Free 7 Love Bites by Ellen Schreiber Page B

days to think things through. And figure out how to make amends.� �Does Alexander know?� �We didn�t talk much,� he said with a nervous chuckle. I pulled out a chair and sat by him. �Where are you going to stay?��I�m still not sure�.� �Are you planning to crash in a hotel with a coffin?� I asked exasperatedly. �I thought somewhere more obscure. In the woods�or perhaps in an old barn.� We both paused with dead concern. �No�not that barn!� he corrected. �Not anywhere near that barn!� he said. �That�s what has gotten me here in the first place.� For a moment I deliberated taking him into my house. But I knew it wouldn�t work. Not only would I feel awkward getting in the middle of the two guys� feud, but how on earth could I hide his coffin bed? �I�d invite you to my house�,� I said, wanting him to know I was trying to help, �but I think you might understand the massive complications in that plan.� �That�s very kind of you�even after I did that to your friend? Well, both friends really�� I sympathized with Sebastian�s dilemma. He was a vampire�for better or for worse�and Alexander�s best friend.
    If anyone knew his struggle, it had to be the gorgeous guy I was in love with. �If you�ll excuse me�,� I rose and backed out of the kitchen. �Alexander!� I called, running upstairs. Out of breath, I burst into Alexander�s attic room. I found my boyfriend sitting on his bed with a paint-brush in his hand. On his easel was a beautiful painting of Alexander, me, and Sebastian. It was the very one he�d been working on so intently and that was bringing him so much joy. The one he�d never sell or auction off�the one that was created for only his possession. �I guess I�m going to have to paint over him,� he said. �Don�t you dare.� He had a quizzical look. �I thought you�d be�� �Your best friend is downstairs, as upset as you are. You should understand him and his desires more than anyone.� �But I thought�� �I can see that he doesn�t have the same personality as you do. I know it�s not easy for you to understand how impulsive he can be.� �Why do people think it�s so easy for me, too?� �It�s not?� I prodded. But Alexander didn�t elaborate. I held his hand. He was so strong yet so vulnerable at the same time. It pained me to see him struggle in any way, whether it was with the tribulations of being a vampire or the normal conflicts of anyone with emotions. �I didn�t say it was easy for either one of you. It�s just the way you handle it. Becky is my best friend�. However, she�s the total opposite of me in many ways. She would die before she�d ever confront anyone or defend herself. She is terrified of silly things like the dark and spiders and would rather visit a mall than a graveyard. I�ve protected her for years, like you�ve protected Sebastian with his loose lips and impulsive actions. But if I didn�t have her�if she didn�t stick by me, too�then I wouldn�t have anyone.� Alexander folded his arms. �Sebastian knows he messed up. But he�s not going to leave Dullsville until he finds a way to reconcile with you. To me, that�s a best friend.� �But I thought you�d be mad at him, too. After all, he was almost stalking Becky.� �I�m not happy about it. But your friendship is more important to him than she is. I want you to have a best friend just like I do, for better or for worse.� I waited as Alexander decided on his next move. He gazed at the picture he�d painted of the three of us together. He stood up and placed the brush on the easel. He took my hand and led me downstairs. We entered the kitchen, but it was empty of vampires. I followed Alexander outside, where Sebastian was loading his final bag into his trunk. Alexander left me on the steps and walked quickly to Sebastian. I winced, prepared to see fists and fangs fly. I waited. And waited. And