“Sometimes it’s cool. Most of the time, actually.” A real smile turns his mouth up—intermediate. “I’m strong, I’m fast … I speak six languages now, and I’m learning two others; I never get sick and I never get old, but…” Gunnar hitches his shoulders. “Well, like I said. I can’t do normal stuff. I used to love surfing, but I can’t anymore, except at night. And I … I made the mistake of falling for a human once, too. I mean, total cliché, right?”

“What happened?”

“He was seventeen, and I was sixteen. Then he was eighteen, and I was sixteen. Then he was twenty, and I was sixteen. And then…” Gunnar lifts a hand and lets it drop, like the story is too heavy to hold on to. “Well, I learned the hard way what it’s like to be on the other side of my Great Love Story. ‘There’s only one way we can stay together!’ It sucked.”

“I’m sorry.” Hesitantly, I reach over and put a hand on his arm, just to show him I’m not really afraid—to show him … I don’t know. Maybe I should be afraid, and letting my guard down is the stupidest decision I’ll never live to regret, but my life is in so much danger already that a brooding vampire with sad eyes and perfect lips is the least of my worries. “And … I’m sorry I freaked out. I’ve kind of got a lot going on right now, and—”

“It’s okay, don’t apologize,” he cuts me off with a wave.

“All I wanted tonight was to go out with a cute guy, have fun, and maybe make out.” I use his words with a grin, but my face is hot enough that I have to turn the air vent away. “If I’d known you were a vampire, I’d have probably said no, but … I guess I’m glad I didn’t.”

I trail off into silence, not even sure what I’m saying. My whole life, I’ve been taught that vampires are predators, that they’re dangerous, that even if they’re careful and do their best not to kill humans, I can never forget what they are. But, lately, my own understanding of the world has been turned upside down.

“For whatever it’s worth,” Gunnar says wistfully, slowing the car as we reach the front of my house, “I’m glad you didn’t, too.” We come to a stop, and then we just sit there for a moment. I reach for the handle and let go, reach for it again, and let go again, my stomach thundering with nerves. His voice gentle, Gunnar finally asks, “Auggie?”