Page 9 of Vampire so Virtuous
Eve perked up. “Girls?”
“Sorry, still hetero.”
“I keep telling you it’s a spectrum. No one is a hundred percent straight.”
“I prefer men.”
“Which you’re ‘off for good’?”
Cally gave her an exasperated look.
Eve waved a hand. “They’re not all pick-up artists or insecure pricks like Rob was.”
“It’s not Rob. It’s not even Stefan. It’sme,” Cally said, her throat tight.
Eve looked skeptical. “Meaning?”
“Everydamn man I’ve been interested in. It goes the same way.”
“Meaning?” Eve repeated, this time with an edge to it.
“Oh come on. You’ve seen what happens.”
“What I’ve seen is men who are too fragile in their egos. It’s hardlyyourproblem.”
“But it is, isn’t it? It’s like when you’re six feet tall, and you only want to date men who are taller.”
“You’re five-eight.”
“Five-nine. You’re missing the point.”
“What point?” Eve grinned. “That you’ve grown?”
Cally shot her a look. “You know what I mean.”
“There’s a man whoisn’tthreatened by you. Who won’t see this”—she waved a hand, encompassing Cally—“as something intimidating, but somethingdesirable.”
“Even though I could kick the shit out of them if I wanted to?” Cally shook her head. “Doubtful. That’s not what men want.”
“Weak men.”
“Is there any other type?” Cally muttered. “Let’s drop it, okay?”
“So find one at a taekwondo tournament.”
“Nothankyou. The type that goes to those things is even worse.”
“Online dating, where you can—”
“I’m happilysingle.”
“Okay, okay.” Eve lifted her hands in surrender.
The waitress arrived then, offering a reassuring smile as she caught the tail end of the conversation. She slid a tray onto their table with a polite, “Enjoy.” Two tall, frothy coffees, a small plate with the raspberry pastry, and the bill, curled in on itself.
They both took a sip of their coffee.
“So you fainted walking home.” Eve prompted as soon as the waitress had left. “And you think that’s why you’re having nightmares?”
