I haven't been on a date in more than two years. So, when Jax called like he promised he would, I freaked out. The first thing I wanted to do was break down and cry once I realised I truly had nothing to wear.

The only time I went shopping in the past two years was a week ago when I bought the short black dress for meeting Edmond in the Lion's Den. I wanted my family to think I was doing fine without them, which was a lie if there ever was one.

But Jax had already seen me in that dress, and even though I doubted men remembered the things women wore, I still felt like shit.

I couldn't afford another dress.

So, I'd either have to suck it up or not go on the date at all. The latter wasn't an option.

I stared in the mirror, trying to decide whether the floral knee-length yellow dress screamed 'summer' way too loud to wear in the middle of January.

Probably.

But it was the only decent dress I had, and my boobs looked good in it.

Lucia was on a My Chemical Romance marathon as she searched for Sergeant Joe Bender, and I was slowly beginning to lose my mind.

Teenagers scared the living shit out of me, that much was true.

"Is this dress too summer-y?" I asked, squinting at the mirror.

I've never had an actual relationship. Being a Zaleria, I assumed my father would find someone appropriate for me, and I preferred not to get my heart broken by random boys I wouldn't have a future with anyway. A few casual flings were all that existed in my romantic inventory.

"Lucia!" I shouted.

"Ha?" She lifted her gaze.

"Is this dress too summer-y?" I repeated.

Lucia's eyes dropped back to the laptop, "He doesn't care."

"I care."

"The only thing he wants with your dress is take it off. Relax."

The giddiness her words caused quickly twisted into fear. Feelings I wasn't prepared to interpret settled in my stomach, and I found myself staring into the mirror, wondering if this was a good idea.

On the one hand, I liked Jax.

His humanity attracted me; carefreeness, recklessness, the danger of it all. One more ride on that motorbike and I might be a goner. I couldn't afford to actually fall for him, not with how much I was lying to him and how much I intended to use him.

On the other, I desperately needed to get laid.

I frowned at my reflection, realising both of those hands pointed in the same direction.

Also, my hair was a mess. The lack of blood seriously impacted my looks. The strands weren't as thick and healthy as they used to be, the once warm, chocolate colour dimmed, leaving behind a lame ashy brown. I grabbed the comb, debating whether I should just wear a ponytail.

My phone rang, displaying Jax's name.

"Yes?"

"I'm here."

The comb almost dropped from my hand.

"What? You're here?"

"Is that My Chemical Romance in the background?"

"What are you doing here?" I waved at Lucia, trying to get her to cut the music.

She didn't even look at me.

"Waiting for you outside."

I waved aggressively towards Lucia, but she didn't budge, "I thought we were gonna meet downtown."

"I changed my mind." Jax said, amusement in his voice apparent even over the phone. "We're not going to Manhattan. We're going to Mott Haven."

My heartrate quickened and the giddiness returned to my belly.

When he said he'd take me to Manhattan, I wasn't thrilled. Too many memories lingered in Manhattan for me, and I'd worry I'd run into one of my siblings – or worse, one that shall not be named.

I felt out of place in Manhattan, despite having spent my entire childhood there. Part of me was terrified I'd run into someone from my previous life, and they'd judge my lame dress and hair.

So, when I spoke, it came from a place of gratitude and hope.

"Do you want to come up?"

This, Lucia heard. And the music stopped playing immediately.

"No." She mouthed.

"Sure." Jax answered at the same time.

"Third floor." I said into the phone, ignoring Lucia's enraged stare. "I'll buzz you up."

"Asshole!" Lucia shouted. "I'm not ready for guests!"

I raised my eyebrow and smirked, "Don't worry, he's not here for you."

"Odette." She grunted and gestured towards her belly. "I look like a whale."

"He knows you're pregnant." I combed my hair quickly and applied another layer of foundation, just to convince myself I didn't look like the dead.

"I hate you sometimes."

"The feeling is sometimes mutual." I grinned right as I heard the knock on the door.

Just to spite me, I guess, Lucia immediately turned the music back on. Still My Chemical Romance, just something a little bit less inconspicuous.

"Is that Vampire Money?" Jax asked when I opened the door.

He wore jeans and a hoodie, with a leather jacket thrown over it. Unlike me, he didn't care about whether I'd already seen him in the same attire. Weirdly, it made me feel better.

In daylight, however, he was even more handsome. The light emphasized his dark features; the tattoos hugging his neck, the deep brown, almost black, eyes, his thick eyelashes, and the stubble beginning to cover his jaw. He took up all the space in my apartment, appearing huge in the small space,

"Yes!" Lucia shouted. "Finally, someone with a taste in music."

"Hey, I was a teenager when they were all the rage." Jax looked around, and I noticed the slight wrinkle between his brows as he noticed Lucia, no matter how nonchalant he tried to appear, "I'm Jax."

"Lucia." My teenage protégée pulled the covers over her belly and plastered a smile on her face.

Jax's eyes quickly flew over mine, revealing everything he wouldn't say out loud. He tried to hide the pity desperately, but I didn't hold it against him either way. Lucia looked bad – terrible, especially to someone who wasn't used to her the way I was.

"I just need a second." I hopped to the bathroom while Jax lingered awkwardly by my worn-out wardrobe.

