“Tell you what? Forget I said anything!” I give my mother an unimpressed look, trying not to roll my eyes as I shrink back into the sofa. It’s typical of her to get side-tracked by my potential love life. The argument I was trying to make is moot at this point and I know I’m about to be bombarded with personal questions. 

“Oh, come on! It’s so sweet to hear you say you like someone!” She sounds so happy for me, it’s painful knowing I’m about to burst her gleeful bubble. 

“There’s nothing to tell! Really! Besides, you were scolding me for not bringing sun-protection to work. Remember? Let’s get back to that. I’m so irresponsible, blah blah blah, c’mon. Scold me.” I try to steer her away from the topic, but I already know there’s no deterring her. 

She chuckles a little, shaking her head, “No no. You can’t get rid of me that easily. This is much more important. Come on, tell me! What’s he like? How did you meet him?! Is he a vampire? Human? I’m your mom! I want to know these things!” She grips my arm affectionately, shaking me slightly with excitement. 

“And there’s the questions. I knew you’d get overexcited. You’re going to be disappointed, I assure you!” It doesn’t dissuade her. 

I can see her grin softens a little and her gaze reminds me of a pathetic puppy.

It’s impossible not to give in. 

Letting out an exasperated sigh, I finally roll my eyes and cave. “Fine. He’s just a guy at work. Honestly, I barely know him.” I think about the sparse conversations we’ve had at the office and how often I’ve made a fool of myself. Even at the hospital, Vincent was tired and spent most of the time resting—I mostly slept in that godawful chair.  

“Barely know him?” my mom asks, sounding skeptical. Then I see her eyes light up like something clicks. “Oh… so he’s hot.” 

“Mom! I can’t believe you just said that!” I laugh and my jaw falls open as I gape at her.

She snickers. “Oh please, you just said you barely know him and already you’re blushing and smitten! I wasn’t born in ancient times, you know! I’m aware of hot people. Your father for one—”

“Okay, I do not need you to continue that sentence.” I close my eyes like it will stop me from picturing my parents fawning over each other. It has the opposite effect, which is difficult to shake. I clear my throat, rapidly blinking in the hopes that will help. “Anyway, do you actually think I’m that shallow that I would fall for a guy solely based on looks?” I’m mildly offended at the thought. 

She raises a brow at me, looking at me like she’s trying to hold her tongue. 

She fails. 

“Do I need to bring up your last ex-boyfriend?”

I gasp, genuinely in disbelief those words have just come out of my mother’s mouth. “That’s a low blow.”

“I’m just saying. He was pretty, but not much else. We both knew you could do better and that’s why he’s an ex!” She crosses her arms over her chest like she’s justified, and I laugh because she’s blunt, but honest. And though it kills me to admit it, she’s usually right. 

I snap my jaw closed, trying to grasp my bearings as I shoot back, “Anyway, it’s not just because he’s hot.”

“So he is hot. A mother’s intuition—”

“I’m not going to tell you anything in a second.”

“Okay! Okay. I’m shutting up.” She grins and it’s good to laugh with her. I genuinely love how accepting she is. I can always feel how unconditionally she loves me, and it makes me feel worlds better. I’m really glad she came all this way just to be with me, but if I tell her that now, I’ll start crying again. 

So, instead I let out another gruff sigh, though it’s quieter this time. “Since you’re going to find a way to drag it out of me, I might as well just tell you…”

She lets go of me to frame her cheeks between her palms, totally excited and enthralled.

I chuckle, admitting, “Honestly, he’s really, really nice. Like, when I messed up—a few times—he was so cool. He was understanding and subtly helped me out so I didn’t look like an idiot in front of my manager. I don’t know, there’s just something different about him. I just can’t stop thinking about him and it has me really flustered all the time. It’s lame. I can’t focus. I bet he thinks I’m such a dork…” I groan, throwing my head back against the cushions. 

I don’t tell her about how Vincent saved me at the pharmacy; I don’t want to worry her anymore than I already have, but even thinking about it makes me wonder… Have I really liked him since the moment we met? Since the minute I looked up at him and felt him hold me?

I never really believed in love at first sight, but this attraction has lasted days, non-stop… 

Is this it?

My mom’s voice makes me sit up and look at her as she says, “Well, you are a bit of a dork.”

“Hey!”

“You are! It’s cute. You’re just being yourself. Is that so bad?” She lowers her hands, patting me on the knee like it might comfort me. 

I let out a mock sobbing sound. “Yes! It makes me look really lame and undatable!”

“That’s not true.” She pauses, looking at me as she carefully asks, “...Is he a vampire?”

Blushing more, I shake my head. My laughter dies out and I can hear my own disappointment and worry as I whisper, “No. He’s not.”

Her smile fades a little and I can see she’s looking for ways to soften what she’s about to say. “So it’s… difficult for you. To like him.”

