sha's

en glow across my room. I groaned, rolling onto my side, my

ves crashing against the shore. A voice, deep and commanding, whisperi

r ran th

real. T

was just a dream, I told myself. But the words felt hollow, l

my door snapped m

art, are

m, the kind that left no room

ah,

er phone in hand and a small smile. "Mina's dad j

ina's dad was always polite and welcoming, but

Oh

d drop you off at her place on my way to work. That w

a's? I grinned. "S

ought so. Just be on

yes playfully.

k but didn't argue. "Get r

flopped back onto my bed

ream. She'd probably laugh, but s

Mina's

story house that somehow managed to be both elegant and cozy. Her dad, des

in an oversized sweatshirt and fuzzy socks

ied. "I thought yo

been a few hours since

d me toward the couch.

ting out, "I had the wei

opping onto the cou

, the waves, the voice calling my name, the g

ina's lips curled in

reading all those super

ms. "I'm serious

rs dramatically. "Oooo

ow at her. "You

means something, I'm sure we'll find out even

ding to let it

range F

cks, and inside jokes. But even as we

rolling through her phone, I fou

ithered dow

swore I felt it, an uns

the back of my

, scanning the em

thi

feeling

ash

ice snappe

d to her

rowed. "You j

Yeah... thought I sa

n eyebrow. "L

ed. "Nev

off, I stole another

for the briefe

lden eyes watching

nner

he horizon, casting deep blue hues across the sky. The warm glow

e down and smiled warmly. "G

inned. "

the dining table. The conversation flowed easily, laughter fil

ned to me, his

re you excited

n't wait to experience

"That's good. Just remember, someti

. "What do

, something knowing. "Just an old man's advice.

ran thr

ect, and the conversation returned to normal. But even

en't what

ust casua

methin

ter D

her bed, the glow of her bedside lamp

asked, her voice

dad... he said somet

h, propping her chin on her

told me to keep an open mind beca

thought. "Huh. T

nk he knows som

He's a vampire-hunti

pillow at her. "I

t know, Tash. Maybe he just meant life in gener

h...

own, I wasn

found myself staring at the c

nge presence outside

l too much

ing was

didn't k