Maybe Another Time

MAYBE ANOTHER TIME

A Standalone On The Edge Novella

Kallysten

After a century and a half, Lucien has no illusions about vampires being treated fairly by humans, but when a new club opens in town that is touted as a meeting place for vampires and humans, he reluctantly gives it a try. On his first night there, he is pleasantly surprised… until the young woman with whom he shares a glass of wine and pleasant conversation at the bar realizes what he is.

 If Zoe had had her wish, the bachelorette party for her best friend would have taken place anywhere but at On The Edge—anywhere vampires are not welcomed so openly. Unlike the rest of the bridal party, Zoe has a healthy wariness of vampires... Or could it be more than wariness, and less than healthy?

 Every aspect of her life seems governed by patterns she can’t overcome, from the way she yields in conflicts to her inability to believe anyone might be interested in her extra curves. Could changing one thing—her fear of vampires—be the one small step that starts her on a new life journey?

Previously published as part of the Vampire Bites anthology.

Copyright © 2016 Kallysten

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

The right of Kallysten to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First Published 2016

Second Edition

All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Edited by Kristin W.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Thank you

Excerpt

A closer look at the On The Edge series

Other stories available

About the author

CHAPTER ONE

IT WAS A BAD IDEA. No, worse than that. It was an absolutely, catastrophically terrible idea. And Zoe could not, for the life of her, convince her friend Joan to change her mind. Still, she had to try again. This time, she appealed to her financial smarts, since her self-preservation instincts had gone missing.

There are tons of clubs closer to us. We’d save a lot of money by—

I already reserved the hotel suite, Joan interrupted, her voice crackling a little on the cell phone connection. If you gals think it’s too expensive, you don’t have to pay your share. I told you I didn’t care about that.

But… the limo service—

Izzy is taking care of that, remember? Her brother’s giving us a fantastic discount. And we’re getting a more than generous discount at the club, too. Brett says it’s great publicity. He said he might take some pictures of us if we’re cool with that and put them on the club’s website, like a ‘bachelorette party’ section.

Joan sounded excited about that, but Zoe had a hard time suppressing a groan. Great. Not only they would be partying in a club that wanted to be a meeting place for vampires and humans, not only would they have access to alcohol at ridiculously low prices, but on top of it Joan’s friend, the club manager, would be taking pictures of their inebriated selves for posterity.

It was almost enough for Zoe to consider begging off the maid of honor duties.

Almost, but not quite.

Still, she had to try one last time.

"Joan, sweetie… I understand all that, and I see you’re excited, but… vampires? This club is rumored to be full of them. If anything happened to any of the girls…"

She let the rest of that thought dangle between them. It didn’t need to be voiced aloud that should any of her bridesmaids get hurt, Joan would never forgive herself.

For a second or two, Joan remained silent, and a tiny thread of hope started to rise in Zoe. It didn’t last long.

I know you worry about vampires, Joan said softly. "And I understand why you do. But this is not a vampire club. It’s a dancing club that happens to treat vampires and humans equally. Brett’s girlfriend is the co-owner, and she’s a vampire. I met her at the opening and she’s an absolute doll. Not all vampires are bad, you know."

I know that, Zoe snapped, and immediately regretted her outburst. Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell at you.

And I don’t mean to push you into doing anything you’re not comfortable with. A quiet sigh came through the phone. Listen, if it bothers you that much… I don’t want this to be an issue between us. Is there another place you think would be better in Haventown? We’d still get the five-star hotel experience but without getting too close to vampires.

It was what Zoe had wanted when she first called Joan to share her doubts about the bachelorette party, but now that Joan was offering her a compromise, Zoe felt terrible about making a fuss.

She’d been so surprised when Joan had asked her to be her maid of honor—and so happy. They were best friends, certainly, but Zoe’s own sister had passed her over, and in fact had excluded her from her bridal party altogether with claims that ‘she wanted to keep it small.’

Small in numbers, but also small in size, Zoe knew all too well. The three slender bridesmaids had looked gorgeous in their tight sheaths. Zoe would have looked ridiculous in one of those. Joan had not only asked her, but she’d given her bridesmaids a choice between several dress styles so that Zoe would wear something that flattered her body without the other girls being resentful that they were forced into something that might not look so good on their more slender frames. And now Joan was willing to alter her plans because of Zoe’s hang ups… Never mind Bridezilla, Zoe was starting to feel like ‘Maidzilla.’

You know what, she said with a bit of forced cheer in her voice, forget I said anything. I’m sure we’ll have a great time at On The Edge. I guess I was channeling my dad and Jack.

Only if you’re sure, Joan insisted.

I am completely sure. I’ll come by tomorrow to make the favors. Three-ish?

Sounds good. Thank you, sweetie. See you tomorrow.

The call disconnected, and for a moment Zoe didn’t move, keeping the phone at her ear and staring unseeingly at the ceiling, the entire conversation replaying through her mind. She’d had a plan when she called, arguments lined up to change Joan’s mind. All that for nothing. Extending her arm past the edge of the sofa, she dropped the phone to the carpet. She drew a pillow over her face and, pressing it there, let out a long, frustrated cry.

She’d done it again.