"Where did you stay?"
"Just in an empty hotel room. I haven't found anyone yet that's willing to consider the idea of vampires."
"I'm sure you can find someone. Try to keep in touch even if you don't think you have anything important to report."
Rolling my eyes, I said, "Yeah, sure."
"Good. Keep trying. You're bound to find someone."
I heard a female voice in the background. Typical Vince. "Try not to miss me too much," I said and ended the call.
"You okay?" Tanner asked, walking up to me. "You look like you weren't having a good conversation."
"I'm fine. That was just…my dad. You know how parents can be."
"Was he all in your grill about something?"
"You could say that. Let's forget about the jerks of the world and have ourselves some dinner."
"I like the way you think!"
We made small talk on the ride to his house. When we got to his house, he wanted me to watch TV while he made the food.
"No, I want to help you. I don't usually prepare food. I think it would be fun."
He looked at me as though I was one of the spoiled rich kids he went to school with for a moment, but then he said, "Okay. It could be fun to teach you."
"Where do I start?"
"First wash your hands and then you can chop the tomatoes."
I washed my hands and then looked at the tomatoes, trying to figure out how I would cut them.
Tanner laughed. "You've never cut vegetables before?"
"Technically, they're a fruit," I said, showing him that I did know a thing or two about food. "But no, I don't have any experience in the kitchen."
He picked up a knife and set it in my hand. He put his hand over mine and then wrapped himself around me and put my other hand over the tomato.
"So far I like this," I said.
I could feel a smile form on his face on the back of my head. "Me too. Now watch how we slice it. This is the best way because otherwise it'll just fall apart." Still holding my hands, he helped me to slice the tomato. When we had finished, he asked, "Do you want to try the next one yourself?"
"Only if you keep yourself wrapped around me."
He laughed and put his hands on my waist. "Okay."
As I sliced through the tomato, I listened to the blood pumping through his veins. It was music to my ears.
"It looks like you've got the hang of it," he said, backing up. "I need to cook the meat. Can you chop the rest of the veggies when you're done with the tomatoes?"