Chapter Thirteen
I half expected to find Bridget long gone by the time I got outside, but I was gratified to find her standing on the sidewalk corner, smoking. Only she wasn’t alone. I swear that girl was like a guy magnet. How did she manage to draw them so quickly? Almost immediately I recognized Rob from inside and I relaxed a little. At least it wasn’t a total stranger.
“Hi guys.” It felt good to be out in the cold night air, even though my legs were scantily clad.
“Hey An, you don’t have to take me home after all, Bob here is gonna come get some blueberry pancakes with me,” Bridget clung to his arm, mostly for balance as near as I could tell.
“It’s Rob,” he corrected her mildly. “And actually, what I said was, I’d see you both home safely. No mention was made of pancakes, blueberry or otherwise.”
“You can get chocolate chip pancakes if you want,” she amended, and I jumped in before he had a chance to change his mind.
“Thanks all the same, Rob, but it’s not necessary. I can make sure she gets home alright.”
“Still, I’ll sleep better tonight if I know you’re both home safe,” he insisted. “I’ve got a car right around the corner. I’ll be back in two shakes, yeah?”
“I’ll wait to shake it ‘til you get back,” Bridget grinned sloppily. Maybe it would be easier to get her home in a car in the shape she was in. How many boilermakers did she have?
“Thanks Rob.” I gave him a nod over the top of her head and he strode off with a whistle.
“Dibs on the Brit, you can have the Russkie,” Bridget called out before he was even out of earshot.
“I’m not in the market for any nationality, so knock yourself out,” I replied quietly.
“Could have fooled me, you were practically in that guy’s lap.”
“I was not!”
“It’s okay. It’s a cinch he’s not my type if he’s into the virginal thing.”
“I’m not a… I’m not having this conversation with you.” I darted a look around, hoping like hell no one was listening.
“Whatever. We both know you’ve had your knees pressed so tightly together you’re practically a nun. Shotgun!” she called out as Rob’s car came into view. It was nice, a newer black Audi, and I hoped Bridget didn’t end up getting sick in it, that might cure him of his Good Samaritan tendencies.
I listened from the back as they chatted up front, Bridget flirting shamelessly with him and Rob firing it right back at her. It was a little strange, but I’d almost gotten the impression he wasn’t particularly interested in her before, but he seemed very into her now. Rob was a perfect gentleman when we arrived, opening the doors for each of us and escorting us to the front door.
Bridget waited in the vestibule for him to follow. “You’re not coming up?” she blinked in surprise.
“I think I’d better call it a night. Call me when you’re closer to conscious though, yeah?” He leaned in to kiss her cheek, holding out a business card and she snatched it up happily.
“Suit yourself, blueberry pancakes here I come!” she declared, charging up the stairs.
“Thanks again for the ride, Rob. That was very sweet of you.”
“I can be sweet when the occasion calls for it,” he gave a half shrug. “You’d best go on after her, you’ll be needing to feed soon.”
“Shhh, she’ll hear you,” I hissed, looking up the stairwell, but Bridget was already on the second set of stairs, I doubted she could hear us.
“She doesn’t know?”
“Of course not, we’re supposed to keep it a secret, right?” How he fit in with the vampire community was still a mystery to me, as well as how he knew I hadn’t fed recently.
“Well, yes. But I thought… so she’s not your feeder then?”
“My… eewh, no. She’s my friend!” The idea of feeding from Bridget made my skin crawl, guilt adding to my discomfort since her blood was the only blood I’d tasted so far.
“My apologies then,” his hands came up in a supplicating gesture. “You’d better make other arrangements soon. You don’t want to put it off for too long, trust me.”
I was supposed to be hundreds of years old, why didn’t he think I’d think of that? “I know that, don’t you think I know that?” I replied a little crossly.
“Right then. Seeing as how you’ve got everything under control, I’d best be on my way.”
Oh man, there he was trying to be nice and I was snapping at him for no good reason. “Wait… thanks, for taking us home. It was unnecessary, but nice of you all the same.” I offered him a conciliatory smile and after a beat, he smiled back.
“No worries, miss. You take care now.”
“I will. Bye.” As he walked away it occurred to me… Rob knew where I lived. I just hoped he’d choose to keep that bit of information to himself.