The High School Reunion From Hell - Saranna DeWylde Page 0,10

days once—so it could do it again.

Anything could happen, right?

“Fine,” I grumbled. “I guess I’m going to the damn reunion. All I can say is that they better have decent ranch dressing.”

Chapter Three

The hotel did not have good ranch dressing.

They didn’t even have dressing. What they had was watered down, flavorless glue. I should have insisted on samples. This was actually offensive. How could this place advertise itself as The Jewel of the Midwest with ranch dressing this subpar?

Aside from the dressing, The Jewel had virtually everything else we could ask for. Solid Kansas City Barbeque (the best in the world, fight me). Pop up bars all over its many labyrinthine corridors, several pools, and stores—all within this weird and immense indoor space that had been designed to look like it was out of doors. They were all connected by indoor “rivers.” And the entertainment seemed to be loaded with swim-up bars. If nothing else, I could drown my sorrows all weekend. My room was even decent, with a queen-sized bed and enough floor space for Vlad.

Although, I was definitely going to need to go out and buy some ranch. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy my Casey’s pizza, my wings, or my BBQ without it.

“I’m offended.” Lila Jean scrunched her nose at the dressing in her take-away cup. From her spot sprawled on the floor, lunch perched on her knees, she looked like a displeased child about to pitch a fit. Which, fair. Pizza without proper dressing?

“Reminds me of that time the slime monster gummed up the sewers.” I eyed the white-ish glob in my cup before setting it aside. “Still, the rest of the place is alright.”

I was willing to give the hotel a pass, though, because the place even had a doggie daycare that was willing to meet Vlad and possibly babysit him while I went to some of the events. A first in my vampire-dog-having experience. It wasn’t that Vlad couldn’t be alone, but I’d feel better knowing he wasn’t cooped up in the room alone—and the furnishings would appreciate the break. Besides, he actually enjoyed playing with other dogs—just playing, no humping.

“Does it ever weird you out that he doesn’t hump other dogs?” she asked around a bite of pizza.

“I’m just grateful,” I said.

At present, he was making sweet love to the table next to us. I was glad the table didn’t have actual feelings.

“I’m off to get settled in my suite.” Lila Jean finished her pizza and grabbed her suitcase. “See you in a bit!” She’d wanted her own room. Just in case Marcus and I wanted to “hook up” this weekend.

I was pretty sure she wanted to hook up with someone.

I finished my pizza, sans glue ranch, and refilled the tequila in my water bottle—obviously, I’d packed the essentials of tequila and weaponry—before taking Vlad down to the doggie daycare to meet the staff.

I debated changing clothes first. When I’d left the house this morning, Ryder said I looked like a Nirvana video had thrown up. I didn’t want to see the problem. I was wearing Doc Martens, a band t-shirt, and my ass-hugging jeans.

However, I guessed my look hadn’t really changed since high school.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, walking into the reunion had forced the issue into the light. I didn’t have to like them to not want the people I’d gone to school with to think I hadn’t changed. Or to think I was stuck in some time loop. Although, maybe I was?

Still, it would be stupid to change my clothes before meeting the daycare people. Vlad still needed his blood smoothie and he always drooled on me after he ate. That would be just the thing, right? Walk into the Prom Redux tonight full-on Carrie covered in blood smoothie, vampire pit bull slobber.

The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.

Though, it wouldn’t help me with any of my objectives, would it? I needed to keep an eye on Marc and be on the lookout for that Leo sigil. It was a common enough marking, but I didn’t believe in coincidences.

Shit, being on the hunt also meant slowing down on the tequila.

With a sad sigh, I decided my recent tequila fill-up would have to be my last—at least for a while. It took a lot to get me drunk—and I wanted to be drunk—but I wanted to protect Marcus more…

I stopped halfway through the door.

That’s why he wanted me at this reunion. He