you want… Maybe?” I glance uncertainly at Jay.
“If we decide we want that,” my dad interjects. “I’m not sure we do. It’s something we’ll have to discuss.”
“I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t want to stay young and disease-free forever,” I say. “But okay.”
“What if your voice ability doesn’t work after you turn?” Dad asks.
Shit. I hadn’t thought of that.
“Even if I lose my ability, I want this,” I say slowly. “I was thinking we could take a beach vacation first, as a family—maybe save the transition for the end of summer. But I’d like to do it soon, before any other weird crap comes our way. I want Jay. Forever.” I dig my nails into my palms to fend off more tears. God, what is wrong with me tonight?
“Forever?” Jay’s voice is threaded with hope. I risk a glance at him; his brown eyes glow into mine, brimming with a passion that heats my very skin.
My parents exchange delighted glances, and Mom seizes my dad’s hand, tugging him toward the hall. “Why don’t we let you and Jay talk it over?” she says. “Whatever you decide, you have our support. Right, Liam?” Dad hesitates, and she elbows him, still smiling broadly at Jay and me.
“Absolutely.” Dad gives us a wry smile. “Whatever your mother says. Talk among yourselves…”
Mom drags him away, and a few seconds later I hear the distant thump of their bedroom door closing.
Jay circles the kitchen island, trailing his fingertips along its smooth surface. The blood bracelet on his wrist catches the light, turning to silver flame. His eyes are hooded now, dark and intense. Hungry. He has never looked more like a beautiful predator.
“Are you cool with this?” I ask, sidestepping to keep the island between us. “Turning me, I mean?”
“It’s your choice.”
“Good answer, but I actually want your advice.”
“Part of me wants to keep drinking your human blood and no one else’s, because you’re delicious.” His slow, sharp-toothed grin sends a tingling thrill between my legs. “But a bigger part of me wants you protected. You’re so vulnerable as a human, Daisy. So easily broken, so slow to heal. I want you to have strength and speed and regenerative powers. I want this for you, as long you’re okay with being supernatural.”
“If we’re being technical, I was supernatural first. I just didn’t realize it.”
“True. Once you’re a vampire, we can still exchange blood occasionally, for fun. If you want to. We’ll do anything you like, whenever you want.” His gaze softens with longing. “And if, in a few years, you’d like an enormous diamond ring, I’m down for that, too.”
My pulse kicks up, and he tilts his head as if he can hear its new rhythm. He’s coming closer, and my insides are hollow with craving, desperate and vulnerable and his.
“You said you want me forever,” he whispers.
“I know, and I’m sorry—that’s ridiculous and overreaching—I assumed too much, and honestly who says that when they’re twenty-two? We’re too young—”
“Didn’t your parents marry right out of college?”
“Yes, but—hang on.” I’m breathless, dizzy. “Nobody said anything about marriage.”
“Calm down, klipspringer. I’m not proposing to you yet.”
“Good, because I don’t want you to think I’m jumping into this because of the money. It’s not that. I mean I want to travel and party and research with you, but I didn’t say forever because I want all those things. I don’t plan to mooch off you for the rest of my existence—”
“Daisy.” He’s right in front of me now, and his tone stops my nervous chatter. “Daisy, I thought you understood. Everything I have is already yours. I accumulated this for you. There’s no mooching.” He laughs, sounding a little breathless himself, and the realization slows my heart rate to a bearable speed. “It’s yours, sweetheart. All of it. All of me. And the sooner you move into your house, the happier I’ll be.”
“Oh my god, Jay,” I whisper tearfully.
“Hey.” He sweeps his thumb along my cheekbone. “I know this is big, for both of us. But right now, all we’re talking about is timing. When you want to turn.”
“Sometime in August.” I sniff a little.
