Free Bite Me (The Transfigured Ones Book 2) by Michelle Roth Page A

breakdown.”
    Her grandmother made a sound of disgust. “Any life where you don't turn out like her, I consider a rousing success. I still don't know what Jonathan sees in her.”
    Waving her hand, Caroline said, “I didn't mean to get all dark on you there, Nana. It's your day. Happy Birthday. Let's talk about something more upbeat.”
    “Now I want tacos. We should really do that some evening. We can skip the other part, but we'll go out. You can bring your beau! He likes tacos, right?”
    “Beau? Are you dating someone, Caroline? This is the first I'm hearing of it!”
    Her grandmother winced in apology.
    Caroline turned to see her mother hovering beside them. It was clear that she hadn't heard the blood drinking bit, thankfully. She likely would have gone through the roof immediately. “Yes, Mother. We've only been seeing each other for a couple of weeks though. It's nothing serious.”
    “And it will never be anything serious if you keep running around like that, Caroline. Come inside with me before the guests begin to arrive. I might have a girdle that will fit you.”
    Her mother stared pointedly at her stomach until Caroline could feel her face heat up. She opened her mouth to speak but her grandmother cut her off.
    “For god's sake, Joan. It's over eighty degrees outside. Let the poor girl breathe. She looks perfectly lovely. Not everyone is a stick insect. Myself included!”
    With a roll of her eyes, her mother said, “You indulge her too much, Beverly.”
    Caroline took a deep, calming breath and stood up. “Thank you for the support, Nana. I appreciate your offer but I won't be needing your girdle, mother.” Without another word to either of them, she walked toward the sliding glass door. She needed a minute or she was going to lose her mind.
    By the time the guests arrived, most of the earlier awkwardness disappeared. She was seated at a table between her grandmother and mother, fanning herself with one of the paper fans her mother designed as party favors. It was the hottest part of the day, and the humidity hung in the air. She tried to ignore the trickle of sweat down her back as her cousin Heather talked about school.
    Caroline graduated from the same high school years before so some of the names were familiar. Mr. Marguilles, the phys ed coach, was still a pervert. The Dingmans, a husband and wife team that both taught math, still hadn't mastered the art of using a hairbrush. It was funny how some things didn't change.
    At least the food was good, she acknowledged, reaching for another of the prawn finger sandwiches on the tray in the center of the table. She jumped slightly when she felt a smack on her hand. “Mother,” she exclaimed. “Did you seriously just slap my hand away from the food?”
    “Someone had to,” her mother huffed in response.
    “Joan!” her grandmother gasped. “You stop that!”
    Irritable, Caroline said, “That was my second finger sandwich of the afternoon, for the record. Not that it matters, mother, because you're not enjoying yourself unless you're complaining about something I've done.” She shoved her chair back and dropped her napkin on the table.
    Leaning over, she gave her grandmother a squeeze. “I've gotta go. I think I've been humiliated just about as much as I can handle this afternoon. I'm sorry, Nana. I'll call you tomorrow, okay,” she murmured.
    “Don't blame you a bit,” her grandmother said, frowning. “I love you baby.”
    “I love you too,” Caroline said, pressing a kiss to her wrinkled cheek.
    “You're making a scene,” her mother harshly whispered. “This is so embarrassing!”
    “Oh? Is it? I don't care. By the way, thanks for lunch,” Caroline bit out as she walked away from the table. Yeah. It was funny how some things never changed.
    “You're a real bitch, Joan,” her grandmother announced bluntly.
    Caroline couldn't quite contain her smirk. It didn't last long, though. The drive back to Toronto put a lot of things in