He closed the notebook. "See?"
She sighed and took another sip of her coffee.
Happily, the food arrived then. Lenny snatched a bottle of ketchup off a nearby table. Janie bit halfheartedly into her sandwich and swallowed the dry mouthful down.
"I have another," he said.
"Please no."
He ignored her and flipped to another page in his notebook.
I know an amazing woman
Her name is Janie Parker
Pretty face and red lips
Her hair used to be a bit darker
She looks real sweet and innocent
But she's tougher than you think
She's killed a hundred monsters
At slaying she does not stink
He closed the notebook again, leaving his fries untouched. His forehead was furrowed deeply. "See?
That's the Janie I know and love—um…respect deeply. Where did that Janie go?"
"That Janie is still here."
He shook his head. "I just don't get it. I've seen you protect yourself from guys way bigger than him. I don't know how he managed to pin you to that bed and rip your shirt off like that. It's almost as if you—"
He broke off and looked at her.
She blinked. "Almost as if I—?"
"Almost as if youwanted it."
"I was helping him. Try to understand that, Lenny. We need him."
"No, we don't. And you weren't simply helping him. You were… you were kissing him. After he bit you!"
He said it loud enough that the waitress looked over.
Janie tried to smile at the women. "Could I get a little extra mayonnaise over here, please?" Then to
Lenny, "Keep it down, would you?"
"Are you in love with him?"
"In love? Lenny, you're talking crazy."
"I haven't seen you with any other guy since we've been partners. I know they ask you out all the time,
but you don't go out with them. I thought—" He swallowed. "I thought maybe that meant that we could… that we…" He turned away to study the darkness outside the window.
She reached over and grabbed his hand. "Lenny, please—"
He pulled away from her. "All of my poetry is about you."
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "I'm so stupid."
"No, you're not. And I'm not in love with Quinn."
"You're not?"
She shook her head.
Of course she wasn't in love with him. That would be completely ridiculous. After all, she'd only just started to spend time with him that day—a mere twelve hours ago.
Her childhood crush was meaningless now. She was an adult and definitely not swayed by silly romantic fantasies. Lust, sure. But love? Only a weak, pathetic woman would let herself fall in love so quickly with a vampire who didn't even like her in return.
Yeah. Totally pathetic.
The waitress dropped off her extra mayo, and she dunked the sandwich into it before taking another bite, then pushed the plate away.
For some reason, she wasn't hungry any more.
She looked out of the window at room sixteen. Was Quinn okay? Should she go and check on him again?
Oh, my God, she thought with dismay.I ampathetic .
She didn't love him. Shedidn't. She could be pathetic just fine without being in love—especially not with that train wreck of a man.
The door bell jingled as someone entered the restaurant. She looked over and saw it was Barkley, who looked less than friendly. Lenny waved him over.
Barkley nodded at Janie. "You okay?"
"I'm surprised you even give a damn, considering I almost had you killed."
"I'm a very forgiving person. Just in my nature."