September Moon by Trina M Lee

sprinted for the exit.
    I ran through the parking lot, making a beeline for Kale’s car. The honk of a horn startled me as a car screeched to a stop to avoid hitting me. I waved in apology and continued on.
    “Kale, wait,” I shouted. “I’m coming with you.”
    He paused at his car and pulled keys from a pocket. “Don’t bother. I can find her on my own.”
    “She’s our friend and our partner. I’m coming with you,” I insisted, stepping in front of the door before he could slide the key in.
    Kale stepped back to avoid touching me. I took the opportunity to swipe the keys from his hand.
    “Alexa, cut it out. Go back inside.”
    “It’s not how Jenner made it look. He’s not quite my biggest fan. Please, let me explain.”
    “So you’ve enslaved another vampire. What’s to explain?” He grabbed for the keys, but I deftly avoided his grab.
    “It isn’t like that. Jenner made a lot of trouble for us in Las Vegas. Binding him to me was Arys’s way of punishing him for that. He’s only here to help. Then he goes back.” I unlocked the car door and slid across the driver’s seat to the passenger side. “Get in. Jez needs us.”
    Kale stood there looking conflicted. Finally he uttered a curse and got into the car. I handed over the keys, which he took carefully so our hands wouldn’t touch.
    It had been quite some time since I’d been in Kale’s car. It smelled like him. Leather and subtle cologne brought forth a flood of memories. I took a deep breath and stifled a sigh.
    “You’re taking a big risk by being so close, you know,” he said. After starting the engine, Kale eased out of his parking spot. If he was hoping I would change my mind and jump out, he was going to be disappointed.
    “Well, you’re not the one who’s going to kill me, remember? So what’s the problem? Afraid you’ll regret what you said last night?”
    Kale slid a sidelong glance my way. His blue and brown eyes glittered with a mischievous light, one I recognized from every tense encounter we’d ever had. “I meant every word. It’s better for both of us if we keep our distance. You can’t argue that, and you know it.” He maneuvered the Camaro into traffic, heading south toward Jez’s side of the city.
    His attention was on the road, allowing me a moment to enjoy looking at him. Kale held himself with the self-assurance of one who had survived many centuries. He was poised, regal in a way, and undeniably handsome.
    “I miss you, Kale,” I said before I could decide not to. “I miss what we used to have. Our friendship. We made a great team.”
    When he didn’t respond right away, I dug my phone out and tried Jez again. No use. My next call was to Juliet who I begged to help me out with a trace on Jez’s phone. She promised to do what she could and call me back if she found anything.
    We left the downtown core bound for Jez’s trendy neighborhood. Her behavior had been wild lately. Grief was a bitch.
    “I miss you, too.” Kale’s admittance was uttered with bitterness. “More than you’ll ever really know.”
    I wanted to insist we could get our friendship back. I didn’t though, because it would be a lie. Even as I tried to deny it, I was painfully aware of the dangers of our proximity.
    “Ok, so what’s the plan?” I asked, redirecting the conversation. If I could get him talking about something other than us, maybe we would both relax.
    “I guess we start at Jez’s apartment. Hopefully your sister can trace her phone. It’s not like Jez to skip out on a hunt. Whatever she’s up to, it can’t be good.”
    I nodded, already fearing the worst. “She’s on a mission to dull the pain. That never ends well for anyone. It doesn’t work.”
    Kale laughed, a scornful sound. “No, but it sure feels good to try.”
    “Yeah, I know.” So much for keeping the topic off of us.
    We fell quiet, but it was awkward and strained. The uneasy conversation had been less obvious.
    “So tell me about Jenner,”