#xenagrant

Aubree arrived shortly after, she wanted to help finish cooking the food. I happily accepted her help.

I invited Joey. I figured since Dakota was off training, Joey would be alone for the holiday. That would probably be depressing for him, so I didn’t want him to be alone. Our past might not be full of sunshine and happiness, but I fully support him getting sober and staying that way. I still care what happens to Joey, I always will.

Everyone came to the party except Naya. Another business trip, it’s starting to worry me a bit. But maybe I’m just being paranoid, given the current circumstances.

“So uhh….there’s a levitating vampire in your kitchen….” Joey commented. He sounded weirded out.

“He does that sometimes. It helps him restore his energy.” I explained like it wasn’t odd at all, because to me. It isn’t.

“That’s….cool.” Joey said, sitting down beside myself and Apollo.

I was very happy to see my little brother. I have to think of a way to invite him and Naya to stay with me. Maybe I should just be honest and he’ll see that they need to.

"You gave me a security system? That's...thoughtful. Thank you, Caleb." Apollo commented, I could tell he was confused.

Safety. That's the reason Caleb wanted me to invite him and Lilith today.

I felt my cheeks turn red. On one hand it was very sweet that Caleb was trying to find more ways to protect all of us. On the other "For a vampire, you're not very subtle." I whispered so quietly that I knew only Caleb would hear me.

Caleb just gave Apollo a look before walking off. Apollo looked at me, he wanted answers.

"Let's go play in the snow!" I declared and shoved him playfully. I wasn't ready to have that talk with him yet. No, not the birds and the bees talk. The talk about our current situation.

“I swear that guy never ages. It’s getting creepy.” Apollo commented as we built a snow pal.

He’s right though. That guy never ages. Maybe I should ask Caleb if Father Winter is a vampire?

“Pa-thet-ic.” Apollo sounded out after my snowball landed inches away from him.

There’s a reason I didn’t do sports in school.

“I didn’t miss that time!” I hollered after I shoved snow in my brother’s face and ran away from him, because I knew he’d want revenge.

Of course, Josie didn’t enjoy her next step into adulthood. Being spayed. It’s a perk of having your own vet clinic though. I got to do the procedure myself. But, no cat is happy about the cone of shame.

After I brought Josie home, I decided to go for a walk around town.

I never thought I’d run into Ciara Scott and Muffin. I didn’t mind seeing Muffin again. Ciara? I wasn’t too thrilled to see her. I’m confused why she was even in town. She lives in Willow Creek, the last time I checked.

“Hello.” I said after she just stared at me.

“You look familiar…..” She trailed off, thinking before she nodded “Ah yes, the vet. The one with the crush on Joey.”

“I’m a vet, yes.” I confirmed. As for the “crush” on Joey, that’s in the past.

“Hmm.” She hummed, looking me up and down. “I hear he’s in rehab. Man could never hold his liquor well.”

The way she said it…

I snapped inside “Joey has an actual problem, which is he is getting help for. Which is the right thing to do. If you had actually loved him years ago, maybe you would have noticed he was developing a problem instead of being a stuck up witch about everything!” I yelled and stormed off. I didn’t even let her reply.

I sat down with Aubree and and told her what happened with Caleb. What I remember anyway. She already knows what happened with Dakota. Well, what she remembers of it. Maybe the both of us shouldn’t drink for a while.

“I don’t know what to do, Aubree. I like Dakota. I’m kind of shocked that is even true, given how we started out. But I do. I like him. I felt something when we kissed.” I told her. “Though we haven’t even gotten to talk about the kiss because he got shipped to another training base for a few weeks. That kiss might not have meant a darn thing to him. Even though Joey did say Dakota likes me….but, Dakota has not told me that himself. So, this might all be in my head.”

If I could just deal with one guy at a time like I did back in high school…that was actually easier.

“Caleb….I’ve always known he’s attractive. Though I never thought about him in anyway beyond a family friend until Apollo and Naya’s wedding. Then the whole him wanting me to have his baby thing….” I trailed off “We obviously are attracted to each other. Or at least I’m very attracted to him. Though I think if he didn’t feel it too, he would have just pushed me off him when I kissed him.” I babbled, trying to sort out my thoughts.

Aubree for her part, knew I wasn’t done yet. So she sat silently. Nodding every now and then as she listened.

“I don’t know what I feel when it comes to Caleb, it’s jumbled mess. I think if I did have a baby with him…that I wouldn’t be able to keep things strictly cut and dry. I mean, he’d be the father of my child.”

“You should bang them both.” Aubree declared. She was trying to break me out of my stress, by joking around.

I laughed a little. “They’re men, not cars. I can’t just test drive them both.”

“It’s worth a shot. Or, I could try Caleb out for you….” Aubree said, she raised an eyebrow at me. She was being ornery. I think she wanted to see my reaction to what she said.

The idea of Caleb with another woman does bother me. I felt jealously. But I wasn’t going to go Jerry Simmer on my best friend over it.

“Vera. Dakota does like you. I can tell. Maybe he’s not ready to admit it to you or himself. I mean, he does know about Caleb asking you to have his baby. Maybe he thinks he don’t have a leg to stand on in the situation? Or maybe he’s been hurt in the past and doesn’t want to get hurt again…”

I nodded at what she said. That does make sense.

“Now, this thing with Caleb. I think as a vampire, he does have that natural allure to him. At least that’s what the vampire lore books say that I used to read in high school. It helps them lure in prey. But, we know Caleb isn’t trying to lure you in for blood. He might be trying to entice you into being his baby mama, but if he really was all about that, he would have went for it the other night. He has morals. Standards. Which honestly, adds to his appeal. He obviously wants you to agree, but only if that’s what you really want. I think he cares for you, maybe it’s just as a friend. Or, maybe he cares more than he realizes.”

In the end, Aubree gave me a lot to think about. Some things I hadn’t considered.

I still don’t know what to do. But, I’ve realized it’s not all up to me either. I need to talk to Dakota and Caleb both. The talks may not be comfortable ones, but they need to happen.

In the beginning, Caleb said he wasn’t offering me a fairytale. He couldn’t say he’s in love with me. I’m glad he didn’t lie to me. But, I need to make sure that is all still true.