© Vampires Love Garlic 2026 by Ashley Chapman. All rights reserved.

39

War Tide

Heather

Thanksgiving sneaks up on me faster than a spring storm.

McKenzie’s antebellum mansion. Stunning. Beautiful. My absolute favorite project that I’ve been able to use for some school assignments, since it’s historic. Marquis is the king of motivating contractors and businesses. All he ever does is mention “McKenzie Bristol,” and things get done. Quickly. With much flattery and praise.

McKenzie and I have been spending as much time together as we can, which is hard. His business seems to be never-ending. He’s taken one trip to Europe and another to Asia over the past three weeks. Every time I’ve left for work in the morning, I’ve found a small gift. A glass rose from Russia. Croissants from France. A silk scarf from China.

While he’s been gone, Derrick’s made sure I know he’s in Savannah. He hasn’t appeared at the antebellum, thank goodness, but he drops by the café every now and then and watches me over the rim of his cup. McKenzie told me, if I ever have any more problems with him, that his left ear is exceptionally sensitive from some scuffle in Canada, and I can grab it as hard as I can and Derrick will leave me alone. Seems cruel, but if Derrick’s going to be awful, then I guess I can defend myself.

Narcissa’s come and gone multiple times. Bless her heart, she’s been trying to wear the right clothes and pose the right way, but she’s definitely getting a baby bump. It’s adorable, but she’s going to have problems at the vampire gathering. Robbie’s been doting over her with all the love and affection I could want for her. He’s pretty awesome. Of course, football season is in full swing, and that man is all on it.

Which brings me to Thanksgiving.

Well, the Saturday after.

For the Iron Bowl.

My whole family came down to Oma’s for it. Her house is small, and now it’s suddenly full of Mom, Dad, cousins, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Children are running everywhere. Two of my sisters are fighting over which celebrity is the hottest, and I have to throw McKenzie in there. To which they pause, tell me they still think I’m lying about knowing him, and continue on. I’ve got three brothers aggressively playing video games on the big screen TV in Oma’s small living room that my Dad installed specifically for this game.

We’ve delayed Thanksgiving for it.

So… War Eagle, Roll Tide, and turkey all on the same day. In a small house. With children, cooking, music, video games, gossip, bickering, and…

“Roooolllllll Tiiiiiiide!”

Robbie has just walked through the door, immediately earning the disdain and hisses of each one of my family members who actually cares about football.

“Who the heck is this?” One of my brothers shouts.

“Robert Judas,” Robbie says, putting a hand to Narcissa’s elbow and guiding her into the house. “Heather invited us. Thought I should be here for the big show.”

At least twelve pairs of eyes are suddenly burning into me.

“Now, now, the South is nothing if not gracious,” I scold, grinning. “I mean, we all know neither team can hold a candle to the Bulldogs, so…”

Someone just threw a wadded pair of socks at my head. I duck and laugh before hugging both Narcissa and Robbie.

“Thanks for coming,” I say.

“Thanks for having us. This is going to be fun,” Narcissa says, kissing my cheek.

She’s wearing a “Dances to the tune of Roll Tide” sweater with a small painting of a baby where her stomach is. Oh goodness. Not even born yet, and Robbie’s already trying to imprint his love for Alabama on his child.

“Can I come, too?” Marquis asks from the doorway, poking his head in. “Is it safe?”

“It depends. Who are you cheering for?”

“The cheerleaders.”

“Then I think you’re safe.”

“Ken hiding around here somewhere?” Marquis asks, shutting the door behind him.

“He’s not going to make it. He’s in New York at the moment, negotiating another real estate deal with a bunch of big shots.” I smile and shrug. “It’s okay. We had a nice little Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving.”

“Off the games, boys!” My dad’s shouting from upstairs. “It’s time! We’re coming up on kickoff!”

“Just two more minutes! We’re almost through this level!”

“Now! And let the ladies have the couch! On the floor!”

“Make yourselves comfortable,” I say with a laugh. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

I watch my guests go into the living room and then make my way into the kitchen. Oma is bustling over the stove, my Mom is buttering rolls, and one of my sisters is putting slices of lemon in the Milo’s. Even with all the kitchen noise, it’s quieter than the rest of the house is. I join the women in prepping food, shredding pork butt and smothering it in barbecue sauce. I don’t notice everyone hustling in and out, and I’m in my own little world until a pair of lips finds the skin behind my ear.

My body melts into his. We’ve been here before, so many times in the last few weeks. His arms wrap around me, lacing his fingers through mine, butterfly kisses down my neck.

“I thought you wouldn’t make it,” I somehow manage to breathe.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I get to see Robbie in his element.”

