Twice Bitten (Love, Lust & Magic #1)

Uriah

All I want is to see him smile and be happy, but he’s just going to look at me and think I’m a joke. He’ll probably laugh at me when all I’m trying to do is apologize, explain, and see if he’ll take me back. As if I didn’t already look like a big fool.

’s thoughts ran rampant. It was almost like he was dissociating when a gentle voice disrupted his train of thought.

“Sir, can I help you with anything? Big date, maybe?”

The department store employee at his side reminded the vampire that he was in public and should probably try and be personable. He stood now parallel to a series of full-length mirrors just outside of the men’s fitting room, a red dress shirt a size too small stretched over his shoulders and unable to be buttoned all the way.

“Huh? Oh, right. You work here, I take it,” replied . The employee nodded. “Um, yeah, I guess. Big date is one way to put it. Actually, we’re sort of past the date step, but then I got scared of all the big feelings I was having and sort of gave him the cold shoulder, and now—well, um…”

“Let me guess,” the attendant put a gentle hand on ’s shoulder, looking him up and down. “There’s some kind of event coming up where he’ll be at, you’re looking for something to impress him with, and ultimately you want him back?”

“Well, um, actually…” turned to look at the employee, surprised at his sense of intuition. All that from a touch? he thought as he looked the lean, dark-haired young man up and down. “That’s pretty much spot on, mate.”

“Then here,” the man immediately grabbed a white button-up shirt off a nearby rack. “Try this one.”

“Thanks,” an impressed replied, stripping off the last shirt and grabbing up the new one. As he pulled it over his shoulders and buttoned it up, he looked over at the man’s name tag. “Fen, is it? You got some kind of special intuition on things?”

“Why do you say that?” Fen replied.

“Well,” continued as he rolled his shoulders and admired how he looked in the mirror. “I mean, just all of what you just said. Plus, it looks like you got my size right without even asking.”

“The last shirt looked a little tight,” Fen said with a wink. “The rest was kind of written all over your face.”

“Huh. You wouldn’t have to be a werewolf, would you?” the vampire asked absentmindedly.

Distracted with a large pile of discarded clothes left by other customers, Fen looked back at him. “What was that?”

“Oh, nothin’. Just remind me of a friend,” replied . “Guess I’m not usually one to dress up.”

Fen held up a black t-shirt bundled up in a ball. “I figured. Found what I think is your band t-shirt in your fitting room.”

“Oh, shoot,” grinned as Fen handed it over.

“Is that your band, Five Fangs?” Fen asked. “Think I saw you guys perform once.”

“Sure is,” replied . “Any other advice before I shoot my shot?”

Fen nodded. “There’s a lovely little flower stand shop in the parking lot. You should grab some roses on your way out.”

“Roses, huh?” asked. Does little witch even like flowers?

“Trust me,” the man said with a wink before disappearing.

“Huh,” the vampire mused to himself. “Roses it is.”