My Billionaire Ex Is A Vampire

Socks in Sandals

Ben doesn’t look at me while he gives one ticket after the other to the other students. They all quickly remove themselves from his sight and get in the security line. I notice a few glances my way and I feel my face heats up in a mixture of embarrassment and anger. What the snickerdoodle is happening? Has he decided he’s had enough of me? Not worth the hassle? Well, if he doesn’t want to change his habit of messing with my mind he might as well leave. I will not accept any such nonsense.

When there is only one ticket left, his own, Ben meets my eyes. It’s full of tears, but I don’t care. I’m boiling at this point.

“I know how it looks,” he starts and pauses. I don’t answer him. “There has been a mistake and there is no ticket for you. I guess I forgot to buy it when your schedule opened up.” I just stare at the man in front of me.

“Somehow I doubt that,” I answer with ice in my voice. There are no tears to cry, I’ve had enough. “How can you forget something like that after paying millions to open up my schedule?”

“Millions?” Ben’s question even makes my anger swell.

“My fathers debt that my boyfriend so gracefully paid for me. You forgot already?” The cogwheels in my mind are working in high gear as a suspicion rises to my mind. I let my gaze slip away from the man automatically.

“Oh that. Think nothing of it.” Ben reaches to my shin so he can lift my face again, but I don’t let him. What will happen if I meet his eyes? Will he make me forget?

“It wasn’t you, was it?” I ask him, starting to reach for my suitcase.

“Lorena please,” he begs me and tries to get a hold around me for a hug. A part of me longs to sink into his warm embrace, but it’s only a small part of me. The rest is full of anger and I no longer trust him. “I’m sorry my love. It takes time to adjust to your rules. I’m not used to caring for others other than myself. Give me time and I will…”

“LET ME GO!” I scream at him and every person in the line turns towards me. In my side view I notice a security guard slowly walks towards us, ready to be a knight in shiny armor. Ben does too, and lets me go. I take my suitcase and without looking him in the eyes I turn to him.

“Your personality is like socks in sandals and I’ve had enough,” I fume, pretty sure everyone in the room can hear me. I don’t care. When he reaches for me again I stop him by lifting my hand. “Don’t!” His hand stands still in front of me as I turn away leaving him in front of the audience. That is his problem and not mine.

As I slowly descend the stairs to the train tracks I pick up my phone to call Chris. It rings a few times before an out of breath Chris picks up the phone.

“I dumped Ben, or he dumped me. I’m not sure,” I hulk into the phone.

“Oh, Lorena!” Chris answers. “Where are you? You want me to come?”

“I’m at the airport. The next train will leave in an hour,” I tell them. I don’t think my mind can keep up with changing trains midways so I would rather sit here an hour than wait for a direct train. “I can let you know when I’m home.”

That’s when I start to cry for real. The dam breaks open and all the waterworks are set on full flow. Again I get worried looks in my direction, but I don’t care. I hiccup into the phone and Chris mumbles soothing words I do not catch. When I manage to calm down some I can hear them suggest that I come over to their apartment. There we can make plans for what I will do later.

“Thank you Chris,” I smile with a sad voice and we hang up. Looking at my watch I notice a five minute phone call lasted half an hour or so due to all the crying. Most people have hurried past me, but some have stopped to see if I need any help or just to stare at the mess in front of them. I chose to focus on the sympathetic people who have planes or trains to catch and give a thumbs up when prompted.

“Hi, I came as fast as I could.” I jump up high and scream, as Sean is suddenly sitting beside me. Clutching my beating heart, I need to catch my breath before acknowledging his presence. Sean looks both a bit smug and flustered. “Sorry for scaring you. My instinct kicked in when I felt your sadness and anger and I just ran for it.”

When I look at him he adds: “What happened?”

“Ben,” I whisper. The plastic seat next to Sean splints to pieces as his hand runs through it. I lift my eyebrow and Sean plays it off like nothing happened. Gingerly he starts to stroke my back as I explain with greater detail. It’s like my mouth has diarrhea as I keep talking. When I cry Sean hands me paper and when I try to make Ben more reasonable he agrees with me in a very disagreeing fashion making me see how the relationship was doomed from the beginning.

“Why are you agreeing that he shouldn’t use Jedi mind tricks on me?” I ask Sean. It’s not like he is innocent of the same problems I had with Ben. “You did it too.” Sean looks away from me, showing me how guilty he feels. Or at least I think so. I’m not sure I can trust my ability to read others at this point.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have full control on my vampireness at this point, so I kind of didn’t do it on purpose,” he states before he explains: “I was thinking of wanting to read your mind and suddenly I did and I saw you hiding something from me. I couldn’t help myself from asking for the truth. First when you spoke the truth did I realize what I had done to you, and by then it was too late. I’m truly sorry.”

“Is that why you paid the debt?” I ask him, partly to make him confirm it was he who paid it and not Ben. Sean nods and shrugs his shoulders.

“Well partly, I would have done it anyway. It was a drop in the ocean for me, but a crippling debt for you. I will never be able to live with myself if I know I can help you with something, no matter if you chose a life with me or not.” Sean takes my hand. “I will always be there for you. Always.”

“Thank you, Sean,” I smile at him before I taking a look at my watch so I can see how long I have to wait for the train. It has to be getting close now. When I see what time it is I think my face pales. We’ve been talking for like two hours!

“What is it, Lorena?” Sean asks.

“I was supposed to be on the train home by now. I missed it!” I exclaim, burying my head in my hands and groan at my stupidity. I should have set an alarm! I should have noticed how my ass is starting to taste like the plastic seat I’m sitting on. “Not only did I miss it, but I missed the last one for today and I either have to find a hotel room or take 3 different trains with half an hour waiting time between each of them.”

“Is there a reason for you to travel home at this moment?” Sean asks me.

“I can’t stay here all summer,” I laugh bitterly.

“No, but you are at the airport with a suitcase ready for a vacation. My offer of traveling together for ten days is still up. Do you wanna see the world with me?” Sean’s voice is full of hope and the thought suddenly feels tempting. Why not? But still, what does he expect of me? Will he be wanting more than my presents?

“I’m not sure Sean. Can I trust you not to cross my boundaries?” I more or less whisper, but Sean hears me.

“I will not force you to do anything. I only ask for your willingness to travel with me and see the different places I show you. You will have a separate bedroom where I cannot enter unless you invite me.”

“So the hotel room works like at the apartment?” my curiousness interrupts him.

“Yes, when a hotel room is occupied by a human I cannot enter without an invitation. Even if I pay for it, and I will pay for everything Lorena. If you need something, anything, I will pay,” he says in a dead serious voice, no pun intended.

“I need to call Chris before I decide. Can you wait?” The call is both to let them know I won't come to her with the train I was supposed to take, but also to hear if they think it’s a bad idea. I need someone to anchor me to the ground before I fly too high.