"I'm acting fine," I snapped, then instantly regretted it. It wasn't his fault I had nonstop images of Bella and Nathan engaged in myriad sexual positions. "I'm sorry, I'm just—"

"Homesick?"

Worried the man I love is at this very moment fucking the woman you refuse to admit you love.

"Yeah, I guess." I tried to sound more cheerful when I said, "You know what's a good cure for homesickness? Alcohol."

Max grinned. "Now you're speaking my language. Let's take a turn on the Ferris wheel, then we'll find some."

I've never been a fan of heights, so I should have been grateful to be preoccupied on the halting trip to the top. Somehow, I couldn't be grateful for the torrid images of Nathan and Bella that swamped my mind.

It occurred to me that he'd never be able to hang on to Bella, who had Call of the Wild stamped all over her. Knowing they were probably doomed to failure cheered me up a little.

Still, I couldn't shake the torturous scenes, or the self-deprecating commentary that went with them. Of course he's attracted to her. She probably doesn't wear pajama pants in public or go a day without washing her hair. She's also a size four around her hips and the size of a small solar system around her chest.

Feeling fat, ugly and petrified of falling to my doom, I closed my eyes and sighed.

Max apparently took it for an expression of contentment, because he looped an arm companionably around my shoulders and sighed in turn. "I know, this is awesome, isn't it?"

"I'm not really into being off the ground. But the view is nice."

"The view is gorgeous." He looked at me as though I was insane for not appreciating the experience. "But that's not what I was talking about."

It was my turn to give him the are-you-insane? look.

"This." He gestured broadly, as though he could encompass the entire city with his arms. "Hanging out, screwing around, just being normal people."

"Normal people who drink blood and burst into flame in sunlight?" I snorted. "But far be it from me to interrupt your little delusion."

He settled against the seat and replaced his arm around my shoulder. "You know what I mean. For the past three weeks there hasn't been any occult shit going on. Not a peep from the Soul Eater. No faxes from the Movement. No drama."

Except for in our love lives. But you don't know that part yet.

"Well, there was that whole thing where I broke up with my sire and you got dumped by Bella." I'd sworn to myself I wouldn't bring her up again, but I was desperate to get him off his life-is-great kick. The way he talked with his hands when he was happy seemed bound to tip us out or our car.