Page 43 of Missing Piece
Adam glanced from the TV back to Vincent, wondering if he’d heard correctly. “Um, sure?”
“I think we have every streaming service known to man. What do you like to watch? And don’t say superhero movies. Ophelia’s father is obsessed with them, and I would rather gouge out my eyes and wait for them to grow back than watch another over-the-top CGI fest,” Vincent said, pulling up a menu that did show every streaming service Adam had ever heard of, and a few that he hadn’t.
“I don’t really like superhero stuff,” he started before the rest of Vincent’s words registered. “Wait, did you say your eyes would grow back if you gouged them out?”
He glanced down at his prosthetic foot and the metal ankle that poked out from his pants.Would becoming a blood drinking monster be worth getting that part of me back?
Vincent placed his hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Yes, but it doesn’t work like that,” he said reluctantly. “Being one of us doesn’t fix anything that healed before the turn. It’s not magic. That’s why so many of us have scars. I have a friend missing an eye, some are missing fingers and toes. Becoming a vampire didn’t fix Matteo’s hearing or Luka’s vocal cords. Contrary to movies and books, becoming a vampire doesn’t fix anything wrong with you before you were turned.”
Adam frowned. That idea didn’t even last long enough to create a moral crisis.
“Get out of your head and give me a genre for a movie or show, or I’m going to pick and you’ll probably hate it,” Vincent said, snapping his fingers in front of Adam’s face.
Damn. Adam blinked several times and reached for theglass of water. “I like scary movies.” Only then did he realize how ridiculous that sounded. His life had turned into a horror movie. Why would he willingly watch one with the same kind of monster that was often the villain in those movies?
Vincent’s laugh told him the irony wasn’t lost on the vampire either. “Okay, horror. There’s a new Hellraiser movie out right now, and my friend Jae told me about this Korean film set in a haunted asylum. Both sound pretty good, so human’s choice today.” He cocked his head at Adam for just a moment before saying, “And yes, Jae is a vampire. Just assume anyone I mention is one.”
Adam nodded slowly. “Good to know. I like Hellraiser, but I also love a good haunting movie. Actually, if a horror movie sucks, that almost makes it better because you can laugh at it, so both? If you’re not too tired, I guess.” How much sleep did vampires need? Was it the same as being human, just during the day? Did they need to sleep at all?
He wanted to ask, but Vincent had already shared a lot with him. He didn’t want to push his luck.
“I’ll sleep at some point,” Vincent chuckled, clicking on one of the apps. He handed the bottle of yellowish liquor to Adam. “I brought this in case you wanted a drink. It’s called rakija and it sucks, but it’s the only alcohol I have that wouldn’t be weird for you to drink.”
“Thanks.” It probably wasn’t a good idea to drink. He probably still had a concussion or two, but it’s not like he’d ever let a bad idea stop him.
He continued to nibble at the sandwich, both of them silent through the first ten minutes of the film. He was used to commenting on whatever was happening, which made him anightmare to see a movie with, but he wasn’t sure if Vincent was one of those guys who would shush other people in theaters, so he held back. It wasn’t until a character on screen began tempting the female lead with drugs that Vincent began running his hands over his pants, almost nervously, before pulling out his phone to pause it. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it had—” he began, his brow creased with concern, “—this.”
It took Adam a moment to figure out what he was trying to say, then he let out a small laugh. “It’s fine. Fictional drug use and addicts don’t trigger me or anything.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to do something that might—”
Adam shook his head and reached out to touch Vincent’s hand that still ran along his pant leg, but pulled back when he realized what he was doing. The day was already going so well, he didn’t want to mess it up by touching Vincent without permission and making him lash out. “It’s fine, really. If I get uncomfortable, I’ll let you know.”
Vincent flashed a smile as he hit the button to start the movie again.
Adam twisted the cap off the rakija bottle, pretending he couldn’t see Vincent’s constant glances in his direction. He’d never had someone who cared enough about where he was mentally to ask him straight up if he was uncomfortable.
Maybe it would be okay to stay with Vincent a while longer.
Chapter Fifteen - Adam
“You were right, this booze sucks donkey dicks.” Adam laughed before he took another swig of the rakija straight from the bottle. The credits were still rolling on the second movie they watched, but he had broken into the Macedonian liquor well before that one started. It made his face buzz with a pleasant warmth, but each mouthful of it was pretty awful. It reminded him of those low percentage fruity vodkas that were popular amongst college co-eds, which seemed to leave worse hangovers than bottom-shelf paint thinner-esque whiskey.
But it was strong and even as the lidocaine lost its effect on his back, it numbed just enough of the pain that he was okay with it. Vincent had offered to do another injection, but he didn’t want to spoil the mood. It was a weird, slightly tense, ease that had settled between them with the occasional stolen glance or touch on the arm throughout the first movie.
But the second movie had surprised him with how often it caught him off guard. Whoever Jae was that had suggested the film to Vincent, he would have to thank them for the suggestion if he ever met him. It had been a while since a movie actually scared him. He tried to hide how freaked out he was at one point, but that façade quickly fell away whenhe found himself clambering closer to Vincent, as though the ghostly hands on the screen would reach in front of his face next.
“Oh yeah, it’s awful, but the brothers love it.” Vincent’s cheeks had taken on a lovely reddish color right before he finished off the bottle of wine he had brought up. The thought of a drunk vampire should have been cause for concern, but Vincent’s posture relaxed and he threw an arm over Adam’s shoulders after the first jump scare and kept it there. “What did you think of this one?”
Leaning his head back against the wall, Adam focused on the ceiling to make sure it wasn’t spinning yet. He didn’t want to get too drunk. “I think, by far, Spooky Korean Hospital is the scariest movie I have ever seen,” he said, rubbing his eyes as his exhaustion and the alcohol threatened to make him fall asleep.
Vincent laughed, stroking his shoulder. “That is not the name of the movie.”
“Whatever it’s called.” Turning his face to look at Vincent, Adam was surprised to see Vincent stealing another glance at him, but he didn’t try to turn away again when their eyes met.
Vincent’s eyes drifted down to his lips, his tongue flicking out before he blinked hard and glanced towards the television. “You know, most people wouldn’t want to watch a horror movie after the things you’ve been through recently.”
Adam couldn’t think of a response that didn’t give away how terribly broken his mind was, so he took a swig of the overly sweet liquor instead, relishing the pleasant burn that rushed down his throat. He could easily blame the redness in his own face on the alcohol. Vincent didn’t need to knowhe was fighting a very strong urge to lean over and kiss him. Even if it was a bad idea. Even if he knew it would hurt his swollen lip.
