Page 30 of Clouded by Envy

“Sorry, the seats are all taken.” He smiled like he had just revealed a secret.

“Then, silence is a must. Shh!” She pulled up an index finger in front of her red-lipstick covered lips. Her eyes seemed to beam, as if she was starting to become entertained.

“So, do you want to come and hang out at my place?” The smoke was really starting to mess with him, and he was tired of trying to talk and listen over the music.

Slowly, she swiveled her chair back to face him and arched an eyebrow. “Look, just because you have a semi-pretty face, doesn’t mean I’m going to come home with you and hop in your bed.”

“Only semi?” He cocked his head to the side, biting his lip.

“Wow. Okay, whatever. I never—and I meannever—get hit on and when it finally happens, I get a stalker?”

He shrugged. “I’ve never had a relationship.”

“I highly doubt that.” She laughed and moved a lock of hair away from her face.

“Listen, I was pretty much homeschooledmy whole life, so my social skills are not up to par. But Ipromise,you do not have to worry about stalking.” He didn’t have the drive to sit there and bother with that nonsense.

She stared at him, as if trying to find a way to doubt his story, but what he said was true. Ruth tried to school them the best way she could, even though he didn’t grasp everything she had tried to show him.

“Not everyone is going to break your heart,” he added. “I just haven’t been around a lot of people, and I want to change that.” Brenik held out his hand. “And you are?”

The woman let out a long sigh. “My name’s Rana.” She gingerly enfolded her hand into his.

“A very exquisite name.”

“Whatexquisitevocabulary you have, Brenik.” She rolled her eyes but couldn’t contain her smile.

“My name did sink in for you, then.”

“Maybe it did.”

Brenik stood from his chair, anxious to leave the bar. “So, hang out?”

“I’ll come hang out, but only because I’m in a weird place tonight. And—don’t even think anything frisky is going to happen, because it isn’t, Brenik.” Rana grinned and Brenik’s stomach fluttered at the sight.

“Anyway, let me call my friend real quick and let her know if I disappear, it’s because of some guy at a bar,” she teased. Taking her drink with her, Rana went to the end of the bar and picked up the phone, then dropped in a quarter to call her friend.

Brenik looked around the room while he waited for her, still unimpressed with the crowd and decor. Rana walked back toward him a few moments later—still smiling and appearing genuinely amused. “I described to her exactly what you look like, so be prepared if I go missing.”

Giving her a small smile back, Brenik said seriously, “Don’t worry, you can leave anytime you want. I’m really not a stalker.” He wouldn’t feed on this woman—there was something about her he was attracted to.

Relieved to be outside, Brenik took in a deep breath of the fresh air. Getting away from the horrific atmosphere made him feel better already. He had no idea what intrigued humans so much about that kind of life—but if you are drunk or high, anything must seem like a good time.

“Where are you parked?” Rana surveyed the parking lot, waiting for Brenik to point to one of the cars.

“I walked here.” He motioned in the direction he had come from.

“I should have guessed you’d say something along those lines,” she said sarcastically.

“Well, I don’t have a car.” Brenik shrugged as he smiled at her.

“Let me guess—you don’t have a job either?”

“I did say I was homeschooled before. But I’m attempting to become an artist.” He had to make something up. All he could think about was the portrait at the cabin, so an artist was the first thing to come to mind.

“Well, at least you have some kind of goal.” Pulling the keys out of her purse, Rana headed toward an aging silver car.

After he took a seat on the passenger side, she turned to face him. “Wait, howoldare you? You’re legal right?”

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