Sterling Silver (Sterling Hunter Series Book 1)

Chapter 23

Tabitha set down the last plate–the glass ones Mom only took out for special get-togethers–and glanced at her mom who was busy in the kitchen. "So, when are they coming? And why do the twins insist on staying at a hotel?"

Derrick had called Mom and said he wanted to catch up with the Carters so he would be staying at their inn instead of at home.

Her mom shrugged. "You know Derr. The Carters and him are close. He said he'll be here by six-thirty."

Tabitha checked the time on her phone. Six-twenty-seven. He'd better not blow off this dinner. She slumped into a chair as her mom set the salad bowl down in the middle of the table. She'd made macaroni and cheese with bacon–a secret family recipe–and chicken strips on the side.

"I guess our little house isn't good enough for them anymore?"

Her mom gave her a warning look. "Now you know full well that isn't true. Please be nice to your brother tonight. He really does just want to help."

Sure he did. He wanted to help her mom keep an eye on her. Check and make sure she wasn't about to blow up or whatever they thought Tabitha would do. Because obviously Tabitha was going to explode at any moment and do something horrible. Just as she opened her mouth to spout out her sarcastic reply the door opened. "Hey, anyone home?"

Tabitha rolled her eyes. "Of course we're home Derrick. Why wouldn't we be?"

Her mom shot her another warning look and pointed at the smile on her face. Tabitha rolled her eyes but slapped a cheesy smile on her lips. She got to her feet and walked over to the hallway where Derrick stood taking his shoes off.

"Hey Derr, good to see you," she said, folding her arms and leaning against the wall.

He grinned at her. Tabitha had no idea how he didn't have a girlfriend yet. He was the perfect guy though... she may be bias. Dark skin and curly brown hair. Warm brown eyes and a sporty physique from the time he spent in the gym. He'd told her once that even though he wasn't in the vampire hunting game anymore he still wanted to keep up his strength just in case anything happened. In case a vampire might show up and start going to class with him.

"Good to see you too Tab. Miss me?"

He held his arms out, and Tabitha sighed but grudgingly smiled back. She let him pull her into a hug. He kissed her forehead and then whispered in her ear, "After this dinner how about we go out front and talk, huh?"

There it was. The inevitable guidance chat. The talk where Derrick expresses his concern for her while also managing to be vague about why he was concerned. Oh, and insisting she tell him everything from her latest school assignment to her life as a vampire hunter. "Sure Derr, why not? Let's just get through this dinner and make Mom happy."

He let go of her and slung an arm over her shoulder, pulling her in close as they made their way toward the dining room. "Sounds good to me. So what've you been up to lately? School-wise? How's Chelsea?"

That's how it went all evening. Either Tabitha was answering Derrick's nosy big brother questions, or she was listening to him answer Mom's nosy mother questions. Diana was doing well in her classes. Derrick was now teaching a self-defense class and "oh yeah, do you remember Elaine Kendall?" Well he ran into her the other day and she's going to a few of his classes. Tabitha mostly messed with her food and let herself sink into pure boredom as he went on and on about Elaine Kendall. Her mom badgered him with questions about her, and why shouldn't he ask her out or get to know her better? Her parents were so nice and friendly. The Kendall's lived in town and weren't part of the hunter community. They had no idea about vampires.