My heart hammered in my chest as I grabbed the small black bag I threw on the floor in a fit of rage after my conversation with Dorian. I took in a deep breath and glanced in the mirror.

I could do this, right?

My resolve wavered when I heard his laugh.

I leaned my head against the cold tiles; the lack of sleep pounding in my temples. Maybe all the anger I felt towards everyone around me was just a messed-up manifestation of self-hatred. Before bitter tears filled my eyes, I left the bathroom. Jax and Lucia talked about something called Red Dead Redemption when I appeared in front of them.

"Ready?" He asked.

I threw the jacket her gave me the night we met over my shoulders, "Yes, let's go."

He walked out before me. I faced Lucia, meaning to ask her if she'd be alright alone for a while, but her wide stare and a salacious grin on her pale lips made me roll my eyes.

"Wow." She mouthed.

"Luce." I grunted.

She put her hands up in a 'measurement gesture,' trying to tell me she too had noticed his sizable bulge.

"Lucia!"

She shrugged, "I gots the taste for men who're older."

"You're gross."

"Have fun!" She grinned.

I shut the door and rushed down the stairs. Jax sat on his motorbike, looking deep in thought, and his gaze barely lifted as I appeared in front of him. Grey clouds full of rain hid the faint winter sun, much to my liking.

"Sorry." I apologized for no reason. "She has a tendency to behave like my mother. I just wanted her to meet you."

"I like her." Jax's voice sounded strained. "She's funny."

I forced a smile, ignoring his strange behaviour, "Shall we?"

"Yes, hop on." He gave me the helmet.

An irrational fear gripped me, and I wanted him to keep the damn helmet. Humans were so fragile; one wrong turn and he'd just stop existing.

"Keep it." I said. "I want to feel the wind in my hair."

Jax let out a short laugh, "No fucking way I'm gonna let you ride without a helmet."

I raised my eyebrow, "Maybe I won't let you ride at all, then."

"Cheeky." He grinned. "Put the helmet on."

I silenced my fears as I pressed myself against his body from behind. The way he gripped the handlebars felt solid and safe. I couldn't quite explain it, but I felt protected next to a man whose hobby was hunting my kind.

We rode through the streets, my short summer dress swaying behind me, chills spreading down my neck and my bare legs. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to imagine what this would feel like if I weren't one lying motherfucker.

Maybe I'd get a chance at something real, something sincere and raw, untainted by deceit and perversions coming from my world. Alas, I was a vampire and he was a vampire hunter.

We arrived to Mott Haven. The neighbourhood came alive in front of us, its streets busy and bustling, with street vendors making food despite the cold, music coming from restaurants and chain stores, and children playing in the parks and playgrounds. Graffiti murals covered the plain walls from which multifamily brick buildings and brownstones emerged.

Jax parked in front of a restaurant called Sabor de Isla, and the number of people that waved at him surprised me. Children called his name and shouted the most recent anecdote, the old women chatting around the table in front of the restaurant grinned at him, and men smoking outside nodded their heads in approval.

I couldn't contain the smile that pulled at my lips. Knowing he was loved and appreciated in this community made me feel giddy inside.

"Come on." Jax grinned at me and held the door to the Puerto Rican restaurant open.

Sounds of salsa and the aroma of savoury spices and herbs welcomed me upon entering. The large open area was decorated with traditional artwork; hand-painted tiles, woven textiles, and wooden carvings.

Round wooden tables with tropical fruits as centrepieces filled every available square inch. The bar area was full; people sat on the stools, drank and chatted. Behind the tables, in the far back, there was a stage for live performances. Even though currently no one played live, the music still remained loud and atmospheric.

God, I missed dancing.

Even our vampire balls were dull and formal; all predictable moves, modest touches, and zero spice. This place was entirely made of spice.

Tropical plants were tucked in between tables and chairs, and paintings and murals depicting famous places in Puerto Rico covered the wooden walls. Lots of natural light came from secret garden behind the building, which was now closed due to cold.

It was slightly hectic, but lively, attentive and friendly.

For perhaps the first time in my life, I experienced love at first sight.

"Jax!" A Puerto Rican man with a rich beard and friendly warm brown eyes shouted from the bar. "Tu mesa está lista para ti!"

"Gracias!" Jax shouted back through the music. "Come on."

He nudged me to the back of the restaurant, and I glanced up at him. His entire face relaxed and lit up as we walked through the area. Real, uninhibited grins decorated his lips when someone greeted him and spoke to him in Spanish.

The summer dress I had on suddenly felt appropriate.

"You speak Spanish?" I asked, unable to contain my beams.

"My grandmother was Puerto Rican." Jax answered once we settled around the table.

I saw pride in his expression, and my heart swelled with emotion.

"You're full of surprises."

He offered a satisfied grin, "We're starting this dinner off with some rum. First shots, then you can order something girly like Coquito."

"Are you telling me what to order?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Of course, I want you to try things you wouldn't try otherwise." Jax chuckled. "When we're in a Michelin star restaurant, you can order for me."

"Ouch. And also, are you already asking me to a second date?"

"I'm asking you to the next hundred dates." He smiled, but his gaze was on the menu. "We'll see how it goes after that."

The sentence made me grin like a fool.

And what a fool I've been, thinking I could get closer to him without serious consequences for my own lonely heart.