I laugh and turn my head, lips accidentally brushing McKenzie’s. His dimple is cutting deep in his cheek as he gives me his smile, the gentle one, the one that says he missed me and he’s been thinking of me every day.

“You’re willing to brave my entire family and Robbie?”

There’s a low shriek from the doorway, and we both turn to see one of my sisters standing there, her mouth and eyes wide open. She shoves her cell phone behind her, like she might have been entertaining the idea of McKenzie being the hottest celebrity and his picture’s on her screen. She looks from him to me and then back to him again.

His smile shifts into that devilish smirk of his. He pulls away from me and holds out his hand.

“Hi. I’m McKenzie Bristol, Heather’s boyfriend.”

That word. Boyfriend. It always sounded so young and immature to me, but hearing it from him, hearing him say that he’s my boyfriend does something different entirely. It makes me quite warm all of a sudden, in my denim leggings and oversized sweater.

My sister’s a stammering mess before she grabs his arm and drags him out of the kitchen, wanting to introduce him to everyone and, I’m suspecting, get the reaction of my other sisters. McKenzie somehow manages to grab my hand on the way out, and he pulls me with him. He moves me in front of him and puts his hands on my shoulders as Rachel chatters on about who he is and then everyone greets him. My dad shakes his hand and welcomes him in. My mom smiles and studies him. Oma, dear Oma, grabs him in a massive hug and declares to the world that he isn’t my boyfriend. He’s hers.

Robbie manages to plop him onto the couch next to him and Narcissa.

Poor McKenzie barely stood a chance. He somehow managed to slip into the house unnoticed, but now he’s the favorite person of the evening. He looks just as calm as ever, one ankle crossed over his leg, a beer in hand (thanks to Robbie). He isn’t prepared when Robbie smacks a Bama baseball hat down on his head, but he goes along with it just as cool as can be.

I know McKenzie’s a master businessman, but I had no idea what a captivating conversationalist he is. For all of five minutes, he has the room’s full attention, which is a real feat considering what’s on television. But then one of Auburn’s players makes a run for the end zone, and McKenzie’s no longer the center of attention. He’s in on the action, his back getting slapped by Robbie, his hand getting pumped by my dad, and everyone shouting and screaming for their football team of choice.

I love seeing him like this. Domestic, just another guy watching a wild football game.

He knows how to play the room. When Robbie leaps up screaming, Kenzie’s right there with him. When my dad, brothers, uncles, and cousins roar over Auburn, he roars along. He isn’t doing it just to please everyone, either. He’s not a sports guy, but he’s invested in the game, leaning forward at the right moments, throwing shade at Auburn or Alabama, depending on which one’s needing a good goading. He fits right in, and I can see now how he does so well with negotiations, how he’s unaccustomed to being told no with deals and properties.

My sisters keep stealing pictures of him on their phones. They’re trying to be subtle, but every time they take a shot, McKenzie tilts his head, just barely, that amazing hearing picking up everything. He doesn’t say anything about it, but he’s most definitely posed once or twice to give them a good angle.

And he hasn’t forgotten me.

Even in all this chaos, in the shouting, the popcorn throwing at the television, the barbecue and potato salad, he’s aware of where I am. He’s being careful, respectful, not wanting to press his luck with my parents, wanting to show that he cares for me enough to not make a scene of his affection. He answers every question thrown his way with a charm and calm that makes him glow in everyone’s eyes. I don’t get a chance to sit, but every time I pass by the couch, he catches my hand or runs his fingers along my arm.

I want him to myself. I love my family, and I love how he’s interacting with them. McKenzie in a backward hat, shouting along with the men in my family is priceless. But I want a moment with him, just the two of us.

The game comes to an end, and his eyes find mine. I smile, trying to be polite, trying to not be selfish, but he catches something in my face. He shakes everyone’s hands, accepts another kiss on the cheek from Oma, and moves to me.

“Everything all right?” he asks, voice low.

“Can we go somewhere? I want to show you the mansion,” I say, taking his hands in mine.

He chuckles.

“A little overwhelmed, perhaps?”

“My family is amazing, but we’re a loud, rowdy bunch,” I say with a shrug. “And I really am dying to show you how far the house has come along. I’ve been hoping to surprise you, and since the gathering is in less than a week, I think you should see it.”

“The gathering,” he says with a sigh. “Visitors have already started showing up in Savannah. Going to have to put a ‘No Trespassing’ sign on my lawn. I’d be happy to see the mansion. I’d be happier to have time with you.” He winks and guides me to the front door. “Let’s go see what you’ve done to my house.”