Page 28 of Shifters in the Night

“How did she know?”

“Jillian.”

“How did Jillian know?” Jon demanded.

Will shook his head. “You really don’t want to know how the women in our group know things. They just do. So this Lia, she’s the world?”

Jon flattened his lips together. “I would say that’s an overstatement, but it seems appropriate.”

“Well, I won’t argue with you about it because I know the feeling. But it seems to me that you wanting to get back out into ‘the world’ should be a good thing. What’s got you so bunched up?”

Jon sighed. “Lia’s so…

“Beautiful,” Will supplied.

“Yeah.”

“Sweet,” Will said, nodding.

“Definitely.”

“Smart.”

“Heaven knows.”

“So, what’s the problem?” Will asked.

“She’s fancy,” Jon said. “She’s so fancy. Fancy clothes and fancy manners and a fancy job. And I just don’t know where I fit in all that.”

“You’re a Carmody. There’s nobody better than a Carmody. Except when it comes to relationships. We have had problems with those … never mind. That was a bad example.”

Jon buried his face in his hands and moaned. “You were not the right person to talk to about this. When does Sonja get home?”

Will laughed. “I’m just saying that yeah, she may be fancy, but she’s no better than you. You’re a good man and have a good heart. And no one would treat her better than you.”

“Well, she may have found someone who would try,” Jon said.

“Who? It’s not Adam McTeague, is it? Cause I can tell you, he doesn’t have a shot.”

“No, it’s Alex Lancaster,” Jon mumbled.

“Oh, yeah, he is fancy. Good job. Nice guy. Charming. Dresses well, too.”

“Are you trying to be helpful?” Jon demanded. “I can’t tell.”

“Alex might be competition,” Will told him. “But that just means you fight harder, show her what you have to offer that he doesn’t, all the things you two have in common. You’re both shifters. Alex isn’t. You’re both in jobs where you get your hands dirty.”

“Have you seen her hands?” Jon asked.

“She works in construction, or at least, construction-adjacent. Trust me, her hands have gotten dirty,” Will said, as Jon stared out over the water. “You know what you need to clear your head?”

Jon guessed. “Less beer?”

“A swim,” Will said. “Get up. Take off the pants and jump in the water.”

“You should be less comfortable saying that,” Jon said, peeling his shirt over his head.

“I stand by it,” Will told him as he stripped.

---