Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Chapter 9 - frighting reunion

It was such a busy day it was crazy! We were fully packed. Wendy was running the kitchen with Marley while Aria and I were managing the front and Jordan was behind the bar.

It was Aria's day off but she had to be called in for help. Together with her, we made the best team and managed to pick up orders in time. Customers always came back if the service is great, and lately, it has been very well for we are packed for breakfast lunch, and dinner.

Lunch was crazy right now so I was glad when Damian waltzed into the place and without asking started helping as well. Cleaning dishes, and tables, welcoming customers, and such. The regulars loved him and I could already tell he was getting quite popular with the girls.

Even at school, he received multiple confessions. His teacher told me during a parent conference, that he was exceeding in his grades and he had friends but he didn't seek out contact. And when someone confessed he said things like he already had a woman in his life and that one was enough.

Meaning me.

His teacher thought I was claiming him, which I truly am not. He just pays a lot of attention to me and is highly protective. I had hoped the older he gets, the less it will become. His diet goes well and though he is supposedly weaker due to feeding on animal blood it isn't much noticeable.

Just like now when I am stressed about an order he will check up on it and delay it to me. I asked him in between serving customers how school was and such. He never went over to a friend and never asked someone to come over either.

He just wants to come here to help out. Aria always hugged him first thing and he is starting to dodge those. So he is getting a bit more independent but not as much as I have hoped yet.

Don't get me wrong, I love his presence but I would like for him to make friends and go out there and have some fun. Not work in a diner every day just so his mother doesn't have to work that hard.

"You work hard enough, six days a week, and even on your days off you are here." Damian interrupted my thoughts which made me scold him for reading them in the first place. "I have friends, I just don't find it interesting to hang out with them after school."

I raised my eyebrows at him, "your vocabulary is broadening with the day."

He shrugged, "school is simple."

After the rush hour was over both Aria and I were allowed to go home. Maybe we could help in the evening again for we were booked full again.

Though we all could use extra hours because next weekend Gil's is closed for our camping trip. No work means no income.

Damian wanted to go camping for his third birthday so we all put some money on a pile and bought a nice tent with separate sections so we did all get some privacy but at the same time slept together in one tent.

We walked home together with Aria, joking around and laughing until we reached our apartment building. Aria had a much more luxurious apartment which also was on the eighth floor while mine was on the second floor.

She was lazy and took the elevator while we took the stairs. We said our goodbyes and maybe until tonight. If our help was needed at Wendy's.

I pushed the key into the lock of my front door but as I did I already pushed the door open. Strange, I thought I had locked it. Damian held my hand and pulled me back. "Someone is inside." His eyes were shining red, he was cautious.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open with my foot. If it was a vampire then he would know about our presence already, if it was a human then he'd be alarmed now. Who had the guts to rob my house?