Charlie Swan: Vampire Hunter

28

I get in the car take a deep breath, preparing for whatever Carlisle is about to say. I see him tripping the steering wheel so tightly I worry he might rip it off. I'm sure he could, inhuman vampire strength and all. 

"Charlie, I'm so sorry. I don't think words can ever express how much. I should never had kissed you period but certainly not in public like that. If you never want to see me again, I would completely understand and respect that." 

I shake my head immediately. "No I still want to see you. I don't know what this means for us. For me. This is totally new, but I know that I still want to see you. You've become my best friend and I don't want to lose you. I need time to... to think and process and decide what I want to do, but I don't want this to come between us." 

He lets out a long breath. "I'm sorry for this. For everything I've dragged you into. You would be safer not knowing about us paranormals." 

I scoff. "I dragged myself into that mess. You practically shoved me away and I forced my way back in." 

He shakes his head and laughs. "I guess you're right about that. You have a stubborn streak a mile wide, did you know that?" 

I grab his hand and squeeze tight. "I've been heard that one before." 

------

Carlisle drops me off, and I promise to meet hime for lunch in three hours. I pack a go bag with a couple changes of clothes and my work stuff. Loathe as I am to return to work, I will have to eventually and since I've been spending most of my time at Carlisle's I may as well have it with me there. 

I also take some time to think. About us and me. I've never been with a man before. In my college years I dabbled, a kiss here and there, but nothing serious. This is different. I feel a deeper connection with him than I ever did Renée or any other woman. I can't get him out of my head. He's all consuming. His eyes his hair (it's somehow always perfect) his jaw his hands. Every inch of him is all consuming. And all confusing. I know he feels the same about me, that kiss all but screamed it, but since then he's pulled back. And he's apologized so many times I almost think he regrets it. I don't. I could never regret him, but he could regret me and I don't want him to have to. 

I decide that at lunch, I'll ask if he regrets it. If he does, game over. If not I want to give it a shot. As new and unknown as it is, it could also be the adventure of a life time. I have to laugh at myself for that one. No shit dating a vampire would be the adventure of a lifetime. It's the adventure of four lifetimes.