Page 24 of The Heartbreak Hex

“Harry is a very good dancer,” I say diplomatically. “I hope you all have a wonderful time.”

I go to turn away, but Calliope keeps going. “Oh, we will. And it’s such a shame that you’ve had to attend the biggest event of the year all by yourself. At least you have your sisters.” She gives me a fake sympathetic look.

I almost laugh. How has she not changed since high school? How did these mean-girl jabs ever work on me? She’s trying to intimate that I’m somehow pathetic, but really the only pathetic one here is her. Calliope is the one with a stolen, jobless boyfriend. She can have him, as far as I’m concerned. It may have only been a week, but I’ve firmly moved on.

I’m about to say something to that effect, when an arm goes over my shoulders in a blatant possessive gesture.

“Sweetheart,” Vlad says, his voice almost a purr, “I believe you owe me another dance.”

Calliope and Harry’s eyes both bug out.

“You’re here with the mayor?” Calliope asks shrilly. Harry looks between the two of us in confusion, a little anger on his face.

“Like I was going to say,” I say sweetly, “I’m not alone, as you can see. Thanks for your concern. I really do hope that you have a great Halloween.”

I go to follow Vlad back to the dance floor when Harry finally speaks for the first time this evening. “You know, Gertrude, you kind of look like a slut, moving on so quickly. Didn’t even take you a minute before jumping on the next guy.” His words slur a little and it’s obvious he’s been drinking.

My fake sweetness vanishes at his words. I knew that Harry wouldn't be happy if I was dating his old rival, but I didn't think he’d be this nasty. At least not in public, but I guess the alcohol has loosened his tongue. I round back on the werewolf and the medusa. “Likeyoumoved on fromme?Before our relationship was even over?” I ask hotly. “I’m allowed to be happy, Harry.”

“Hey,” he says defensively, looking around nervously. A few people have started looking at us, overhearing the exchange. “I’m just trying to be a friend and let you know when you look easy. People could start to talk, you know.”

“Insult her one more time,” Vlad growls darkly, violence in his voice, “and see what happens.”

“Hey, man,” Harry says arrogantly, obviously feeling emboldened by the fact that we’re in public and thinking that Vlad can’t follow through on his words, “if you’re happy taking on my sloppy seconds, then be my guest. But I . . .”

Vlad lurches forward, like he’s going to beat the stuffing out of Harry and the drunk werewolf cringes back. But I put my hands on Vlad and push him backward.

“Don’t,” I say. “He’s not worth it.” I appreciate that Vlad is willing to defend me, but he’s a public official. He can’t go around beating people up, especially in public at the Halloween Welcoming Ball. It would torpedo his career that he’s worked really hard to have.

When Harry realizes that he’s not about to be in a fight, he laughs. It probably is meant to sound arrogant, but it comes out a little nervous. We all know who would have won if they fought. “C’mon, Calliope,” Harry says. “Let’s leave these losers. They deserve each other.”

“If anyone’s a loser, Moonkin, it’s you,” spits out Vlad before Harry can make his escape. “Gertrude is the sweetest, kindest, hardest-working witch in the neighborhood. Youneverdeserved her and you have my gratitude that you were stupid enough to break up with her and give me a chance.I’mnot going to blow it.”

With those words, Vlad takes my hand and we leave my ex and my old bully behind. My heart and mind are racing. Does Vlad really mean that? Does he really think all those things? He leads me through the square, weaving amongst the people and Ican only see his back, not his face. Was he just defending me or is that how he really feels?

We veer around a corner, coming to the back of City Hall in a decoration storage area. There’s big crates blocking anyone from seeing us and we’re alone. I can hear the party going on just feet away from us, the music still playing in the air, but it feels like we’re in our own world.

“I’m sorry,” blurts out Vlad. “I shouldn’t have engaged with that asshole. But I couldn’t believe that after how shamefully he treated you, he had the nerve to say those things . . .”

“It’s fine, Vlad,” I reassure him. “Harry’s a rude drunk, always has been. But I don’t want to talk about him.”

“Really?” the vampire asks. “What do you want to talk about?”

My stomach flips and nervous energy fills my veins. But I need to be brave. “Us,” I say. “I want to talk about us.”

Vlad’s eyes hood and smolder in his mask. “What about us?” he asks huskily.

“Did you mean what you said?” I query shyly. “Do you want a chance with me?”

The vampire breathes out heavily, closing his eyes. When he opens them again, there’s a wealth of emotion shining in them. “All I’ve ever wanted was a shot with you, Gertrude. A chance to make you happy. I’ve been crazy in love with you for years. You may think that this spell of yours was a terrible mistake, but I couldn’t be happier that it brought us together. Please, tell me that I have a shot.”

My heart is beating like crazy. “Vlad Everdark, are you asking to be my boyfriend?”

Vlad steps closer to me, our bodies almost touching. My neck cranes up to look at him, his face dipping down toward mine. “Gertrude Nightshade,” he says in a low, deliberate voice, “I’m asking to be your everything.”

I don’t know who moves first; it could have been both of us, but we crash together, our lips locking, and then we are kissing, pouring passion into each other and nothing else matters.

Chapter 11

---