Chapter 10

10

“Perks?” My stomach flutters. “Like you’re closer to your family?”

“Yeah, that’s nice.”

“I’m sure they’re glad to have you back, even if it’s only temporary.” I hop out of the truck, feeling conflicted.

I’m attracted to Noah—there’s no denying it. But even if I wasn’t a pre-vamp, he’s leaving in a year. My life is here, in Glenwood Springs. My little flower farm, my family, my friends—all here. I have zero desire to move to Denver.

And my life is already complicated enough; I don’t need to add more dating drama to it.

But it never hurts to have another friend, and Noah seems to need one, too. I just need to keep my emotions in check.

“Max usually sets up my stand,” I say when Noah gets out of the truck. “We’ll check on things and then come back for the flowers.”

I glance at the truck, ensuring the bed is shaded so the flowers won’t overheat, and then start down the street.

“Piper!” Leslee from Sopris Soaps and Scrubs calls, abandoning her half-staged stand and hurrying over to me. “Oh, gosh, honey, I saw your boyfriend on the news. It’s awful—just awful. I can’t believe he was selling drugs .” She drops her voice to a stage whisper that I’m sure the vendors across the street can hear. “Did you know? Of course you didn’t. You’re such a nice girl. I’ve been so worried—well, we all have been—especially when the police came around the week after it happened, asking questions. And you disappeared! Just vanished. You know what I was worried about?”

I have no idea, but I’m sure she’s going to tell me.

“I thought maybe whoever killed Kevin got you, too. I’ve hardly slept for a month; I’ve been so worried.”

My name and number are printed in the vendor directory—she could have called or texted me. But I don’t remind her of that. There’s no point, really.

“I’m sorry you were worried,” I say. “But I’m all right.”

“Such a relief.” Her eyes move to Noah, and her gaze sharpens. The edges of her lips tip up in a gossip-gathering smile. “Well, hello . Who might you be?”

“This is Noah,” I say, resigned to my fate. “He’s going to help me with my stand today.”

She eyes him, forming theories —ones I don’t want to hear, judging from the look on her face.

“We should get moving, or we’ll be late setting up,” I tell her, edging away. “It was good to see you.”

“You too, hon. Glad you’re not dead in a ditch somewhere.”

“Uh…thanks.”

We’re several booths away when Noah says, “You know she thinks we offed your boyfriend because we’re having a tawdry affair.”

“I figured. Hopefully you have an alibi for that Friday, just in case you get dragged into this.”

“Remind me what day it was?”

“The twenty-fifth—the day before we first met.”

“I’m covered. I’d just returned to town and was with family all evening.”

“And that night?”

“Still with family. I’m staying with my parents while I’m here.”

“Ah,” I tease. “Living at home, huh?”

“I have a house in Denver. I didn’t want to buy another here.”

“Because it’s temporary?”

“Right.”

I spot Max in my regular spot. He’s securing the legs of my canopy with stackable weights. Olivia follows him from corner to corner, talking animatedly.

My stomach knots when I see them. They’re my favorite people in the world, and soon, I’m going to have to tell them I’m sick. It’s not a conversation I’m looking forward to having…nor one I’m sure I can have. The pamphlets made it clear that I’m allowed to share the news with my immediate family only. Max counts, I think, but Olivia? Not really.

But she’s as good as a sister, and it’s not like she’s going to spread vampire rumors all around town.

“You okay?” Noah asks, making me realize I’ve come to a stop in the middle of the street.

“Yeah,” I say immediately. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to my brother and best friend.”

Max smiles when he spots me, but that smile falters when he notices Noah by my side. Olivia’s eyes widen comically, and she nudges Max in the ribs.

“Hey,” I greet them. “Thank you for helping me set up.”

“Sure.” Max pulls his eyes from Noah to give me his full attention, lifting his brows.

“Noah, this is my brother, Max, and my best friend, Olivia.” I put on a big, this-isn’t-awkward smile. “Guys, this is Noah.”

Noah steps forward, offering Max his hand.

Because Max looks highly suspicious, I add, “He’s the guy that rescued me at the gas station after I had that awful date.”

Awful date seems like an understatement, and Max and Olivia don’t even know the whole story. Too embarrassed, I didn’t tell either of them that Ethan bit me.

Max’s expression softens, and his shoulders drop a little. He takes Noah’s hand. “Oh, okay. Nice to meet you.”

“You’re Grocery Store Guy?” Olivia says, sounding a bit twitterpated. “The one who drove Piper to the doctor?”

“Grocery Store Guy?” Noah glances at me.

“Doctor?” Max asks, lifting his eyebrows. “What doctor?”

I give Olivia a sharp look. “I’m fine.”

Max thinks I’ve skipped the farmer’s market for the last four weeks because of the breakup and the media attention that surrounded Kevin’s death. All the vendors knew Kevin since he used to help me with my stand. (You know, before our relationship went rocky, he got involved with Sugar Baby, and he started dealing drugs.)

And that’s partially true. But mostly, it’s because I was sicker than a dog.

“Are you okay?” Max eyes me, maybe noticing I’ve lost a little weight. At least the dark circles under my eyes are gone now that I’ve started eating like a lion.

