When she turned toward him, Jake propped himself up the same way. Scaredy cats and chickens were so not the same thing. Jake shook his head, but the way he wrinkled his nose and scowled was playful. “I do like birds.” Jake said. “Especially with barbecue sauce.” He grinned. Jake knew Elise really meant aesthetically (Well, unless she was alluding to something more specific), but Jake was taking advantage of the fact that she hadn't clarified yet. Jake liked birds in a lot of different ways. How he liked them really depended on the bird.
Elise was watching the stars, but Jake was watching her while she talked. It was kind of weird to think about how a few years ago, Elise had been this human college girl who didn't even know about the supernatural. Jake had always known, and he'd never experienced a sudden life event that had fundamentally changed him for good the way being turned into a vampire would have for Elise. He was lucky that way. Jake couldn't even imagine what that must have been like.
He thought she was being a little too hard on herself though. No one ever quite realized what they had until it was gone. “Human Elise didn't know how much she wanted or needed those things, because they'd never been threatened.” Jake said. “They were in reach if she wanted them, so she didn't have to think about whether or not she did. She didn't have to worry about being alone if she didn't want to be alone, so she didn't have to fear that or losing everyone, or being left behind. Being a vampire changes a lot of things.” All of that was true, even if Jake wouldn't have phrased it quite as harshly.
“But you've got time on your side still.” Jake said, and he turned all the way toward her again. “And just like you didn't know you were going to be turned into a vampire after some lame drunken hookup, we still don't know what else might happen.” Who knew what the future held for her, and what it would or would not have. “I think if you really need something bad enough, if you're willing to do the work for it, the universe will find a way to make it happen for you. Even if it's not the way you might have thought.” Maybe she couldn't have everything that she wanted. But Jake thought she'd at least be able to get what she needed.
“I'm not worried that you'll end up alone.” Jake said. “I mean, look at how many friends you've made since you've got here. I think you'll just keep expanding your circle. By the time I'm this ancient 150 year old shifter, retired to my jungle shanty within walking distance to the beach, you'll have like forty guys you can go to Ibiza with. Like half of them will probably be Lanie's grandkids.” For every person she might lose one day, Jake thought she'd gain more people. Which might not soften the loss a lot, but, Jake wasn't worried about her being alone or not having love.