I hiked my guitar case on my shoulder and waved when I spotted his car.
He hopped out when I approached, greeting me with a friendly smile.
“Fabulous. You’re here.”
“I am.” I flashed a lopsided grin and lifted my case. “Do you have room for this in your trunk?
“Oh. I’m not sure. Our Nosferatu costumes might still be there. Let me check. You can always put it in the back seat. This car is bigger than it looks.” He opened the trunk and pushed a pile of black cloaks to the side. “There you go.”
“Nosferatu?” I slid my guitar inside, then closed the door and moved to the passenger’s side.
“Yes, the vampire,” he replied matter-of-factly as he turned on the engine and checked the rearview mirror.
“I know who that is. He’s Dracula.”
“No, Nosferatu is an adaptation of Dracula. And Nosferatu Night had a better ring to it. We wore those on the tour for George’s birthday,” Cody explained.
I tore my sunglasses off and gaped. “You wore capes all night for a birthday party?”
“Yes. It was fun.” He shot a sideways glance at me as he drove toward the exit. “I know what you’re thinking. Yes, it’s a little geeky, but—”
“Just a little. But it’s kinda hot too. I want you to wear a cape tonight when I fuck you. I’ve never had sex with a vampire or a dude in a cape. I should check that box too,” I said in a lascivious tone, tugging at my seat belt. “Dammit, this car is small. This thing is going to slice me in two.”
“Oh, please,” he scoffed. “It’s a little snug, but I don’t think it’s the car. You’re just huge.”
“Thank you,” I quipped. “Now, what were we talking about?”
“Vampire sex.”
I busted up laughing. “Right. How do you think vampires do it?”
He seemed to consider the question as he turned right onto Olympic Boulevard. “The same as humans, but more acrobatic.”
“Acrobatic? Vampires aren’t acrobats.”
“No, but they move quickly. With preternatural speed.”
“You know they’re not real, don’t you?”
Cody stopped at the red light and glanced over at me. “Please tell me you’re not serious.”
My chuckle morphed into a belly laugh that pretty much didn’t stop until he pulled into the parking lot behind a squat beige stucco building. I sobered immediately and let out a deep sigh.
“It was nice knowing you.”
Cody snorted. “And you think I’m a dork.”
“I never said you were a dork. But I did think it…in the nicest possible way.” I pulled at his sleeve until he met me across the armrest. “C’mon. I need you to hold my hand. I’m scared.”
He lowered his sunglasses to give me the full effect of his eye roll. “Baby.”
I grinned, then leaned in and kissed him. “I love it when you call me baby.”
Cody rolled his eyes again and pointed at the door. “Out.”
I swiped at the bead of sweat on my forehead and pasted a smile on my face as I strode purposefully toward the reception desk.
“Hi there. My name is Robert Prescott. I have a four-o’clock appointment.”
The cute brunette behind the desk flashed a megawatt grin. “Yes! Bobby J, right? I’m Amanda. I’m a big fan of yours. Jealousy is one of my favorite bands. I was so excited when Charlie called and said you were coming in today.”
“Well, thanks. That’s nice to hear.”
Shit. Did my voice tremble? She didn’t seem to notice. She said something about our recent concert in LA as she slid a clipboard and pen across the narrow counter.
“Charlie filled out a few of those forms for you, but we have a health questionnaire for you to complete before you see Dr. Canter. There are three pages here. Be sure to sign the last one.” She angled her head toward the adjacent waiting area. “Make yourself comfortable. We’ll have you in and out as quickly as possible.”
I smiled, hoping she didn’t notice my shaky hands. Cody noticed. He grabbed the clipboard and steered me to the corner of the sparsely crowded room, past an older couple perusing a display of frames and a mother with two young kids, all engrossed in their iPads. No one looked up when we walked by. Good. I didn’t want anyone to witness a breakdown in the works. I swallowed hard as I settled into my seat.
“This chair is small,” I grumbled, glancing at the framed poster of the retina in all its bloody glory. Ugh. “Everything is shrinking. Including my balls. And that thing is gross. It’s staring at me.”
“Your balls are fine. I felt them myself yesterday.” Cody gave me a mischievous grin as he handed over the clipboard and pen. “As for the poster…I can’t take it down, but I can trade places with you.”
“No, it’s fine.” I sounded anything but “fine” as I clicked the pen with trembling hands. “Jesus, look at me. I can’t stop shaking. I think I’m dehydrated. I might be going into shock. I need water or electrolytes or—”