Page 13 of With the Stars

“He didn’t say anything.”

Spinning back, he shook his hand at Rex. “Manners,” he snapped.

Minho snorted, then coughed. Peter looked upwards and silently counted to ten. “Minho is someone I have recently met.” Looking back at Rex, he added, “It’s new, and even though it is none of your business, he is the first person I have been interested in since your mom passed.”

“Yeah, right.”

“He’s telling the truth.”

Rex glared at Minho. “And how the fuck would you know?”

“Don’t swear at him,” Peter snapped before inhaling and slowly releasing it. “You will speak to Minho with respect. He is going to be around for some time.”

“What’s wrong with your neck?” Rex moved to the side, trying to see it. Peter raised his hand, feeling the twin pinpricks from where Minho had bitten him. “Did he bite you?”

“I must have been bitten by a mosquito or something.”

“What are you?” Rex moved closer to Minho, then his eyes widened. “I know where I’ve seen you before. You’re on that website. That ‘vampires are real’ or something one. My friend at high school is a huge fan of yours.”

Peter sighed, dropped his head and closed his eyes. Putting his hands on his hips, he found himself counting to ten again. “Minho. This one’s for you.”

“I am indeed on that website.”

“Are you a vampire?”

Peter opened his eyes and turned just as Minho grinned and nodded. “Why, yes, I am.”

“Minho!” Peter snapped.

“Holy shit!” Rex shouted. “Lemme see ‘em.”

Minho opened his mouth as Peter stormed over and grabbed Rex’s arm. “You can’t ask that.”

“Awesome.” Rex went to touch one, but Minho moved his head out of reach.

“They’re sensitive.”

“You bit my dad with them. Did you drink his blood? Is he going to be a vampire like you? Oh! Does Sammy know? I need to call and tell him. And my friend! She’s gonna shit herself—”

Peter grabbed the phone as soon as Rex had it in his hand. “No one knows. No one is to find out about Minho or vampires.”

Rex’s shoulders sagged. “Why?” he whined.

“Do you hear about us on the news? Are we in any papers?”

“National Enquirer might have done something on you?” Rex leaned closer, trying to peer into Minho’s mouth. “Why don’t you bite your own lips?”

Peter slumped in a chair and let his body droop. “Rex. Please sit at the table so we can talk, and stop trying to see Minho’s fangs.”

Rex sat and practically bounced on his chair. “You guys had sex. Did he bite you while you two were doing it?”

Peter wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole. This was not how he planned this conversation going. It didn’t help that Minho was enjoying himself.Why are you amused by this?

Is this what having children is like? I should have some of my own.

You want some of your own? You can’t make me pregnant, can you?Horrified. That’s how he felt. He’d watched Diane do it twice, and he thanked whoever was out there that it wasn’t him because he would never have done it a second time.

Minho burst out laughing. “No! Why do you think that?”

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