A week later I take Mari out to Rosalie’s diner. I can actually only afford coffee and free refills, but Rosalie pushes a piece of cake between us for us to share. On the house, she says. She smiles and winks at me. I suspect she thinks we’re on a date. We’re not. I still like boys. I just want to say thank you for stitching up my jacket.

I wear it proudly. It should be a horrible reminder of what happened to me that night, but Josie and Mari wanted me to have it. Josie spent her entire first pay cheque at Big Mal’s on it, and Mari… well, God knows how many hours it took her to clean it and put it back together. So instead it is a reminder of two amazing women that I don’t deserve to have in my life but somehow do.

Mari and I talk about the concert. “The Vampire Lestat Returns – For One Night Only”. Mari got tickets, too, and she’s taking her favourite cousin, Rafa. In conspiratorial voice she tells me he is hotter than her abuela’s salsa, single, and she’s never seen him with a girl. Mari swears she knows him better than anyone else; they grew up like siblings. I suspect Mari is trying to set us up. My life is already complicated enough, even without hot salsa, but I don’t say anything. It’s nice hearing Mari’s voice again. It’s still loud, and more than once one of the other customers in the diner turn their heads because she said something outrageous for everyone to hear. When the same guy turns around to stare at her for the third time, she cusses him out in Spanish, then turns back to me, adjusts the strap of her low-cut top that always slips off her shoulder, and gives me the warmest smile.

I tell Mari I don’t know how to tell Josie about the tickets. I know she’s going to lose her mind – in a good way for a change. Growing up, Lestat wasn’t exactly her thing (her favourite is still Ledisi), and she teased me endlessly about trying to dress up like him. Of course, I wouldn’t have worn anything like that outside my room, so I did it in secret. And more than often her teasing turned into scolding when I wrecked up her clothes.

But she hasn’t gone out since way before Soso was born, so that prospect alone will set her off like a firecracker, and who’d say no to free tickets? I just don’t know what to say about where I got them from. I can’t really be like, “Hey Josie, so get this – I got a damn contract with two blood-suckin’ vampires who won’t quit tryna get at my life juice. Turned me into their own walkin’, talkin’ blood bank. And, oh yeah – one of ‘em? Just so happens to be that world-famous rock singer I was real into as a kid. Guess they figured since my blood’s just so damn sweet, I deserved a lil’ bonus. So here’s some concert tickets.”

Mari laughs at my act, “Just tell her you met me, maybe here at the diner, and we started talking, and I mentioned that Lestat is my boss, and you mentioned you’re a fan, and there you go, mijo.”

I end up telling Josie just that after the tickets are burning a hole in my pocket for another week. She stares at me open-mouthed for like five minutes because she can’t believe my luck. I don’t know if it was luck, but it still feels unreal that I met Louis and Lestat, so I agree with her on that.

She’s giddy like a teenager, and we decide to dress up for the occasion. Fishnet stockings, a mini skirt and a tank top for her. For me, ultra-tight fake leather pants and my old band t-shirt, which still semi-fits. We do each other’s make-up, and I’m so proud to have such a hot sister. She looks stunning, and her beam just doesn’t fade.

We take Soso to Mrs Batiste, and then Josie drives us to the venue. We meet Mari and Rafa in front of the venue, and, Jay-zuhs, Mari didn’t lie. That man is a walking heatwave. He has black curly hair, short at the back and longer on top, so there’s always a bold strand of curls falling across his forehead that he brushes back with a casual flick. There’s a permanent twinkle in his green eyes and a bit of mischief in his smile. He hugs Josie and me, blows kisses against our cheeks and tells us we look “hermoso”. Josie and me are both a bit flustered.

We enter the venue and are given wristbands that allow us backstage access and free drinks. Mari and Josie hit it off right away and are chatting like old friends. I’m sure sooner or later I will be the topic of their conversation, and I hope Mari won’t give anything away. Rafa and me go to get drinks for everyone before the music starts. We have a bar table reserved for us near the stage, and Rafa and I place the drinks – diet coke for me, beer for everyone else – on it. The band comes out. Cookie spots me and winks at me. Josie catches it, so I shrug and tell her it was probably meant for Mari.

Then the stage goes pitch dark, the room is all quiet, and then – with a blinding flash of light – Lestat appears on stage, grabbing the microphone, and starts singing an up-tempo song from their first album. The stage is his, and he’s clearly soaking up every ounce of adoration from the crowd, who goes absolutely wild with the first tunes of the song. We are dancing and singing along. When the band descends into a slower number, I put my arms around Josie, and together we sway to the music.