I swallow down my own self-hatred as I nod. “Yeah. It is. It’s not like I have anything against humans, I just feel like there’s this big divide. Like how would we ever go on dates? He eats, I drink blood. Not like we can go to a restaurant or for a picnic—”

“Your father’s human. We make it work. It’s totally possible to find a balance. There are lots of sites that can help with dating suggestions and schedule balance. It doesn’t have to be an issue,” my mom offers. 

I shrug at her, slouching as I grumble, “Yeah, I guess. But, like, I’m not even kidding myself. I know he’s pretty out of my league—”

“No one’s out of your league. You put yourself down all the time! I really don’t like it! You’re cool, Micah,” she says, and I can hear the conviction and defensiveness in her voice. It’s nice to hear how protective she is, even against me. 

Still, I give her an annoyed look. “You have to say that. You’re my mom.”

She looks stern, becoming more animated as she says, “Excuse me? No, I don’t! I know my opinion doesn’t count to you because I’m your mom, but it’s true. You’re smart, you’re caring, you’re romantic, you love reading… You’re a good person. And if he’s a good person, he’ll see that.”

I’m frustrated as I try to explain, “I get what you’re saying. But it’s complicated. He’s… in a higher position than me. In the company. I just ran into him a few times. So, it’s not a good idea for me to be thinking seriously about him or pursue it. I mean, I don’t even know if he’s gay. Or interested in men in any capacity. And he’s older than me. I feel like he just sees me as the kid that mops the floors. You know?” Crap. I’m rambling now. I’m probably saying too much and now I’m worried she’ll start asking specific questions. 

What would she think if she knew I had a major crush on the CEO of my new company?

Thankfully oblivious to my inner worries, she nods a little, shrugging. “Well, I certainly can’t tell you what to do. But you’re not a kid. You’re a fully functioning adult and an active member of society. You’re a janitor, that’s not something to be ashamed of. You wanted this job.”

“I know. I do.”

“Well then?” Her eyes fill with worry and she stares at me intently. “Does he belittle you or something? You said he’s nice, but does he make you feel inferior?”

“No! No, not at all. I’ve never felt that from him… Honestly, I belittle myself.” Vincent’s been nothing but kind to me. Even when he offered me a ride from the hospital, I’d let my own independence and guilt stand in the way of the one thing that would have ensured I avoided all this mess.

My mom sighs, tilting her head as she looks up at me. “Well, stop bullying my son, then.” She smiles at me and I smirk a little, nodding. 

She’s right, though it’s mildly infuriating. 

“Yeah. I should stop. Sorry.” I let out a deep exhale and this time I feel better, lighter. 

She reaches for me and puts a hand on my un-scared cheek, rubbing it. “What’s his name? Do you have a picture of him?”

I jerk away, staring at her with raised brows and pursed lips. “Yeah, nice try. He shall be henceforth known as “Anonymous Co-worker.” Thank you very much.”

She giggles and cracks into an amused grin. “Okay okay. But when you’re ready, I am very enthusiastically all ears.”

“Oh I’ll bet you are,” I mutter. 

She scooches forward a little, putting her hand gently on my knee. This time she doesn’t pat it, she just rests it there, quietly connecting us. “What do you want to do about your shift? Do you want to go in? Or stay home and rest a little? Whatever you need to do is what you should do. Don’t worry right now about consequences or outcomes. Your health is important. I want you to be okay.”

I dip my head forward and rest it against her shoulder, closing my eyes. It reminds me of when I was a kid and she’d sit me down and tell me how she was there to support me… That I was my own person and my wants and needs mattered. “You’re a good mom,” I murmur, not really sure if I meant to say it out loud. 

“Awe, sweetie. This is what moms do! We look after our babies.” She pats my hair, waiting for me to decide. 

It’s nice. I don’t feel rushed or anxious. I just think about what I really want and know I’m not alone. It takes a few minutes for me to think through things, but eventually I say, “I want to go in for my shift. I feel a lot better after feeding. I don’t think I need rest. I just want to get back to normal.”

She sounds hesitant and worried as she whispers, “You know it’s going to hit you hard when you’re next due for another bag…” 

I sigh and my brows crease instinctively. “Yeah. I know. It’s going to suck. I’ll see where my day off lines up and if I’m scheduled to work maybe I’ll ask for it off… I don’t want to cause a scene.”

That’s the last I need. 

I can see it clearly in my mind, like some horrific vision as I imagine myself going into a frenzy at work—hurting someone, needing blood… It gives me chills and my most hated memories come flooding forward. It’s the stuff of nightmares. 

Guilt stabs me right in the chest and my heart feels tight. 

I can’t hurt anyone. I can’t lose control. Not again… Not ever.

That would be the worst possible way I could out myself as a vampire.