Page 11 of Dear Mr. Vampire
“No, yes, ah, I, my last name is Taylor.” Shit! I sound stupid.
“Huh, right.” He closed his book and placed it on the washing machine beside him.
“I’m Co, I’m Chanel. My name is Chanel.”
“Chanel, huh, second floor?”
I shook my head. “I’ve only been here for a few months.”
“How do you like it so far?”
“It’s okay. What floor are you on?” I knew the answer, but he didn’t have to know that.
His lips twisted. “Here, down here. My place is here in the basement.”
“Oh, that black door by the elevator.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, okay. I thought that was a storage room or something.”Oh, I was lying too damn good.
“It’s an entire apartment.”
“Oh.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. “Your name? What’s your name?”
“Zand.”
“Zand, I’ve never met a Zand.” I was trying to stay casual and cool and not look like a goddamn fool.
“It’s Alexander. But why waste that many syllables on me? I’m not worth it.” He grinned with just the corner of his lips.
“Zand.” A woman’s voice came from the doorway. I whipped my head around to see a tall, leggy brunette standing at the entrance of the laundry room. Her face was bare of product, but she was still naturally attractive. Her hair was long with a hint ofa curl. A short, skintight red dress clung to her model body like a second skin. She was holding her high heel sandals in her hand.
“Bai-ley.” He said her name slowly and precisely, like he was trying to recall it. He gracefully hopped off the washing machine.
She smiled at him but didn’t enter the laundry room. “You’re really doing laundry. I thought you ran out on me.”
“Never.” He flashed a grin, and I saw the sexy, deep dimple in his cheek.
“Who’s your friend?” Her eyes scanned me casually.
“My upstairs neighbor, Chanel.”
“Hey Chanel.” She gave me a quick wave.
“Hey.” I returned her wave and turned my back to give them some privacy. In my peripheral, I could see him move towards the open door where she stood.
Something about this screamed booty call. I’d never seen this woman Bailey before. I’d seen more than a few young women emerge from the building in the wee hours of the night. I knew they had to be coming from his basement apartment, even though I had no proof. Before I got my sleeping pills, my insomnia would keep me up. That’s when I noticed a flock of random, scantily clad women that would do a walk of shame from the apartment building.
There was silence while he was gone for a few minutes. Mr. Vampire strolled back into the room like nothing happened. I hadn’t accepted the name Zand. He didn’t look much like a Zand, a Zander or and Alexander to me. He looked like his name would be Ryan, or Matt, or possibly Ethan. I was still stuck on calling him Mr. Vampire, for now.
Why hadn’t he written me another note? Was it Bailey that had distracted him from our harmless fun and games?
Zand walked over to his washing machine. “My clothes stopped.”
He started removing a few items at a time and tossing them into the empty dryer a few feet away. All his clothes were darkblack, faded black, dark gray and just black-black. I watched him carefully, and I convinced myself that he had a small penis and I wasn’t missing a thing.
I waited patiently while he removed all his things.
