The Bartender's Vampire [COMPLETED]

Chapter Eight - Even Colder

Heath watches as Clawd shrugs a blue and white flannel on over his arms. "What date is this?" he asks. 

Clawd lifts his gaze to his friend's face and smiles softly. "Thirty-five." 

"Does she know about the... mating thing?" Heath asks. 

"No, not yet. Honestly, Heath, I don't know when to tell her," Clawd says. "I think we're dating, I really do. She introduced me to her dad as her boyfriend, you know?" he asks. Heath nods. "But that's the only real step we've made, for all intents and purposes."

Heath let out a loud whistle. "Thirty-five dates and no first kiss?" he asks. Clawd shrugs. "Lot of self-control, Clawd."

"It's not hard to control yourself around someone you love," Clawd says softly. "She was dumped real bad before I met her. I'm letting her move on at her own pace," he adds. 

Heath smiles faintly, crossing his arm over his chest. "In a way, that's nice of you," he says. "Does she knows Abbey?"

"Uh, yeah, I think so." Clawd raises an eyebrow skeptically. "Why?" he asks slowly. 

"You should see if she'd set me up with Abbey," Heath says. 

"I'm not doing that," Clawd says. 

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not ruining my chances with Laura just because you change girlfriends like your changing clothes. You stick with one for a week at most, and I don't want Laura to think I'm the same," Clawd says. 

"She knows you're not the same," Heath says. "You've been on thirty-four dates with her, almost thirty-five. There's nothing the same about that," he explains. He shrugs and sits down on the edge of Clawd's bed. "Besides, Abbie's different." 

Clawd tilts his head to the side. "Really?" he asks. 

Heath shifts uncomfortably before nodding. "I really like her. She's not another... endeavor. I want to date her. You know, f-for more than a week," he says. 

Clawd smiles softly. "I'll see what I can do," he says.

A grin forms on Heath's face. "Thanks, man." He nods once. "I mean that. Really. Thank you." 

"You're welcome." Clawd turns toward the door as someone knocks on it. He quickly finishes buttoning his flannel and walks over to the door. He pulls it open and smiles. "Hey," he greets.

Draculaura smiles up at him. "Hi. Ready to go?" she asks. 

Clawd nods. "Yeah." He grabs the vampire's hand and waves at Heath. Heath smiles as he waves back. Clawd steps out into the hall, pulling the door closed behind him. 

Date number thirty-five is a small lunch at an even small diner on the outskirts of town. In the middle, Draculaura clears her throat. Slowly, Clawd lifts his gaze to her face. "What's wrong?" he asks. 

"Nothing's wrong," she says with a faint smile. "Can I ask you something?"

"Always." 

"I've wanted to ask for a while, I... I just didn't know how," she says. Gingerly, she brushes her hair back behind her delicate ears. "Why are you dating me?" she asks. 

"Wh-what? Because I like you. You're smart and kind and beautiful and--"

"Clawd." She laughs softly. "Thank you, but that's not what I meant. You're a werewolf. Don't have a mate you're supposed to be finding?"

He swallows. "Yeah." 

"Why don't you do that?" she asks. 

" 'Cause I already know who she is?" 

"And you're still sitting here with me?" she asks. He nods. "Why? Where is she?" she asks. 

"She's sitting right in front of me," Clawd whispers. 

Draculaura's expression turns grave as her eyes gloss over. "Excuse me," she murmurs as she stands up. 

"Laura, wait," Clawd says, holding out a hand. "I can explain." He couldn't explain. Not at all. But he would try if it made her feel better. She turns around and walks toward the exit. By the time Clawd throws down enough money to cover the bill and goes outside, she's gone. 

Standing outside alone, the cold breeze seemed even colder.