“Don’t tell Mom and Dad, but it was just a diet thing. I’m supposed to meet with a dietitian next week.”

“Why are you on a diet?” Max scowls. “You look fine.”

“No, not that kind of diet. I mean…” How can I possibly explain this? And in front of Noah, no less. “Don’t worry about it, okay?”

“Have you gotten the bloodwork results in yet?” Olivia asks.

“Yesterday, actually,” I hedge.

“What did the doctor say?”

I widen my eyes and subtly jerk my head toward Noah. Thankfully, we’ve known each other long enough she gets the point.

“We’ll talk about it later,” she says quickly, waving her hand like it’s no big deal.

“What time is it?” I ask Max, hoping to get rid of him. “Don’t you need to set up?”

He glances at his phone. “Yeah, I told the guys I’d be there by five.”

I gesture to the tables and canopy. “Thank you for putting everything up for me.”

My brother nods, still looking suspicious, and then reluctantly heads toward the music pavilion tent.

Olivia gestures to the wagon, though her attention is still on Max. “Should we…”

“I have help tonight. Do you want to go fangirl?”

She turns back, looking hesitant as her eyes flicker to Noah and then back to me.

“What is it?” I ask.

“What about Ethan?” she whispers.

Since I never fessed up that he bit me, Olivia and Max think he tried to force himself onto me in a different way, and she’s not keen to leave me alone.

“Noah knows what happened,” I remind her. “That’s why he’s here.”

Olivia’s eyes soften on my new extremely hot male friend. “Don’t leave her alone, okay?”

“I won’t,” Noah promises solemnly.

“Have you seen him?” I ask her, feeling edgy now that the subject has come up.

She shakes her head, looking down the street. “No, and I’ve been keeping an eye out.”

“Maybe he won’t show up tonight.”

“Maybe…” She scrunches her face. “But be careful, okay?”

I nod, and then she hurries after Max.

“Okay…well,” I say. “Looks like it’s all ready for the flowers.”

“It’s nice of your brother to set up your stuff,” Noah says.

“It really is. He started back when Kevin stopped coming.”

“Are you close?”

“Yeah,” I say, feeling guilty that there’s so much going on in my life he doesn’t know about. “Closer than I am to my parents. They’re not super happy with me right now.”

“Why?”

“Oh, you know.” I shrug. “Vegetarian. Flower farmer.”

“You eat a lot more steak than other vegetarians I know.”

“Don’t remind me,” I say darkly, pulling the wagon down the street.

Noah chuckles and follows me back to the truck. “Tell me more about this guy you’re avoiding.”

I peer at him. “I’m not sure that’s really a first friend-date conversation.”

“I cooked you a steak and held your hand at the doctor. We’re at least on our third friend-date.”

A smile twitches my lips. “You just said friend-date.”

He rolls his eyes and pulls one of the flower buckets from the truck, setting it in my waiting wagon.

“I don’t even know where to start,” I sigh.

“You said he comes to your stand. When did you begin seeing him?”

“About a year ago, I guess.”

“And he only just asked you out?”

“When he first came around, Kevin was usually with me. It’s just been in the last few months Kevin stopped coming.” Out of nowhere, my eyes sting, which is dumb. My stupid drug-dealing ex doesn’t deserve any of my tears. “And Ethan didn’t ask me out this time, either—I asked him. I’d just found out Kevin was cheating on me, and Olivia said Ethan liked me…so.” I shrug. “I guess I wanted to get back at Kevin.”

I feel like an idiot.

“And this happened the night Kevin died?”

“Yep. I texted him to break up, but he never messaged back.” I swallow, panic rising in my chest. “Probably because he was being murdered.”

“Do you know Ethan’s last name?”

“No, he just put ‘Ethan B.’ in my phone.”

“ He did?”

“Remember how I left my cell in his car that night? He packaged it up and sent it back to me. His info was in it when I got it back.”

Knowing how bad this all sounds, I slowly steal a peek at Noah. He watches me, incredulous. “Did you tell him where you live?”

“No.” I pull another bucket from the back of the truck and place it in the wagon. “I guess he already knew.”

Noah closes his eyes, breathing in through his nose like he’s searching for patience. “That means he’s been watching you. Why didn’t you go to the cops?”

“I would have, but then I found out Kevin had been murdered, and I got sick…” I roll my shoulders. “And Ethan said he wouldn’t contact me again, and he hasn’t .”

I can’t tell him the rest—that Ethan is actually a vampire, and he was hoping to change me, probably so we could enjoy immortal life and madness together. At least that’s the conclusion I came to in the middle of the night as I pondered it. Though maybe that’s a bit narcissistic. For all I know, he was just hungry.

“Piper,” Noah says heavily, and darn it, I like hearing him say my name. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but maybe you should tell me exactly what happened the night I found you at the gas station?—”

“I’m fine—really. Since it’s my first time back, I was nervous, but you’re here, and I’m okay.”

He frowns, his lips pressing thin.

“Come on.” I give the full wagon a tug. “I’ll pay you for your help with a turkey leg. They look disgusting—you’ll love it.”

Reluctantly, he follows me.