At one point Rafa puts his arms around my and Mari’s waists. We all get our phones out, and the room becomes a sea of stars sparkling in the night. I can feel Rafa’s hand lightly touching my hip. I look over to him – we’re about the same height – and he smiles and winks at me. I feel my cheeks go a little hot and look away. I’ve never flirted with another guy before unless I wanted him to pay me for sex.

There’s an interval, and Mari sends me and Rafa to get more drinks. When Rafa’s back is turned, she makes a shooing motion at me with a nod in Rafa’s direction. It’s clearly meant to say, “Go get him, tiger!” When we wait for the drinks to be poured, I decide to throw caution to the wind and tentatively place my hand on his lower back. He turns around and smiles, but he looks a little puzzled. Shit. I remove my hand and grab Josie’s beer and my diet coke and return to our table. Rafa follows me, puts down his and Mari’s drinks, then takes my hand and drags me into a quiet corner.

He puts his arms around my shoulders and pulls me close, then whispers in my ear so I can hear him over the noise of the other people chatting:

“I hope I didn’t give you the wrong signals. I know I can be a bit too flirty sometimes.” He looks deep into my eyes. “I’m actually straight, sorry.”

I’m embarrassed and a bit mad at Mari for egging me on. He can tell and continues, “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s my fault entirely, and you’re super hot. I almost wish I were gay or bi, because I’d be totally into you. It’s really a pity.”

He’s really sweet to say that, but I’m not convinced. He brushes my cheek lightly with his thumb and says, “I’m really, truly sorry if I hurt your feelings. I didn’t mean to.”

Then he laughs, actually kisses me on my forehead and pulls me further away from the stage. “Let’s get some fresh air, shall we?”

Outside we sit down on the kerb, and he tells me he tried to make out with one of his mates at school when they were teenagers, but they both decided quickly it’s not their thing. I can’t help but remark that the other guy maybe just wasn’t very good. Maybe if he just met the right guy… I’m joking – obviously! – and Rafa laughs. The awkward moment is passed, and we start discussing Lestat’s stage outfits, which are out of this world. Rafa is a real fashionista and knows all the brands and designers. I’m not convinced that he’s actually 100% straight, but it’s all good. We make it back inside on time for the second set.

Mari greets us with a knowing look, but I shake my head. She looks puzzled, and Rafa bends down to her to whisper in his ear. It’s probably something like “Cuz, I’m straight,” because she suddenly starts pummelling his arm and cuss in Spanish so loudly that even I can hear it over the music. Then she pulls Rafa and me into a tight hug and kisses us.

The second set is a mix of old Vampire Lestat songs and some cover songs from other bands. Between every song, Lestat talks a bit about what inspired him to write it or why they picked that particular song. One of them is about living forever, and I can see Lestat glancing to the wings where Louis stands. I know vampires have better vision than humans, but even I can see the heart shapes in Louis’ eyes. I wonder if I should ever be so lucky to find someone to look at me even half like that.

The concert is over much too quick and I decide to make use of my all-access pass – okay, Josie makes me – to thank Lestat for the great night. I find him and Louis in a corridor backstage. Louis leans with his back against the wall, Lestat standing in front of him, one arm braced against the wall. His other hand is entwined with Louis’ fingers, and they talk quietly with each other. I watch them, a bit mesmerised. They’re monsters – ruthless, remorseless killers – but their deep and tender love for each other is beautiful. They’re so immersed in conversation that they don’t realise I’m there.

Lestat leans in, his hand now cupping Louis’ face, and starts kissing him. When their kiss deepens and their hands begin to wander, I know it’s time to leave. There will be another chance to thank them.

The main hall is almost empty when I come back. Josie and Mari still stand at our table and talk animatedly. Just when I come out, Josie gasps out loud and says, “He is a what now?!” and looks at me scandalised. My insides freeze, and I look at Mari shocked, but she gives me a little shake of her head that makes her loop earrings fly.

Out loud she says, “Yah, he’s vegan, won’t eat my famous jambalaya. It’s almost a crime against Jesus!”

I’m relieved, although Josie still looks a little upset. Probably should have told her that. I give her an apologetic shrug and look around for Rafa.

And this is when I see it for the first time. The face. Brown skin, short black hair, and dark, deep-set eyes hooded by bold, prominent brows. Looking serious. Watching me. The face belongs to a man. He stands in the back of the room, close to where Rafa dragged me to earlier. Half hidden in the shadows. He’s clad in all black. An expensive-looking suit over a black turtleneck. It’s a thin fabric that gives just a hint of the strong, muscled chest underneath. His intense gaze never leaves me for one second. An ice-cold shiver runs down my spine.

I break eye contact first, looking around to see Josie and Mari still talking at our table. Probably exchanging vegan recipes. I look back, but the face is gone, like the man just disappeared into thin air.