Ivy couldn’t help feeling like she was tied to a stake while Olivia practically floated around her bedroom.
‘It was sweet,’ Olivia was saying. ‘He was so nervous.’
‘I know, but –’ Ivy started.
‘And the look on his face when I said yes!’ Olivia interrupted.
‘Yes, but –’ Ivy tried again.
‘And I couldn’t stop smiling after.’
‘Olivia!’ Ivy said.
‘What?’ Olivia froze in place, holding on to one of the bed posts.
‘You know how you said you wanted a normal boyfriend?’ Ivy began.
Olivia sat cross-legged on her bed and grinned at Ivy. ‘I know, but he is normal. He’s funny. He’s cute. He can quote lines from Count Vira novels.’
Ivy sighed. ‘But what if there is something you don’t know about him?’
‘There’s tons I don’t know about him,’ Olivia said. ‘And I hope I get to find out!’
Ivy had to tell her. ‘I mean, what if he had a special relationship with his dentist?’
Olivia crinkled her nose. ‘Do you mean he doesn’t floss?’
‘No.’ She tried another track. ‘I mean he wears contact lenses.’
Olivia looked confused. ‘I don’t care if he’s near-sighted.’
There was no way to break it gently. ‘Jackson isn’t near-sighted – I think he’s a vampire.’
Olivia’s jaw dropped open. ‘What?’
Ivy went and sat next to her sister. ‘The make-up artist has to order in tons of fake tan; Jackson has a no-garlic clause in his contract and I saw him taking out his contact lenses in his trailer. I’m sure of it. He’s a night-walking, coffin-sleeping, sun-averse vampire.’
Ivy thought her sister’s eyes looked a little watery.
It took a moment, but then Olivia seemed to gather herself. ‘I know you can’t tell who’s a vampire and who’s not, but I never would have thought . . . Well, I mean . . . Jackson? Really?’ She sighed. ‘That explains the burger.’
‘I’m sorry. I had to tell you,’ Ivy said.
Olivia nodded. ‘He was just too perfect, I guess.’ Olivia put her head on Ivy’s shoulder. ‘I think I could’ve gotten over the distance and the chaos, but this . . .’ she trailed off and Ivy felt even worse. ‘Being with a vampire is just not how I see my life playing out.’ Olivia sniffled. ‘It just makes everything way too complicated.’
‘What are you going to do?’ Ivy asked gently.
‘I have to be honest with him. Tell him I know and call it off,’ Olivia said.
‘Are you sure you can’t have a vampire boyfriend?’ Ivy wondered if Olivia was making a choice she’d regret.
Olivia shook her head. ‘I’m just lucky you discovered it now, before we’d had a first real date. I’ve only just found out about all this vampire stuff. A vampire boyfriend is just too much to handle right now.’
Olivia wrapped her arms around herself. Ivy had to give her a big hug. ‘I’m really sorry,’ she whispered. Ivy’s first attempt at match-making had been a complete disaster.
‘Me, too,’ said Olivia. ‘I guess I’ll have to meet him somewhere we can talk without interruptions.’ Olivia crinkled her nose. ‘And I’ve got a good idea where that should be.’
‘It’s good to have you back,’ Brendan said as he and Ivy walked down aisle nine at FoodMart, towards the secret entrance to the BloodMart. ‘Air hockey isn’t as much fun by myself.’