Chapter 1 — 01

"Oh, hell no! You can't read a book at a bar, Romy."

Talia's words startle me, and I knock my book off the table as I turn to look at her and Anna. While Talia's pale rose hair, septum piercing, tattoos, and tough New Yorker attitude might intimidate some, they didn't work on me.

Glaring, I pick up my copy of The Vampire's Mail Order Bride from the floor of Valkyrie.

"If there is any alcohol on this, you owe me a new one," I say. "And for your information, I wasn't going to read it. Much. I just needed to get some good pictures for my Insta."

I position my book at the perfect angle for a quick photo on the low drink table in front of our couch.

"Oh, sweet baby Jesus, Romy. Did I just see the words Mail Order Bride on the cover? What are you even readin'?" Anna groans before covering her face as though that will contain her embarrassment.

I narrow my eyes and point to my chest before speaking to her like she's a small child. "Romy. Reads. Romance." I say, pointing at myself. "Don't act like you whores aren't aware that's my Insta handle."

Talia snorts, and I roll my eyes at both of them.

"I met you assholes at freshman orientation. You'd think that you would be used to my weird book shit by now. And to answer your original question, it's about a vampire who orders a bride by mail in order to appease his grandmother. It's really good. You can totally borrow it."

I change angles to get a new shot, and Talia arches her perfectly sculpted brow at me.

"So, you're being crazier than normal. That's fun, but how about you tell us why your book nerdiness is on full display tonight."

"My nerdiness is completely camouflaged," I argue. "Does your average bookworm wear three inch heels?"

"And you look damn hot in them," Talia agrees.

"What Talia means to say is that you seem stressed," Anna says. "We just want you to know that we're here for ya, girl. Even if it's just to hold that book right there at a perfect ninety—degree angle. Right?"

Anna levels a pointed look at Talia, who grins. "Right."

Anna's kind blue eyes hold no judgment as she tucks a lock of her long blonde hair behind her ear, and I smile at her peacekeeping attempts. Her Tennessee is showing again. She's far too southern to allow us to argue in public.

"Thanks," I tell them. "Actually, I do have something on my mind."

Talia leans in. "I knew it. Spill."

"Professor Higgins assigned a project that starts today and runs through the end of the year."

"Already? Professor Hottie sure knows how to start the year off as a buzzkill. My biz accounting professor just wants us to do a PowerPoint every three seconds."

I snort, and Anna rolls her eyes before dragging my attention back to her.

"What are your requirements? Is there anythin' we can do to help?"

"We have to increase our social media following by fifteen percent by the end of the year."

"Fifteen percent?" Talia repeats. "That's . . ." She pauses, doing the math in her head.

"Another twenty thousand," Anna chimes in, frowning. "That's a lot."

"You're telling me. It took me years to get to where I am now. Not only that, he expects a presentation describing how we accomplished it and how we plan to continue to grow our brand after graduation."

The thought of graduation brings on a flood of emotion. I love attending the university where my parents met, but it also reminds me daily of what I lost.

"You guys know how hard I've had to work to gain my followers back after Mom and Dad passed. I truly love what I do, but I'm not sure I can make that big of a push."

Talia and Anna wear matching masks of sympathy, and I can tell that they're thinking of the girl I'd been freshman year. Broken. Lonely. Worst of all, orphaned.

"You have to prioritize your healin'," Anna says gently, as if three years of finding my way back from the darkness wasn't enough.

"Are you worried about your scholarship?" Talia asks, cutting right to the heart of things as usual. "Because your academic probation ended two years ago, and your grades have been fine ever since sophomore year. You got this."

"It's not just about keeping my grades up for my scholarship, though. Social media is my income," I say. "I can't afford to fail this project. Not if I want to be a successful influencer."

Anna and Talia exchange a look.

I turn away, pretending not to see, and catch sight of the cute bartender manning the bar behind us. I take notice of the length of his long brown hair, strong jawline, and panty wetting chin stubble. I instantly deem him book boyfriend material and wonder if I can get him to take a picture with me for my feed.

"PS, that bartender is totally a werewolf," I say, nodding my head toward said bartender as he tosses a bar rag over his shoulder and shakes a drink.

The play of his forearm muscles mesmerizes me.

"Man, I have got to get me one of those," I say.

"You're seriously considerin' datin' finally? Oh, my great aunt Betsy! That's so excitin'," Anna says.

"What? Oh." I laugh. "I don't mean a boyfriend. A werewolf. I have got to get me a werewolf. Just look at him. He's delicious," I sigh while propping my chin on the back of the couch so I can stare at him properly.

"Hey, cocoa puffs," Talia says without glancing up from her phone. "You do know that werewolves aren't real, right? I mean, if I'm going to have to visit you every other Saturday at the looney bin, I need to know now so I can allow time in my schedule."

"Funny." I force my attention away from hottie. "Look, I don't have time for dating, okay? Even without my crazy final assignment, I have to focus."

"It's okay to take a break sometimes," Anna says.

"I take breaks."

Talia snorts.

"Look, you guys know I love books. I even love being an influencer, but I'm not going to be able to do it forever. Nobody is gonna want to see me in my underwear and long socks, holding my favorite books when I'm forty. I need to build a name for myself in the book community. If I do everything right, eventually I'll transition to repping books for film and TV or maybe work for a publishing house."

"Honey, you can do anythin' you set your mind to." Anna pats my arm.

I shake off my heavy thoughts and give them my best reassuring grin. "Graduation is still months away. I know I'll think of something, but thanks for volunteering to be my book bitches."

"Hey now, I don't recall sayin' all that," Anna says with a laugh.

"Okay, enough of all this. Too much adult talk. Let's get sloppy," Talia shouts, turning to wave to the bartender.

"I think I heard the word sloppy screamed in my direction," a deep voice says. I turn to find my werewolf bartender standing behind me. "My name's Travis. How can I make that happen for you ladies?" he asks with a smirk.

Talia and Anna place their orders, and then Travis' warm chocolatey eyes are trained on me.

"What about you, gorgeous?"

"I'll take a Church, no ice. But before you go, would you mind snapping a picture with me? My followers would love you," I say before I can change my mind.

Anna turns pink, and Talia chuckles.

"That depends. Do you ask all of your bartenders to pose with you?" he asks, raising his brow.

"Only the ones who look like sexy werewolves," I answer earnestly, making the sign of the cross over my heart.