The Human Vampire Mate

Chapter 3

Alice POV

“I think 4B likes you.” Sarah whispered into my ear.

I chuckled, and input my last customer’s order on the POS. “He’s my neighbor, and I think he is a creep. Always butting into my conversations and watching me. It’s weird.”

Sarah leaned her elbows on the counter next to her and stared his way. If he ate that pie any slower he would turn into stone, I was sure of it.

“He has been searching for you all night. Like he has to know where you are. Why don’t you go home with him? You can make a run for it if you’re into it. You’re just right next door.”

“No”, I said, pressing enter and turned to look at Sarah. “I’m about to graduate–”

“And when was the last time you went out with a boy, Alice? It’s sad. I’m sure your v****a is screaming for some kind of attention.”

“Ewww, don’t talk about my v****a. She’s sensitive.”

Sarah laughed loudly, “Okay. Whatever floats your boat. If you want to be stressed and unfulfilled, who am I to judge, right?” She said, “Your shift ends in ten minutes.”

“Like I forget.” I said, tying my ponytail again. “I have tons of homework to do tonight. I’m glad Dan let me take the short shift today. I had to beg.”

Sarah placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Two months, Alice. You’ve got this. If I ever have kids, I’m going to make sure that you teach them. You’re great.”

I chuckled, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. My internship is going well, but sometimes those kids test me.”

“They would not be kids if they didn’t.”

My last table, other than my nosy neighbor, left, so I stalked over and stood next to him. His blue gaze lifted towards mine, and for a brief moment, my breath got caught.

He was much cuter than Ethan. Good thing I did not like him, or I would have fallen head over heels by now. Those eyes were so deep, and attentive , as if he was really listening and waiting for my answer.

“Do you need anything else? My shift is ending.”

“No”, he said, standing up. “I’ll pay now.”

I put my hand out and my fingers brushed his chest, causing a chill to raked down my spine.

He was freezing.

How weird.

I was sure it was a normal temperature here.

“Wait a second, Mister. You have waited for my shift to end. Do I need to be escorted out by the cooks? Because that is really creepy.”

He glanced at the kitchen window where the last cook on duty stood. “No, don’t invite him outside.”

I folded my arms, officially creeped out by this guy, “Why? So you can r**e me in the alley outback?”

He slid his thumb against his bottom lip, drawing my attention to how plush and pink they were.

“If I wanted to r**e you, I would have broken into your apartment already, shortcake.”

My mouth opened in shock. “Right. Please see yourself out of this restaurant and out of my life. You’re a Grade A Asshol.”

He looked like he wanted to say something, but I did not give him a chance.

I walked to the back, tossed my apron underneath the waitress station, and grabbed my keys.

I stuck my head into the kitchen, “Bye, see you guys. See you this weekend.”

They shouted back but I was high-tailing it out back.

The alley air was thick and humid since it was springtime in the south.

I wiped my hand over the back of my neck while walking towards the employee parking lot.

The street lights flickered like it always did, and a stray cat scurried from the dumpster.

Fiddling with my keys, I hurried toward my Honda, feeling like someone was watching me.

Maybe it was the fact that my new neighbor was a bigger creep than I realized, and I felt like he would follow me home. Or his warning about the redhead hung over me.

When my car came into view, I sighed in relief.

Until a shadow loomed from behind a row of hedges and several people walked out in front of me.

It was the group of college kids from my table earlier.

The exact one Drake had been worried about.

Maybe he knew this would happen?

Maybe he knew them more than I thought and I should have listened, apparently.

“Well, look who is all alone. Is that fear I smell?” The redhead asked.

Who smelled fear? A demon?

Clutching the strap of my purse, I folded my arms over my chest. “Guess again. I think that it’s your upper lip you’re smelling.”

The girl next to the redhead gasped, and for a brief moment, I did feel scared.

Scared that she would go to these extremes to confront me over a few words tossed back and forth.

“You have a really big mouth, but lucky for you, I’m about to shut you up for good.”

For good?

Like, kill me?

My heart began to beat faster.

The redhead stalked toward me, but I stood my ground, noticing her eyes turn red and flicker back to their original color.

I grabbed my purse and spun around, aiming to hit her in the head, when something raced by me, knocking me back into the dumpster where I hit my head.

I groaned, reaching up to touch my head, I noticed the blood sliding down between my fingers, and my vision darkened.

I did not do blood, at all.

I hated it.

I fell forward, my face pressed against the gravely asphalt, while a pair of boots stopped in front of me. I imagined the redhead would kick me while I was down.

It would not surprise me in the least, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

I sent up a prayer I should not be r***d or beaten to death, and fainted, like the wimp I was.

*******

I woke up staring at the ceiling of a vehicle that was not mine, but the pressure in the back of my head throbbed so badly that I shut my eyes again.

The bumpy ride knocked me around, but I was too out of it to care. I vaguely recalled someone carrying me.

Maybe Sarah found me. Or I was being brought to the hospital.

At that point, I did not care. My head hurt too badly. Darkness consumed me, and I was placed somewhere warm.

A soft sigh escaped me, and I snuggled into what I assumed was a pillow. I would figure it all out after a little nap.